What are some of the performance differences between suits certified to the different standards?
Even though many NFPA 1994 Class 2 ensembles visually resemble those certified to the NFPA 1991 standard, they don’t offer the same level of protection. In general, NFPA 1994 requirements are looser than NFPA 1991 requirements for chemical testing, vapor tightness, flame resistance, and physical properties. Distinct differences in performance are gas-tight integrity and flame resistance tests. To meet certification for NFPA 1991, hazmat suits must maintain at least 3.2 inches H2O during the gas-tight integrity test, and flame resistance of less than 10-second afterflame with no melt or drip after 12 seconds. By comparison, NFPA 1994 requirements for both of these performance characteristics are not applicable and do not require testing. Other performance measurements also signal differences between the two certification levels. The burst strength for the suits under NFPA 1991 is mininum 45 pound force (lbf), while for NFPA 1994 it is minimum 35 lbf. Similarly, the puncture tear resista
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