What do hazmat team leaders and emergency response personnel need to know about the new editions?
Jeffrey Stull: Actually, the new editions of NFPA 1991 and 1992 did go into effect early last year, in February 2005. The most substantial difference in NFPA 1991 addressed encapsulating suits, or what are called vapor-protective ensembles. This change was to include a requirement for mandatorily protecting against chemical warfare agents. Encapsulating suits covered by this standard now have to protect against both conventional industrial chemicals plus chemical warfare agents. In the past 2000 edition, the chemical warfare agent part of the requirements had been an option. This change was actually part of an overall strategy by the NFPA Technical Committee on Hazardous Materials Protective Clothing and Equipment. This is because in NFPA 1994, which is a standard that’s broader-based–for first responders in general, not just hazmat teams–there used to be something called a Class 1, as there is in the current 2001 edition. Class 1 was an encapsulating suit with a very high-end perfor
