Evaluation of proposed methods to update human testing of self-contained breathing apparatus.

The current Man Test protocols used by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health for the certification testing of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) do not provide continuous real-time information on the performance of these devices during actual use. In addition, current protocols do not test human subjects at the same absolute work rates but at rates that vary according to the subjects' body weights. This study was conducted to evaluate revised "Use Test" protocols proposed by the U.