Dr Rob Davies, MP
Minister of Trade and Industry
In order to promote public education and public safety, equal justice for all, a better informed citizenry, the rule of law, world trade and world peace, this legal document is hereby made available on a noncommercial basis, as it is the right of all humans to know and speak the laws that govern them.
DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY
No. R. 407
13 May 2011
NATIONAL REGULATOR FOR COMPULSORY SPECIFICATIONS ACT
(Act 5 of 2008)
AMENDMENT OF THE COMPULSORY SPECIFICATION FOR RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE DEVICES AND WITHDRAWAL OF THE COMPULSORY SPECIFICATION FOR BREATHING APPARATUS
I, Dr. Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Industry, under Section 13(1) (a) of the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications Act (Act 5 of 2008), hereby withdraw the current Compulsory Specifications for Breathing Apparatus and Respiratory Protective Devices and replace them with the Compulsory Specification for Respiratory Protective Devices as set out in the attached schedule, with effect from the date two (2) months from publication of this notice.
Dr Rob Davies, MP
Minister of Trade and Industry
VC 8072
COMPULSORY SPECIFICATION FOR RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
SCHEDULE
This Compulsory Specification applies to respiratory protective devices, hereinafter referred to as “RPD’s”.
The following classes of RPD’s are excluded from this Compulsory Specification:
Body-worn escape type breathing apparatus as covered by the scope of SANS 1737.
RPD’s designed and manufactured specifically for use by the armed forces or the maintenance of law and order.
RPD’s intended for use in diving applications.
Surgical face masks as covered by the scope of SANS 1866.
For the purposes of this Compulsory Specification the definitions in SANS 50132: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Definitions of terms and pictograms’, the classification given in SANS 50133: ‘Respiratory protective devices–Classification’ and the nomenclature given in SANS 50134: ‘Respiratory protective devices -Nomenclature of components’ shall apply.
In addition, the following definitions shall apply:
applicant: a manufacturer or importer applying for approval of a RPD type. The manufacturer or importer shall be established within the Republic of South Africa.
approval: confirmation by the NRCS that a RPD type satisfies the requirements of this Compulsory Specification.
NRCS: the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications as established by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications Act, 2008 (Act No. 5 of 2008).
RPD type: category of RPD that does not differ in such essential respects as:
A RPD type may include a range of face-piece sizes, provided that the dimensions of each size in the range is at least equal to that of the face-piece sample that satisfied the requirements of this Compulsory Specification.
Filters for connection by means of breathing hoses to face-pieces shall comply with SANS 275 (EN 12083): ‘Respiratory protective devices – Filters with breathing hoses, (Non-mask mounted filters) – Particle filters, gas filters, and combined filters – Requirements, testing, marking’.
Powered filtering devices incorporating a helmet or a hood shall comply with SANS 12941: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Powered filtering devices incorporating a helmet or a hood – Requirements, testing, marking’.
Power assisted filtering devices incorporating full face masks, half masks or quarter masks shall comply with SANS 12942: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Power assisted filtering devices incorporating full face masks, half masks or quarter masks – Requirements, testing, marking’.
Full-face masks shall comply with SANS 50136: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Full-face masks – Requirements, testing, marking’.
Self-contained open-circuit compressed air breathing apparatus shall comply with SANS 50137: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Self-contained open-circuit compressed air breathing apparatus – Requirements, testing, marking’.
Fresh air hose breathing apparatus for use with full face mask, half mask or mouthpiece assembly shall comply with SANS 50138: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Fresh air hose breathing apparatus for use with full face mask, half mask or mouthpiece assembly – Requirements, testing, marking’.
Half masks and quarter masks shall comply with SANS 50140: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Half masks and quarter masks – Requirements, testing, marking’.
Mouthpiece assemblies shall comply with SANS 50142: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Mouthpiece assemblies – Requirements, testing, marking’.
Particle filters shall comply with SANS 50143: ‘Respiratory protective devices -Particle filters – Requirements, testing, marking’.
Gas cylinder valves
16Thread connections between gas cylinder valves and gas cylinders shall comply with SANS 50144-1; ‘Respiratory protective devices – Gas cylinder valves Part 1: Thread connections for insert connector’;
Thread connections between gas cylinder valves and pressure reducers shall comply with SANS 50144-2: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Gas cylinder valves Part 2: Outlet connections’.
Self-contained closed-circuit breathing apparatus of the compressed oxygen or compressed oxygen-nitrogen type shall comply with SANS 50145: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Self-contained closed-circuit breathing apparatus – Compressed oxygen or compressed oxygen-nitrogen type – Requirements, testing, marking’;
Thread connections for face-pieces shall comply with:
SANS 50148-1: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Threads for face-pieces Part 1: Standard thread connection’;
SANS 50148-2: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Threads for face-pieces Part 2: Centre thread connection’;
SANS 50148-3: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Threads for face-pieces Part 3: Thread connection M 45 × 3’.
Filtering half masks for protection against particles shall comply with SANS 50149: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Filtering half masks to protect against particles – Requirements, testing, marking’.
Powered fresh air hose breathing apparatus incorporating a hood shall comply with SANS 50269; ‘Respiratory protective devices – Powered fresh air hose breathing apparatus incorporating a hood – Requirements, testing, marking’.
Self-contained open-circuit compressed air breathing apparatus with full face mask or mouthpiece assembly for escape shall comply with SANS 50402: ‘Respiratory protective devices for escape – Self-contained open-circuit compressed air breathing apparatus with full face mask or mouthpiece assembly – Requirements, testing, marking’.
Filtering devices with hood for self-rescue from fire shall comply with SANS 50403: ‘Respiratory protective devices for self-rescue – Filtering devices with hood for self-rescue from Fire – Requirements, testing, marking’.
17Filter self-rescuers for protection against carbon monoxide shall comply with SANS 50404: ‘Respiratory protective devices for self-rescue – Filter self-rescuer – Requirements, testing, marking’,
Valved filtering half masks for protection against gases or gases and particles shall comply with SANS 50405: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Valved filtering half masks to protect against gases or gases and particles – Requirements, testing, marking’.
Compressed air escape apparatus with a hood shall comply with SANS 51146: ‘Respiratory protective devices for self-rescue – Self-contained open-circuit compressed air breathing apparatus incorporating a hood (compressed air escape apparatus with hood) – Requirements, testing, marking’.
Half masks without inhalation valves and with separable filters to protect against gases or gases and particles or particles only shall comply with SANS 51827: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Half masks without inhalation valves and with separable filters to protect against gases or gases and particles or particles only – Requirements, testing, marking’.
Self-contained closed-circuit breathing apparatus for escape shall comply with SANS 53794: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Self-contained closed-circuit breathing apparatus for escape – Requirements, testing, marking’.
Gas filters and combined filters shall comply with SANS 54387: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Gas filter(s) and combined filter(s) – Requirements, testing, marking’.
Compressed air line breathing apparatus with demand valve for use with a full face mask shall comply with SANS 54593-1: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Compressed air line breathing apparatus with demand valve Part 1: Apparatus with a full face mask – Requirements, testing, marking’.
Compressed air line breathing apparatus with demand valve for use with a half mask at positive pressure shall comply with SANS 54593-2: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Compressed air line breathing apparatus with demand valve Part 2: Apparatus with a half mask at positive pressure – Requirements, testing, marking’.
Continuous flow compressed air line breathing apparatus shall comply with SANS 54594: ‘Respiratory protective devices – Continuous flow compressed air line breathing apparatus – Requirements, testing, marking’.
18The manufacturer or importer shall apply to the NRCS for approval of every type and model of respiratory protective device in accordance with the requirements of Annex A.
A RPD type shall be approved by NRCS before it is imported or offered for sale.
The manufacturer and/or importer shall inform the NRCS of any change in design or components affecting any mandatory requirement of this compulsory specification. In the event of such change/s the NRCS may, at its discretion, demand the submission of fresh evidence of conformity or a new application for approval.
The approval granted in respect of respiratory protective devices may be withdrawn by the NRCS at any time without prior notice if the requirements have not been met.
Information for users as required by the relevant South African National Standard shall be supplied with the RPD type when placed on the market.
Respiratory protective devices submitted for approval shall comply with the latest edition or amendment of any applicable standard referred to in this compulsory specification.
Approvals granted before the effective date of this compulsory specification shall remain valid provided that the marking requirements of Clause 5 are complied with within 12 months.
New editions or amendments of standards referred to in this compulsory specification shall take effect 2 months after the date of publication.
Approvals shall remain valid for a maximum period of 2 years following the introduction of a new edition or amendment of an applicable standard referred to in this compulsory specification.
19(Normative)
The applicant shall apply for approval of every RPD type. The application shall be accompanied by the following:
Dimensional drawings in sufficient detail to permit identification of all component parts and materials thereof, including assembly and markings that appear on the product;
Test reports provided by a conformity assessment body recognized by the NRCS in accordance with its Conformity Assessment Policy that prove compliance with all the relevant requirements of this compulsory specification;
One sample of each size of the RPD type, including all accessories supplied with the RPD type whether or not fitted, in the packaging in which it is to be sold;
Additional samples at the request of the NRCS;
Details of the markings for the RPD type;
Samples of the packaging and information for users to be supplied in accordance with clause 5.2;
Information to the satisfaction of the NRCS regarding the measures taken by the applicant to ensure ongoing conformity of the RPD; and
Any additional information requested by the NRCS.
The NRCS shall grant approval when all the requirements have been met to its satisfaction.
The NRCS shall assign a unique approval number to each type approved.
The NRCS shall confirm to the applicant that approval has been granted by means of a Letter of Authority certificate bearing the approval number referred to in paragraph A.2.2.
20