ASTM F1052-97

Standard Test Method for Pressure Testing Vapor Protective Ensembles

SCOPE
1.1 This test method measures the ability of a vapor protective ensemble (VPE), including seams, and closures to maintain a fixed, positive pressure.  
1.2 This test method measures the integrity of the suit, glove, boot/bootie, and visor materials, as well as the seams, and closures of a VPE. Exhaust valves fitted in the VPE must be sealed or blocked for this test and therefore are not functionally tested.  
1.3 The values as stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Section 7.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-1996
• Technical Committee: F23 - Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment
• Drafting Committee: F23.50 - PPE Conformity Assessment, Interoperability and Compatibility

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM F1052-97(2002) - Standard Test Method for Pressure Testing Vapor Protective Ensembles
• Effective Date: 10-May-1997
• Referred By: ASTM F1296-08(2023) - Standard Guide for Evaluating Chemical Protective Clothing
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-1997
• Referred By: ASTM F2704-17a - Standard Specification for Air-Fed Protective Ensembles
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-1997
• Referred By: ASTM F1359/F1359M-22 - Standard Test Method for Liquid Penetration Resistance of Protective Clothing or Protective Ensembles Under a Shower Spray While on a Manikin
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-1997
• Referred By: ASTM F2588-12(2020) - Standard Test Method for Man-In-Simulant Test (MIST) for Protective Ensembles
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-1997
• Referred By: ASTM F1001-12(2017) - Standard Guide for Selection of Chemicals to Evaluate Protective Clothing Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-1997
• Referred By: ASTM F1461-17 - Standard Practice for Chemical Protective Clothing Program
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-1997
• Referred By: ASTM F1154-18 - Standard Practices for Evaluating the Comfort, Fit, Function, and Durability of Protective Ensembles, Ensemble Elements, and Other Components
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-1997

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: F 1052 – 97 An American National Standard
Standard Test Method for
Pressure Testing Vapor Protective Ensembles
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1052; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
Personnel in industry and emergency response can be exposed to numerous chemicals capable of
causing harm upon contact with the human body. The deleterious effects of these chemicals can range
from acute trauma such as skin irritation and burn, to chronic degenerative disease such as cancer.
Since engineering controls may not eliminate all possible exposures, attention is often placed on
reducing the potential for direct skin contact through the use of protective clothing.
Protective clothing is available in a variety of constructions, configurations and materials, and is
designed to provide various levels of protection against many hazards. Chemical protective ensembles
offering the highest level of chemical protection are constructed to prevent contact of solid, liquid, or
gaseous chemicals with the wearer. This test method evaluates the integrity and construction of vapor
protective ensembles by way of an internal pressure test. Other related whole suit tests include Test
Method F 1359 for evaluating splash resistance using a Shower test, and Practice F 1154 for
evaluating the overall form, fit, and function of a garment using a simulated wear test.
Resistance to chemical permeation of materials used in protective clothing should be evaluated by
Test Methods F 739 for continuous contact and F 1383 for intermittent contact (that is, splash), or by
Test Method F 1407 according to the permeation cup method. Resistance of protective clothing
materials to liquid penetration should be determined by Test Method F 903.
Physical properties of materials used in the construction of protective clothing can be determined
using a variety of test methods, including Test Methods D 751 (dimensions, weight, breaking strength,
elongation, burst, tear resistance, hydrostatic resistance, coating adhesion, tack-tear, low temperature
impact and bend, accelerated aging, blocking, and crush resistance), D 2582 (puncture propagation
tear), D 4157 (abrasion resistance), F 392 (flexural fatigue), F 1358 (flammability), as well as many
others.
1. Scope bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard
statements, see Section 7.
1.1 This test method measures the ability of a vapor
protective ensemble (VPE), including seams, and closures to
2. Referenced Documents
maintain a fixed, positive pressure.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2 This test method measures the integrity of the suit,
D 751 Test Methods for Coated Fabrics
glove, boot/bootie, and visor materials, as well as the seams,
D 2582 Test Method for Puncture-Propagation Tear Resis-
and closures of a VPE. Exhaust valves fitted in the VPE must
tance of Plastic Film and Thin Sheeting
be sealed or blocked for this test and therefore are not
D 4157 Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Textile
functionally tested.
Fabrics (Oscillatory Cylinder Method)
1.3 The values as stated in in.-H O (mm-H O) units are to
2 2
F 392 Test Method for Flex and Durability of Flexible
be regarded as the standard.
Barrier Materials
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
F 739 Test Method for Resistance of Protective Clothing
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Materials to Permeation by Liquids or Gas under Condi-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
tions of Continuous Contact
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
1 2
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F-23 on Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 09.02.
Protective Clothing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F23.50 on Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.02.
Ensemble Performance. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 07.02.
Current edition approved May 10, 1997. Published July 1997. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.09.
published as F 1052 – 87. Last previous edition F 1052 – 87 (1991). Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.03.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F 1052
F 903 Test Method for Resistance of Materials Used in or accessories that are necessary for providing air-tight integ-
Protective Clothing to Penetration by Liquids rity.
F 1154 Practices for Qualitatively Evaluating the Comfort, 3.1.9 vapor protective suit, n—a chemical protective suit
Fit, Function, and Integrity of Chemical Protective Suit used to protect the wearer from chemical liquids, vapors, and
Ensembles gases.
F 1358 Test Method for the Effects of Flame Impingement
4. Summary of Test Method
on Materials Used in Protective Clothing Not Designated
4.1 The VPE is visually inspected and modified for the test.
Primarily for Flame Resistance
F 1359 Test Method for Determining the Liquid Penetration A test apparatus is attached to the VPE (Fig. 1) to permit
inflation to the pre-test suit expansion pressure for removal of
Resistance Protective Clothing or Protective Ensembles
Under a Shower Spray Wheel on a Mannequin wrinkles and creases, and to equalize/stabilize the air tempera-
tures internal and external to the VPE. The pressure is lowered
F 1383 Test Method for Resistance of Clothing Materials to
Permeation by Liquids or Gases Under Conditions of to the test pressure and monitored for 4 min. If the pressure
drop is excessive, the VPE fails the test and is removed from
Intermittent Contact
F 1407 Test Method for Resistance of Chemical Protective service. The test is repeated after leak location and repair.
4.2 Pressure testing of VPEs should be conducted at a
Clothing Materials to Liquid Permeation—Permeation Cup
Method frequency recommended by the manufacturer but no less often
than upon receipt of the garment, after each wearing if the suit
3. Terminology
is to be reused, and at least annually thereafter.
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
5. Significance and Use
3.1.1 chemical protective ensemble, n—a combination of a
chemical protective suit, gloves, boots, respiratory protective 5.1 Workers involved in the production, use, and transpor-
equipment, and any other clothing and equipment worn to
tation of liquid and gaseous chemicals can be exposed to
provide the wearer with integrity against exposure to hazardous numerous compounds capable of causing harm upon contact
chemicals.
with the human body. The deleterious effects of these chemi-
3.1.2 chemical protective suit, n—an item of protective cals can range from acute trauma such as skin irritation and
clothing which is designed and configured to provide the
burn to chronic degenerative disease such as cancer. Since
wearer’s torso, head, arms, and legs with integrity against engineering controls may not eliminate all possible exposures,
exposure to hazardous chemicals either by itself or in conjunc-
attention is often placed on reducing the potential for direct
tion with other protective clothing. skin contact through the use of protective clothing that resists
3.1.3 integrity, n—the ability of protective clothing or a
permeation, penetration, and degradation.
protective ensemble to prevent inward leakage of hazardous 5.2 This test method is only appropriate for chemical
substances from the outside environment.
protective ensembles, such as totally encapsulating protective
3.1.3.1 Discussion—For evaluating air-tight integrity, the
suits, that are designed and manufactured to prevent the inward
ability of vapor protective ensembles to prevent inward leakage
leakage of solids, liquids, gases, and vapors. Garments de-
of gases is determined by the amount of leakage following the
signed to prevent the penetration of solid and liquid chemicals
inflation of a vapor protective ensemble to a specified pressure
should be tested according to Test Method F 1359.
over a specified period of time. Exhaust valves and other
5.3 This non-destructive test method is useful as a quality
components and interfaces may not be functionally evaluated
control tool for manufactures and as a field method for end
depending on the technique used to fi
...