Dupont Tychem User manual

DuPont
Personal Protection
Revised March 2007
DuPont™ Tychem®
Garment User Manual
Applies to:
Tychem®Vapor
Protective Garments
Tychem®Liquid Splash
Protective Garments
NFPA Compliant
Tychem®Vapor
Protective Garments
Certified to NFPA 1991
(2005 Edition) and
Class 2, NFPA 1994
(2007 Edition)
Tychem®ThermoPro
Liquid-Splash
Protective Garments
Certified to NFPA 1992, (2005
Edition) and NFPA 2112 (2007
Edition)
All Other Tychem®
Protective Garments
This manual only pertains to Tychem® garments offered by DuPont Personal Protection, North America.
This information packet may not be removed except by the end user.
K-16647 03/07

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Table of Contents
Safety Considerations................................................................................... 3
Wearer Qualifications .................................................................................. 3
Required and Additional Equipment ......................................................... 4
Garment Inspection...................................................................................... 6
Pressure Testing Level A, Vapor-Protective Garments............................ 8
Repairing Garment....................................................................................... 9
Glove Replacement ....................................................................................... 9
Duration of Recommended Use................................................................... 9
Storage Conditions........................................................................................ 9
Visor Antifog Procedures........................................................................... 10
Closure Lubricants..................................................................................... 10
Marking Suggestions and Restrictions ..................................................... 10
Suggested Undergarments ......................................................................... 10
Sizing Considerations................................................................................. 11
Donning the Garment................................................................................. 11
Doffing the Garment................................................................................... 14
Decontamination and Cleaning................................................................. 15
Garment Retirement Considerations........................................................ 17
Disposal........................................................................................................ 18
Usage Guidance........................................................................................... 18
Warnings...................................................................................................... 23
Your Responsibility as a User.................................................................... 24
Warranty & Disclaimers............................................................................ 25
DuPont™ Tychem®Encapsulating Garment Sizing............................... 27
DuPont™ Tychem®Non-Encapsulating Garment Sizing ...................... 28
Garment Inspection & Test Log................................................................ 29

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Safety Considerations
Be sure to read, understand and follow the information in this manual and all applicable
federal, state and local occupation safety and health statutes. Serious injury or death may
occur from improper use of these garments. Proper use must be consistent with NFPA
1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program, and 29
CFR 1910.132.
While wearing any Tychem®garment, including Tychem®ThermoPro, you should
not knowingly enter an environment in which the concentration of flammable gas is
within flammable or explosive limits. If you determine that you are in such an
environment while wearing any Tychem®garments, including Tychem®
ThermoPro, then you should immediately retreat.
Tychem®garments will not protect you in all situations and environments or protect you
from all hazardous materials. You must be a trained and qualified safety professional to
select chemical protective clothing. It is your responsibility as a user of this garment to
determine the level of exposure and the proper personal protective equipment needed.
Most performance properties cannot be tested by the users in the field. Refer to the
DuPont™ Tychem®Permeation Guide for chemicals specific to your situation.
If any of the following symptoms develop while you are wearing a Tychem®garment,
immediately leave the contaminated area, undergo field decontamination, and remove
(doff) the garment:
- Fever
- Difficulty breathing
- Nausea
- Excessive Tiredness
- Dizziness
- Numbness
- Any unusual odor or taste
- Eye or skin irritation
- Narrowing or dimming of vision
- Claustrophobia
- Loss of balance or orientation
Wearer Qualifications
You should not wear these garments unless you are properly trained in their usage. You
must be in good physical condition to wear these garments. Consult a physician before
donning one of these garments to ensure you are capable of wearing these garments under
the expected work conditions and environment.

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Required and Additional Equipment
To help protect you while wearing this garment and to ensure that the garment performs
as intended, you should wear, at a minimum, several additional items of personal
protective equipment.
Encapsulating garments completely cover you from head to toe, including all respiratory
equipment. Encapsulating garments require supplied fresh air; there is not enough fresh
air inside encapsulating garments for you to breathe.By design, the replenishment of
fresh air is restricted within an encapsulating garment
Encapsulating garments that pass the inflation test described in ASTM F 1052, Standard
Test Method for Pressure Testing Vapor Protective Ensembles are considered Level A;
encapsulating garments that are not designed to pass this test are considered Level B.
At a minimum, you should wear the following additional personal protective equipment
with an encapsulating and non-encapsulating Tychem®garment:
RESPIRATORS
•You must wear a full face, supplied air respirator with encapsulating (Level A or
Level B) Tychem®garments.
1. An open circuit, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) which is also
certified as compliant with NFPA 1981 Standard on Open-Circuit Self-
Contained Breathing Apparatus for Fire Service, or
2. An external, breathing air-quality, air-line system with garment pass-
through and escape bottle.
•You should not wear a closed-circuit (rebreather-type), SCBA with Level A or
encapsulating Level B garments. The oxygen concentration inside the suit will
rise above normal levels. The final oxygen concentration will depend on the type
of closed-circuit respirator you are wearing, your level of exertion and the how
long you wear the garment.
•You cannot wear an air-purifying respirator (APR) inside a Level A garment nor
inside a Level B encapsulating garments nor under separate hoods that extend
below the clavicle.
•A powered, air-purifying respirator (PAPR) will not work inside an encapsulating
garment. (If you breach the garment to expose the PAPR filters to the outside, the
garment is no longer considered to be encapsulating.)
•You can wear a PAPR under a separate hood, if the configuration provides
adequate ventilation at the intake of the unit and if the unit is adequately protected
from contamination.

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OVERCOVERS
•NFPA 1991 compliant Tychem®TK and Tychem®Responder®ensembles must
be worn with a separate overcover to achieve abrasion resistance, puncture
resistance, and protection from direct flame impingement requirements of that
standard. You should consider wearing an overcover over other encapsulating
garments when there is a risk of abrasion, puncture, cut, tear or direct flame
impingement to the garment
FOOTWEAR
•Separate, user-supplied, protective footwear. The socks attached to some
Tychem®garments must be worn inside protective outer footwear. These socks
are not suitable as outer footwear. You must wear the separate, user-supplied
protective footwear specified in the Technical Data Package when you wear a
NFPA 1991, NFPA 1992 or NFPA 1994 compliant garment.
•Do not rely on adhesive tape around the top of the boot to prevent liquid pooling
inside your boot when wearing a garment with socks and no boot top covers.
Adhesive tape does not provide a leak-proof seal. Taping should only be used to
hold the leg of the garment in position with regards to the boot. If a leak-proof
seal is required, then garments with attached socks and boot top covers should be
selected.
•When wearing a garment without attached socks, you can reduce the potential for
liquid pooling in the boot by wearing the leg of the garment over the top of the
chemical protective boot.
GLOVES
•Chemical protective gloves are attached to your NFPA 1991 and NFPA 1994
compliant Tychem®garments. NFPA compliant garments use two chemical
resistant gloves to achieve the chemical barrier requirements of the standard.
Removal of one of the glove layers may compromise chemical barrier or glove
durability. NFPA 1991 garments also required a separate outer knit glove for cut
protection.
•If gloves are not attached to the garment sleeve, user-supplied chemical protective
gloves should be worn with the sleeve of the garment over the gauntlet of the
glove. Adhesive taping of the glove to sleeve interface does not provide a leak-
proof seal. Taping should only be used to hold the sleeve in position over the
glove gauntlet. If a leak-proof seal between the glove and sleeve is required, then
a garment with attached gloves should be selected.
•The separate, cut resistant outer gloves that come with your NFPA 1991 are
required to meet the cut performance requirements of that standard. With other
garments, you should consider similar, cut-resistant outer gloves when you need a
high level of cut protection.

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•When wearing Tychem®ThermoPro, you should wear outer gloves suitable for
thermal protection, such as those compliant with NFPA 1971 or NFPA 1951. For
additional chemical protection, chemical barrier gloves, such as Ansell Barrier®or
North Silver Shield®can be worn under the thermal protective gloves and over
inner cotton or knit KEVLAR®gloves.
•It is your responsibility to verify that the gloves will provide adequate physical
protection and chemical barrier.
HEAD PROTECTION
•It is your responsibility to determine if you need separate head protection.
OTHER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
You may also need other personal protective equipment based on the hazard
assessment and PPE selection made by a trained and experienced safety professional.
Some examples include:
•You may require hearing protection due to high levels of external noise or high
noise levels generated by supplied air systems.
You may require additional protective equipment to deal with hazards created by,
but no limited to, the following conditions:
-Flammable or Explosive Environment
-Decontamination
-Extreme Heat (Heat Stress)
-Extreme Cold (Hypothermia)
-Asphyxiating Atmosphere
-Physical Hazards (Sharps, Puncture, Rough Surfaces, Falling Debris)
-Slipping or falling
-Visibility - of wearer & by wearer
-Communications
Garment Inspection
(applies to all categories of Tychem®garments)
Tychem®Garment Inspection
You must inspect all Tychem®garments at the following times:
1. Upon receipt from supplier
2. Before it is worn

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3. Before the garment is worn again. Contaminated, damaged or altered
garments should not be re-used.
4. Annually.
Garment inspection ensures that the integrity of the garment has been maintained. You
should perform the first inspection as soon as you receive the garment. This ensures that
no damage occurred during shipping. You should inspect your garment before wearing,
especially if the garment has been worn before. You should not use contaminated,
damaged or altered Tychem®garments. You should inspect stored garments once a year.
Follow these steps with inspecting garments:
1. Lay the garment on a clean, smooth surface.
2. Use a flashlight inside and examine the outside of the garment for holes, cuts, or
tears. Note: Apparent stitch holes covered by seam sealing tape do not constitute a
defect.
3. Examine the seam tape for lifts or inadequate seal.
4. Examine the garment material and seams for signs of damage. Fabrics and seams
sometimes have visual blemishes that do not affect barrier performance. Such
blemishes can include dullness or white frosted areas adjacent to the seam tape. A
breach or rupture of the barrier film is cause for rejection.
Tincture of Iodine is used to confirm a physical breach. Apply Tincture of Iodine
to the suspect area and wipe off the excess with a dry towel. If a dark brown stain
remains, the barrier layer has been breached and the garment should be rejected.
Areas immediately adjacent to the seam tape may take a slight yellow stain as a
result of heat exposure during manufacture. This slight yellow stain is not an
indication of a breach. The edges of the seam tape may also develop a thin, but
prominent staining of the exposed edge. This is also not an indication of a defect.
5. Examine the visor (if present) for a tight seal and make sure the visor offers clear
vision.
6. Examine the garment air distribution system (if present) to make sure that it is
connected properly and appears to be in working order.
7. Examine the garment gloves (if present) to make sure they are in good working
order.
8. Examine the interface between the gloves and the garment if gloves are attached
to the garment.
9. Examine the interface between the socks and the garment if the socks are attached
to the garment.
10. Examine the garment zipper and zipper cover to make sure they are in good
working order. Lubricate the zipper using a small amount of paraffin wax or
lubricant supplied by the closure manufacturer.

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11. Examine the garment exhaust valves (if present) to make sure they are not
obstructed and are in good working order.
12. Examine all garment snaps, closures, adjustment straps, pass-thrus and options to
make sure they are not obstructed and are in good working order.
13. Examine garment-warning label(s) to make sure they are firmly attached and can
be read easily.
14. You should pressure-test Level A garments during each garment inspection.
Pressure Testing Level A, Vapor-Protective Garments
The air-inflation test evaluates the integrity of the Tychem®Level A, vapor-protective
garments.
DuPont manufactured Tychem®TK, Tychem®BR and Tychem®LV Level A garments
are equipped with Auer exhaust values. Auer valves are fitted with a flexible outer
“snorkel” cover that opens at right angles to the throat of the exhaust value.
Tychem®Responder®and Tychem®Reflector®garments are fitted with Pirelli valves.
These values are fitted with a rigid outer cover that is perforated with small holes.
Auer Exhaust Valve Pirelli Exhaust Valve
You should conduct inflation tests according to ASTM F1052, “Standard Test Method
for Pressure Testing Vapor Protective Ensembles”. A copy of the standard may be
obtained for a fee from ASTM (www.ASTM.org) or by calling [phone].
You should read, understand and follow the instructions in the “Instruction Manual for
the Universal Pressure Test Kit” when inflation testing Tychem®Level A garments. You
can obtain a copy of these instructions by calling DuPont Personal Protection Customer
Service at 800-931-3456 or from our website http://www.personalprotection.dupont.com.
You should record the results of each inflation test with the log sheet provided with your
garment. You can also find a blank log at the end of this document.

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Repairing Garment
You should not use a damaged, altered or contaminated garment. If an uncontaminated
or unaltered garment fails a visual inspection or pressure test, contact your safety
equipment distributor or DuPont Personal Protection at 800-931-3456 to determine if the
garment can be returned for inspection or repair. Note: Charges may be incurred.
Contaminated garments will not be accepted for repair. Do not send a garment that is
discolored or smells. With each returned garment, you must provide the garment testing
log and a declaration that the garment has not been exposed to chemicals or to biological
pathogens. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RETURN A GARMENT WITHOUT
AUTHORIZATION FROM DUPONT PERSONAL PROTECTION CUSTOMER
SERVICE.
Glove Replacement
Contact DuPont Personal Protection at 800-931-3456 to determine if the attached gloves
on your garment can be replaced.
Duration of Recommended Use
Tychem®garments may be used as long as they pass a full visual inspection. In addition
to the visual inspection, Level A garments must pass the ASTM F1052 inflation test. All
DuPont™ Tychem®chemical protective garments may contain materials, including
gloves, closures and exhaust valves for which there is no specific storage life data
available. It is suggested that garments be labeled and retired to “Training Use Only”
after 5 years after receipt by the purchaser.
Uncontaminated garments that do not pass a visual inspection should be retired and
labeled “For Training Use Only” or be discarded. This includes Level A garments that do
not pass the inflation test.
Storage Conditions
You should store Tychem®garments in a cool, dark, dry location free of dirt and insects.
Sunlight, ozone, high temperatures (>120° F), vehicle exhaust fumes, compression under
heavy weights and sharp edges or projections are some conditions known to degrade the
materials in these ensembles.

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You should store Tychem®garments in boxes, in bags or on hangers. Never step on
chemical protective garments. Never place or store heavy objects on top of chemical
garments.
Visor Antifog Procedures
Antifog treatments can be applied to the interior of Tychem®garment visors. Use antifog
wipes or sprays recommended by DuPont Personal Protection.
1. Apply the antifog/anti-static cleaner to a clean, dry cloth or open the pre-packaged
antifog wipe and unfold it.
2. Apply the antifog solution evenly to interior visor surface.
3. Buff to a clear finish with soft cloth.
Closure Lubricants
You can lubricate a zipper or closure that is difficult to operate. You should apply
paraffin wax or YKK Zippy Cool Lubricant lightly on the outer and inner components.
After lubrication, the zipper should be closed and opened a number of times to ensure
smooth function and to remove excess lubricant.
Marking Suggestions and Restrictions
Tychem®garments can be marked with a permanent, felt tip marker.
Suggested Undergarments
Thick, bulky clothing worn underneath Tychem®garments will affect the fit of the
garment and limit the movement of the wearer. You may require a larger size Tychem®
garment.
You will not reduce your potential for burn injury by wearing garments made of
NOMEX®or any other flame-resistant fabric, under Tychem®garments, other than
Tychem®ThermoPro. Tychem®garments, other than Tychem®ThermoPro, will burn
and possibly melt when exposed to a flash-fire.
Only wear non-melting materials under Tychem®ThermoPro garments. These could
include NOMEX®or other non-melting fabrics such as wool, cotton, silk and rayon.

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Sizing Considerations
You should verify the size of your Tychem®garment before actual use. Start with the
sizing chart found at the end of this document. Verify the size selection with a garment
of the recommended size and style you intend to use. Don the garment and perform a
series of exercises to simulate your movements under actual work conditions. A garment
one size larger or smaller than recommended in the table may be required. However, a
garment that is too large is as unsatisfactory as a garment that is too small. These sizing
tests should include outer boots, head protection and other accessories the wearer may
carry during actual use. Such exercises may include:
- read the SCBA gauge
- pick up a box, carry it and set the box down in a separate location
- pick up a wrench from the ground
- open the garment closure
- climb up and down stairs and ladder
- adjust respirator face piece straps
- remove the SCBA without dislodging the full face respirator
-remove and refit full face respirator
-send and receive radio transmissions
-communicate with co-worker wearing the same type of garment and additional
equipment
-For encapsulating garments, remove hand, wipe faceshield and adjust regulator on
facepiece.
Donning the Garment
You can obtain a donning/doffing training video (H-96428) or DVD (H-96425) by
calling DuPont Personal Protection Customer Service at 800-931-3456.
You should have a second person present when donning or doffing your chemical
protective ensemble. If you are outdoors, you should use a ground cloth to avoid
damaging your garment. You should use a stable chair, bench or stool which is free of
sharp edges.
Encapsulating Level A and B Garments
1. Conduct a visual inspection of the garment before you begin donning:
-garment should be free of discoloration or physical damage
-inner gloves should be fully inserted into outer gloves

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-Inside and outside of exhaust values should be free of caps, plugs or foam
padding.
2. Remove all jewelry and personal items (pens, key rings, badges, pagers, knife
cases, etc.) that might damage the garment.
3. Check function of respirator and place near donning location.
4. Visually check size and condition of outer boots and place them nearby.
5. Open garment closure completely.
6. Read garment size label to assure proper fit.
7. Apply antifog to inside of visor.
8. Remove your shoes. If the garment has socks, these socks are worn inside
additional outer chemical boots. These socks do not have adequate durability or
slip resistance to be worn as the outer footwear covering.
9. While sitting, insert your feet into the garment legs and down into socks, if so
equipped. Stretch out your legs to maximum extension while pulling garment up
around hips. If the garment is fitted with boot top covers, pull boot top covers up
and don outer boots. Then pull the boot top covers down over the boots as far as
possible.
10. While standing, connect and adjust the garment waist belt (if equipped) until
comfortably snug.
11. While standing, with garment at waist level, don your respirator back piece.
12. Don your respirator facepiece and check its function. To conserve SCBA air
supply, disconnect the air supply from the facepiece, as long as the closure is open
and you have access to fresh air. In the case of an airline breathing system,
complete all other connections and adjustments.
13. Don protective headgear and communication equipment.
14. Connect the respirator facepiece to the air supply and make sure the respirator is
functioning properly.
15. Place one hand in the sleeve and pull the garment sleeve to your shoulder. Make sure
your hand is securely inside the glove, if attached.
16. Place your other hand in the sleeve and into the glove, if attached, and pull the
garment over that shoulder.
17. If gloves are not attached to the garment, then don your gloves. Pull the sleeves of
the garment over the gauntlet of the gloves. Do not rely upon taping to provide a

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liquid-tight seal. Taping should only be used to hold the sleeve in position over
the glove gauntlet. If a leak-proof seal between the glove and sleeve is required,
then you should wear a garment with attached gloves.
18. Pull the garment over the respirator backpack making sure nothing will constrict
or hamper airflow.
19. Have your assistant slowly close the zipper. Then your assistant should carefully
close and secure the flaps over the zipper.
Donning Non-Encapsulating Garments
1. Conduct a visual inspection of the garment before you begin donning:
-garment should be free of discoloration, alterations or physical damage
-inner gloves should be fully inserted into outer gloves
2. Remove all jewelry and personal items (pens, key rings, badges, pagers, knife
cases, etc.) that might damage the garment.
3. Check function of respirator and place nearby donning location.
4. Visually check size and condition of outer boots and place nearby.
5. Open the garment closure completely.
6. Read the garment size label to assure proper fit.
7. Apply antifog to inside of visor, if present.
8. Remove your shoes. If the garment has attached socks, these socks are worn
inside outer chemical boots. These socks do not have adequate durability or slip
resistance to be worn as the outer footwear covering.
9. While sitting, insert your feet into the garment legs and down into socks, if so
equipped. Stretch your legs out to maximum extension while pulling garment up
around hips.
10. If the garment has outer boot top covers, pull the boot top covers up and don outer
boots. Then pull boot top cover down over boots as far as possible. If the
garment does not have socks, pull the garment cuff up before donning the boot,
then pull the cuff down over the outside of the boot.
11. Place one hand in the sleeve and pull the garment sleeve to your shoulder. Make
sure your hand is securely inside the glove, if attached.
12. Place your other hand in the sleeve and glove, if attached, and pull the garment
over that shoulder.

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13. If gloves are not attached to the garment, don the gloves. Pull the sleeves of the
garment over the gauntlet of the gloves. Do not rely upon taping to provide a
liquid-tight seal. Taping should only be used to hold the sleeve in position over
the glove gauntlet. If a leak-proof seal between the glove and sleeve is required,
then you should wear a garment with attached gloves.
14. Don your respirator facepiece and check its function. If using an SCBA,
disconnect the air supply from the facepiece, if possible, to save air supply.
15. Don protective headgear, if it is worn underneath the garment hood, and
communication equipment.
16. Place the attached hood, if present, over your head and close the zipper.
17. After checking that the zipper is completely closed, fold and secure the flaps over
the closure.
18. In the case of an air-line breathing system, complete all connections and
adjustments.
19. Connect your respirator facepiece to the air supply and make sure the respirator is
functioning properly.
20. If applicable, place the separate hood over your head and attach the underarm straps.
Doffing the Garment
Encapsulating Garments
1. If your garment has been contaminated or is suspected of being contaminated,
you must first undergo field decontamination.
2. Continue to use your respirator until the garment has been doffed and removed.
3. An assistant should help you doff the garment after field decontamination. If
the garment has been contaminated, your assistant should wear protective
clothing and respiratory equipment.
4. While standing, have your assistant open the zipper and peel the garment down
and away from your shoulders. The assistant should help you remove your
arms from the sleeves. External air lines should be disconnected from the
garment, while you switch to your escape bottle.
5. Lower garment below your hips and sit down. Do not touch the inside of the
garment. Your assistant should remove your boots, pull the garment off your
legs and take the garment away.

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6. Once the garment has been removed, you can doff the respirator facepiece and
harness.
Non-Encapsulating Garments
1. If your garment has been contaminated or is suspected of being contaminated, you
must first undergo field decontamination.
2. After field decontamination, if the garment has been contaminated or is suspected
of being contaminated, you should continue to use your respirator until the
garment has been doffed and removed.
3. An assistant should help you doff the garment after field decontamination. If your
garment has been contaminated, your assistant should wear protective clothing
and respiratory equipment.
4. Remove and discard the separate outer hood if present.
5. If you are wearing an SCBA or PAPR, your assistant should help you remove the
backpack or filter unit without disconnecting the facepiece. The tank or filter unit
should either be held by another person or placed in a dry, secure position. While
you stand, your assistant should partially open the closure of your garment, pull
down the hood, open the closure completely and peel the garment down and away
from your shoulders. The assistant should help you remove your arms from the
sleeves.
6. You assistant should lower the garment below your the hips without touching the
inside of the garment.
7. While sitting, your assistant should help you remove your boots, pull the garment
off your legs and take the garment away.
8. Once the garment has been removed, you can disconnect and remove the
respiratory facepiece.
Decontamination and Cleaning
DuPont Tychem®garments are designed for limited-use applications – they can be worn
until damaged, altered or contaminated. If the garment is contaminated during use, it
must be discarded. If the garment is damaged during use, retreat immediately, undergo
field decontamination, and then discard the garment.
It is the responsibility of the safety professional having responsibility over usage of the
garment to determine whether the suit has been contaminated or be safely re-used.

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Soiled Garments
You can clean garments that are soiled but not contaminated with hazardous substances.
You should use water, mild dishwashing liquid, a soft brush and hand towel to remove
the dirt. Then thoroughly rinse the garments with clean, fresh water and air-dried. Do
not dry-clean or machine-wash these garments. Do not use hot air or a tumbling air dryer
to dry these garments. Do not use bleach on these garments it they are intended to be re-
used.
Thoroughly inspect a cleaned garment before re-use following the instructions provided
in manual. Do not re-use the garment if it fails the inspection or shows sign of alteration,
damage or contamination.
Field Decontamination
The purpose of field decontamination is to allow you to doff the garment without being
harmed by contaminants on the garment surface. Field decontamination does not make a
garment safe for re-use. If you suspect or know that a garment has been contaminated, if
must be discarded after field decontamination.
If you know or suspect that a garments has been contaminated with hazardous radioactive
or chemical materials:
Use water and mild dishwashing liquid to field decontaminate the garments prior
to doffing.
.
Do not use oxidative, corrosive or reactive decontamination solutions to remove
known or suspected chemical or radioactive contaminants.
You must discard the garment after field decontamination.
Do not use a garment that has been chemically or radioactively contaminated for
training.
If you know or suspect that a garments has been contaminated with a hazardous
biological toxin or pathogen:
You can use water and mild dishwashing soap or you can use liquid biological
disinfectants. You must mix and apply the disinfectant according to the
recommendations of the manufacturer of the disinfectant. Remove residue
disinfectant by cleaning the garment with water and household dishwashing liquid
before doffing.
You must determine if the disinfectant will degrade the performance of the
garment materials.
You must discard garments suspected or known to have been biologically
contaminated.
You must discard garment that have treated with biological disinfectants.

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You must not use a garment that has been biologically contaminated for training.
The steps of field decontamination are:
1. Leave the hot zone with adequate air supply for field decontamination and
removal of the garment. Continue to wear the respirator until you completely
doff the garment and it is removed from your presence.
2. For incidents involving biological hazards, the outside of the garments can be
decontaminated with active peroxide or chloride liquid disinfectants mixed
and applied according to the disinfectant manufacturer’s instructions.
Thoroughly rinse the disinfectants off the garment. Then the garment should
be washed with water and household dishwashing liquid before doffing.
Garments subjected to biological decontamination are contaminated and must
be discarded.
3. If the garment has been chemically exposed or is suspected to have been
exposed, thoroughly clean the garment using household dishwashing liquid
and soft brushes, followed by a thorough rinsing in water. A garment with
known or suspected chemical contamination should not be re-used.
4. If possible, remove the excess rinse water from the garment before doffing.
This should only be done by trained personnel wearing gloves, liquid-splash
protective clothing and respiratory protection. At a minimum, the rinse water
on and near the garment closure assembly must be absorbed before opening
the closure.
Inspection before Re-use
Field decontamination does not make a garment safe to re-use. Garments previously
contaminated with hazardous chemical, biological or radioactive materials must not be
re-used or used in training; they must be discarded. Garments treated with disinfectants
are chemically contaminated and should not be re-used. Before an uncontaminated
garment can be re-used, hygienically clean, visually inspect and in the case of Level A
garments, conduct an inflation test.
Garment Retirement Considerations
Tychem®garments should be retired from service if any of the following criteria are met:
•Garment fails to pass inspection.
•Vapor-protective garment fails the inflation test.
•Garment is altered, abraded, cut, torn, punctured, or otherwise, and in any way,
breached.

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•Garment has had prolonged exposure to intense heat and/or ultraviolet light.
•Garment has been contaminated which is determined by responsible end-user
knowledge of use and exposure.
•Garment has been decontaminated with an oxidative, corrosive or reactive
decontamination agent.
Retired garments that are not contaminated may be labeled and used “For Training
Only”. The labeling should be done with a permanent marker.
Disposal
If not contaminated, Tychem®garments may be buried or incinerated. Uncontaminated
chemical protective garments may be incinerated in a facility that is capable of handling
mixtures containing plastics. Likewise, an uncontaminated chemical protective garment
may be buried in a facility that accepts plastic materials. Tychem®garments contain
several different plastics; they are not suitable for recycling.
Contaminated garments that cannot be handled safely without protective equipment
should be disposed of with other hazardous wastes, either through incineration or burial.
Before discarding, garments should be mutilated by cutting off a sleeve or a leg so they
cannot be worn again.
Usage Guidance
Required Equipment
All DuPont™ Tychem®garments must be worn with additional personal protective
equipment described in the “Required and Additional Equipment” section of this guide.
Respirators
Most Tychem®garments are worn concurrently with respirators. You must be fit and
trained to use a respirator. The performance of your protective respirator must be
verified with a performance based fit test. Failure to properly select, test, use and
maintain your respirator can result in serious injury or death.
Temperature Range

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Tychem®garments can be used in an ambient environment from -31° F (-25° C) to 190°
F (90° C). Tychem®garments do not provide protection at high ambient temperatures.
Tychem®garments should not be stored at temperatures exceeding 120° C.
Limitations of Use
No Tychem®garment has been tested or validated for protection against ionizing
radiation.
No Tychem®garment has been tested or validated for protection from cryogenic liquids
and gases, which is defined as colder than -328° F (200° C). If there is a risk of exposure
to liquefied gases warmer than -148°F (-100° C), then consider the use of a DuPont™
Tychem®TK ensemble certified to the optional liquefied gas requirements of NFPA 1991
(2005 edition).
Tychem®fabrics offer little or no thermal insulation to protect the wearer's skin from
prolonged exposure to hot or cold. The temperature range for the fabric and seams is well
beyond the temperatures that the human skin can withstand without injury.
If the danger of exposure to biological aerosols or chemical warfare chemicals exists, the
use of a protective ensemble certified to NFPA 1991 (2005 Edition) or to NFPA 1994
(2007 Edition) should be considered.
No Tychem®garment is intended for fire fighting activities, nor for protection from hot
liquids, steam, molten metals, welding, electrical arc, flammable atmospheres, explosive
environments or thermal radiation.
You should mitigate the risks of flash fire by substitution, engineering controls, work
practices and administrative controls in addition to PPE. Direct exposure of personnel
should be minimized or avoided. At a minimum, fire-suppression equipment and
personnel should be ready and manned to conduct fire suppression should a flash fire
occur.
You should not knowingly enter a flammable or explosive environment while wearing a
Tychem®garment, including Tychem®ThermoPro. Should you determine that the
environment you are in is potentially flammable or explosive, you should retreat
immediately, including when wearing Tychem®ThermoPro.
Tychem®garments are not suitable in all situations and environments or with all
chemical and hazardous materials. All decisions regarding the selection and use of
chemical protective clothing must be done by trained and qualified safety professionals.
It is the user’s responsibility to determine the level of exposure and the proper personal
protective equipment needed.
No Tychem®garment, including Tychem®ThermoPro is suitable for use in situations of
elevated oxygen concentrations. This includes spills involving liquid oxygen.

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Always Use the Buddy System
Never enter a contaminated area alone. A minimum of two people should enter
contaminated areas together with two additional people, in equally protective garments
available to affect rescue of the entry team.
You Must Be Physically Fit
You must be physically fit to wear a Tychem®garment. You should be examined by a
physician to see if you are sufficiently fit to wear a chemical protective garment.
Manage and Prevent Heat Stress
Chemical protective clothing interferes with the natural regulation of body temperature.
This can lead to a rise in core body temperature and heat stress. You can take several
steps to limit and/or prevent heat stress, such as the use of a cooling system, and
implementing a conservative work/rest schedule.
You should be aware of the symptoms and treatment of heat stress. If you or your co-
workers have symptoms of heat stress such as nausea, dizziness, high heart rates, or
excessive heat build-up, you should leave the work area immediately and remove the
ensemble as quickly as possible after decontamination and seek professional care.
The maximum time the ensemble can be worn depends on such variables as the air
supply, ambient condition, climate inside the ensemble, physical and psychological
condition of the wearer, work rate and work load. The TLV™ pocket guide from the
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH, Cincinnati)
provides corrected heat stress limits for some garments. Similar information is available
on the federal OSHA web site (www.OSHA.gov). The WBGT correction factor for
chemical protective garments is at least 10° C or higher for chemical garments made of
impervious film and covering the entire body (hooded coverall or encapsulating designs).
Chemical Permeation Data
Before using a protective ensemble in a chemical situation, consult the chemical
permeation data appropriate to the garment material. Note that seams, visors and closures
will generally have lower or different permeation times than the garments’ material. This
information is to be used as a guide only. The permeation performance of any material
depends on a number of factors including chemical concentration, temperature, time and
amount of exposure. Due to the large number of variables, it is impossible for all
ensemble materials to be tested against all chemicals, all combinations or mixtures, and
all temperatures at which the chemical might be encountered.
Chemical permeation tests are performed under laboratory conditions -- not actual
workplace conditions. They address chemical breakthrough characteristics and do not
account for physical performance characteristics that affect a barrier such as abrasion,
flex fatigue, puncture, tear, oxidative degradation, or degraded performance due to
previous contamination.