To help protect emergency first responders from exposure to the Ebola virus, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is seeking comments to a Tentative Interim Amendment (TIA) to NFPA 1999, Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations. The TIA proposes a revision to the design and performance criteria of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to address the risk of exposure to the Ebola virus threat.

NFPA has posted the TIA on NFPA 1999 for public review and comment. To submit a comment, please e-mail the Secretary, Standards Council, by January 15, 2015 at TIAs_Errata_FIs@nfpa.org.

The TIA follows work conducted by several organizations and federal agencies that recognized the need for a national PPE standard to protect emergency first responders against the Ebola virus and other liquid-borne pathogens. The organizations include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization, the Human and Health Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and Interagency Board for Equipment Standardization and Interoperability.

About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. NFPA develops more than 300 codes and standards to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other hazards. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed at no cost at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.