23
Communications
A chemical protective garment hampers communication. You should consider using a
personal communication system. You can use hand signals to communicate during
training, work, and for emergency situations where respirators and chemical protective
garments are worn.
Positive Pressure
Excessive, internal positive pressure can damage these garments. Do not inflate the
vapor-protective garments above a pressure of 7 inches water column.
Use of Adhesive Tape to Seal Tychem
®
Garments
Adhesive tape cannot provide a completely liquid- or vapor-tight seal. Taping may
reduce bulk flow if carefully applied. During an emergency situation it may be difficult
to carefully apply tape. Taping should be viewed, primarily, as a means to hold clothing
items in place; to hold a hood over the respirator, to hold a sleeve over a glove, to hold a
pant leg over a boot, or to hold a closure flap closed. Taping does not provide reliable
barrier performance.
Limitations of Liquid-Splash Protection
Hooded Tychem
®
garments without visors are not liquid-tight around the
hood/respiratory interface. Careful taping may reduce bulk liquid flow around this
interface, but should not be relied upon for total barrier. The wrist and ankle openings of
garments without attached gloves or socks have similar limitations. Garments with more
protective designs should be used in lieu of taping as well as implementation of
engineering controls, work practices and administrative controls to reduce the potential
for exposure.
Warnings
Tychem
®
chemical protective garments, other than Tychem
®
ThermoPro, will ignite and
continue to burn. No Tychem
®
garment should be worn around heat, open flames, sparks
or any other possible ignition source nor in potentially explosive or flammable
environments.
Wearing garments made of NOMEX
®
or any other flame-resistant fabric, under Tychem
®
garments, other than Tychem
®
ThermoPro, will not reduce burn injury during a flash-fire.
Tychem
®
garments, other than Tychem
®
ThermoPro, will burn and possibly melt when
exposed to a flash-fire; this is likely to increase burn injuries even when worn over
garments made of NOMEX
®
or any other flame-resistant fabric.
Tychem
®
garments, other than Tychem
®
ThermoPro, melt when exposed to heat and
flame, these garments should not be worn under a garment made of NOMEX
®
or any
other flame resistant fabric, if the potential for flash-fire exists.
