AFI48-137 governs the Air Force Respiratory Protection Program and establishes minimum requirements for respiratory protection.
View AFI48-137 on armypubs.army.mil
AFI48-137 addresses OSHA and NFPA standards, respirator and CBRN mask fit testing, and self-contained breathing apparatus. It requires compliance, establishes waiver and supplementation processes, and covers records and protected information.
Applies to: This instruction applies to all Air Force (AF) installation commanders, all AF military and civilian personnel (including Air Force Reserve (AFR) and Air National Guard (ANG) units and members), as well as, direct hire foreign nationals (as established by Status of Forces Agreements).
The OSHA standard and this instruction comprise a unit, which prescribes the minimum requirements for an effective Respiratory Protection Program. (paragraph 4)
The Air Force target Fit Factor is 2000 for traditional Condensation Nuclei Counting (CNC) and 1000 for Continuous Negative Pressure (CNP) fit-testing methods. (paragraph 48-137)
Fit testing procedures will be executed IAW 29 CFR 1910.134(f), 29 CFR 1910.134 Appendix A, and other approved Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) methods. (paragraph 48-137)
Three (3) copies of industrial fit test results will be generated and filed: one copy will be maintained or provided to BE, one copy will be maintained by the worksite supervisor, and one copy will be maintained by the individual. (paragraph 48-137)
Submit requests for waivers through the chain of command to the appropriate Tier waiver approval authority, or alternately, to the requestors commander for non-tiered compliance items. (paragraph 4)