13. Any item or device that can be used in the dissemination, dispersion, testing, detection, identification, warning, monitoring, collection, processing, protection against, decontamination or remediation of any of the listed chemicals or biological organisms, including (1) equipment of any sort (including gas masks, filter canisters and decontamination equipment, protective suits, gloves and shoes, toxic gas monitoring systems and equipment for destruction or production), (2) antibodies, polynucleoides, biopolymers or biocatalysts, (3) medical countermeasures; and/or (4) modeling or simulation tools.

http://counsel.cornell.edu/ITAR/ITAR-summary.html#_CHEMICAL_AND_BIOLOGICAL_AGENT

 

From what I read it doesn' t cover nuclear protective equipment. Now I seem to recall that at the time they told me they could not sell me military masks or perhaps any mask( it was a long time ago), but suits etc. it was OK. That's why they could not bother with my order even for 2 set of suits and accessories, but first they agreed to it and said to send an email then I never heard of them and when I called they hung up..

 

Nuclear protective equipment is covered in another part of ITAR, and MOPP/HAZMAT suits are covered under ITAR, from both Chemical/Biological and Nuclear protection.

Nothing brings the thunder down upon a company faster than violating something like ITAR.

 

You may try EBAY. Unfortunately, you are kind of late: just few months ago there were hundreds of good relatively inexpensive masks (Scott M98), but not anymore.

 

Some options:

http://www.industrialsafety.com/North-Safety-54501-54500-Series-Cbrn-Gas-p/34763539.htm
http://www.industrialsafety.com/North-Safety-40CBRN-safety-industrial-supplies-p/34763355.htm

http://www.industrialsafety.com/Disposable-and-Chemical-Resistant-Clothing-s/2236.htm

 

Full face visor mask is O.K. for peacetime, but not robust enough for heavy duty use, for that it should have two separate lenses.

 

www.approvedgasmasks.com is one of the finest companies out there....There is more to your story than telling....

 

While I have no doubt they're a fine company, I myself don't trust any business, regardless of how exceptional customer service is or how speedy delivery be or even how wonderfully made a product is made.

It is a complete possibility approvedgasmasks has decided to refuse John R's patronage because of ITAR, as a matter of fact, after doing some research I am nearly 100% sure they turned away John R because of ITAR.

This is not a slight against you joes, but it's sounds it could be just as John R described.

From approvedgasmasks.com "Legal Agreement/Terms of Sale" section;

Terms of sale & export requirements: Approved gas masks (AGM) is a distributor of safety equipment and ‘high-end’ protective gear, we carry some of the most highly rated safety equipment available anywhere. In fact, due to the extremely advanced & sensitive technology utilized in many items (respirators, filters, electronics & testing equipment), we cannot export without prior approval from the U.S. State Department.

http://www.approvedgasmasks.com/legal-info.htm

This matches everything I've read concerning ITAR. No company will/can export ship anything listed on ITAR without special exception, this is because of US citizens living abroad, being present in a combat zone or preforming operations for Gov't, NGO (e.a. DTRA, DoE, CND, CARNP, ect...). It allows a facet of availability that may not otherwise be available to those individuals. However, foreign nationals of any nation can not be allowed access, unless sanctioned by the US Gov't.





@John R

Any company based in the US will most likely deny you service John, they invite all sorts of complications by violating ITAR. Same would go to an individual who would send you equipment, eBay has removed many actions just based on the possibility they could be in violation of ITAR. No one wants to be charged with illicit arms trafficking.

 

I would definitely not say approvedgasmask is a "fine" company. Look at the BBB complaints and elsewhere. I have dealt with many other US businesses regarding
ITAR restricted items, and they always explained to me why they could not take my order and apologized. AGM lookerd FUBAR , they said yes no problem other than masks, then never replied to emails, the last guy on the phone was the biggest ahole I ever had to deal with in the US.

I needed suits and that's why I insisted but in the end perhaps it's better , they may just have taken my $$$ and never send anything. After that I figured I could make do with an industrial mask for paint and chemical particles and just use some waterproof type clothes for tops and bottoms that would be discarded when entering the home. I saw what the personnel at Fukushima wore (outside the plant) : similar industrial masks and light suits, no full masks. My main concern is a small experimental reactor at a university closeby and an old plant in a 150km radius (just now decommissioned).

For us here in Europe, we have to wonder why ITAR doesn't allow exports of chemical suits here ... Beside, many ITAR items such as sports guns can be had through dealers (they do the expensive paperworks) I don't t get this piece of legislation .

 

If those are you concerns, then I say prepare accordingly.

ITAR is to prevent foreign entities from acquiring advanced military technologies and materials developed and manufactured in US that haven't been approved by the US Government for export.

Technically ITAR isn't suppose to effect sporting arms, but in 2008 ITAR was amended to cover them. ITAR also has selective regulation regarding various items, of course the State Department controls this and can approve export, but that is at their discretion.

 

If your concern is to protect yourself from radioactive fallout and dust all you need is a simple respirator. Hell, an N95 dust mask will work fairly well in a pinch. Think "how can I protect myself from inhaling dust and keep it out of wounds" and you're covered. Next step would be to consider how the dust out of your house. Expensive professional/military protective masks are designed for other potential hazards that are smaller or have more immediate contact hazards. Hell, the rad suits we have issued at work are nothing more than coveralls made out of tightly woven fabric. Decon is as simple as using a vacuum for gross contamination and a quick shower for the rest (yes, the water is captured and monitored).

 

Thanks, I wanted confirmation of that. I was wondering why the workers around Fukushima were wearing simple respirators and no full mask I currently have a 3M 4251 C (it's got a pic of a worker on a plant in the documentation) and it works against aerosols and toxic chemicals released by paint/gas etc. I never replaced the filter and don't know how often you should do it.

I am about to purchase some military NBC suit, with that, latex gloves and boots should be all I need. My main concern is that experimental reactor at the University closeby, it's a small power reactor though .


RE: vacuum cleaners, the home vacuum cleaners blow dust from their rear end, so that would not be recommended would it ?

 

A simple shop vac with a hepa filter should do just fine. No need for an NBC suit if that's your only concern. Although the JSLIST and MOPP suits do provide a little protection, however it's fairly negligible. I suggest Tyvec suits or something as simple as full coveralls. Just remember, whatever you do buy ensure it covers as much of your body as possible (hood, long sleeves, pants, one piece is preceded) and be willing to dispose of it. Much easier than doing a full decon of clothing. I would replace the filters after each use. Keep em stored in the packaging, assuming they're easy to open and install. If not then replace the old filters with new ones and put the entire repirator in a water/air tight bag. Ziploc bags are awesome, just remove as much air from it as you can. Moisture and other contaminants in the ambient air will degrade the filters over time. The filters should be relatively cheap so that should be no issue.