The NFPA Standards Council has approved the preliminary draft of NFPA 350, and is now open for public input. With non-mandatory language, this guide incorporates the best practices that organizations and confined space professionals have utilized to comply with regulations and standards for the past 20 years since the initial publication of OSHA’s final rule. It also draws on NFPA’s experience with several confined space activities, including hot work, the maritime industry, and emergency rescue operations. The Guide primarily focuses on addressing gaps in standards and providing prescriptive guidance on implementing requirements in existing standards, particularly those found in 1910.146. While the OSHA 1910.146 standard requires verifying a safe atmosphere before entry, the NFPA Guide provides prescriptive guidance on how to do such testing. It includes information about gas monitor selection, calibration, and limitations and tells you how to select and locate ventilation equipment to eliminate and control atmospheric hazards.
