CWU-77/P COVERALL PROTECTIVE CAPABILITIES

File: aaatf_02.txt
Page: 02
Total Pages: 2
CONTAMINATED WITH VAPOR, AIRCREW PROCEDURES MIGHT BE LOOKED AT.

	E.  LIFE EXPECTANCY:
	
		(1)  SHELF LIFE FOR AN UNOPENED BAG IS 10 YEARS.  ONCE THE BAG IS
OPENED, LIFE EXPECTANCY IS 30 MONTHS OR 10 LAUNDERINGS.

	F.  USAGE/WEAR VS.  GCE:

		(1)  CURRENT REQUIREMENTS SPECIFY THAT THE GCE CAN BE USED UNTIL
SOILED THEN DISPOSED OF.  THE CWU-77/P CAN BE WORN UNTIL SOILED THEN
LAUNDERED UP TO 10 TIMES BEFORE IT IS FINALLY DISPOSED OF.  THUS, THE LIFE
CYCLE OF THE COVERALL HAS INCREASED 10 TIMES OVER THE CURRENT GCE.

		(2)  THE CURRENT GCE HAS ONLY FIVE SIZES WHICH LIMITS THE EXACT FIT
OF AN INDIVIDUAL.  WITH 24 DIFFERENT SIZES OF  THE CWU-77/P, A PERSON WILL BE 
BETTER FITTED.  THIS CAPABILITY SHOULD PROVIDE THE WEARER MORE COMFORT AND
ADDED FLEXIBILITY IN MOVEMENT.

		(3)  THE CWU-77/P HAS AT LEAST A 50% REDUCTION IN THERMAL LOAD OVER
THE GCE.

	G.  GENERAL LIMITATIONS:

		(1)  WE WOULD RECOMMEND USE OF THE COVERALL IN HIGH TEMPERATURE
AREAS WHERE THERE IS A REDUCED THREAT OF LIQUID CONTAMINATION.  IF ATTACKED,
VERIFICATION OF LIQUID CONTAMINATION SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED IMMEDIATELY BY
USE OF M8 PAPER/M9 TAPE AFFIXED TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S COVERALL.  IF VAPOR
CONTAMINATION IS DETECTED, THE COMMANDER KNOWS HIS PERSONNEL WEARING THE
CWU-77/P ARE PROTECTED AND CAN CONTINUE OPERATIONS MORE EFFICIENTLY.  IF
LIQUID CONTAMINATION IS DETECTED, THE COMMANDER  KNOWS THAT HIS PERSONNEL
WEARING THE CWU-77/P MUST REPLACE THE COVERALL WITHIN 2 HOURS TO PREVENT
OPERATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT SKIN SYMPTOMS FROM OCCURRING.  WE WILL NOTIFY YOU
ASAP WHEN ADDITIONAL TEST DATA BECOMES AVAILABLE ON LIQUID PROTECTION OF THE
CWU-77/P.

	[(B)(6)]

ROBERT L.  MAY, JR., GM-15
DIRECTOR
HUMAN PROTECTION SYSTEMS DIVISION
HUMAN SYSTEMS PROGRAM OFFICE