SPRINGFIELD, Va., May 17, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- VERSAR, Inc. (VSR) announced today that its DTAPS(R) (Disposable Toxicological Agent Protective System) Level B coverall chemical/biological protective suits are the first in the industry to be certified by the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) to the National Fire Protective Association (NFPA) 1994, Class 2 standards. NFPA 1994, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Chemical/Biological Terrorism Incidents, will help fire and emergency services personnel select the proper personal protective equipment to use when conducting assessment, extrication, rescue, triage, and treatment operations at domestic terrorism incidents involving dual-use industrial chemicals, chemical terrorism agents, or biological terrorism agents.
The DTAPS(R) Level B coverall ensemble is a fully integrated and CW agent tested protective system that includes a coverall suit, a reusable chemical splash hood, boots, and breathing system. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently adopted a number of standards concerning personal protective equipment for first responders, one of which is NFPA 1994. These standards were specifically developed to enhance the safety of first responders during chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents.
The NFPA is a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, and life safety to the public. SEI is a private, non-profit organization established to administer non-governmental, third-party certification programs to test and certify a broad range of safety and protective products.
DTAPS(R) is a new concept in modular, integrated systems that provides a one-stop shopping approach for the military, civilian first responders, and the medical community. The DTAPS(R) family consists of five separate, fully integrated and tested modular personal protection equipment systems. Each system incorporates the latest technologies for sealing, material impermeability, and NIOSH approved breathing systems to maximize user protection against chemical and biological agents. For more information, visit the DTAPS(R) website at
www.dtaps.com.
Dr. Ted Prociv, President and CEO of Versar said, "This is a major opportunity for Versar which demonstrates Versar's leadership anti-terrorism efforts. First Responders are a key group of individuals that must rely on the top quality products that Versar is known for. In thousands of communities around the United States, First Responders are responsible for protecting their citizens in extraordinary situations."
VERSAR, INC., headquartered in Springfield, VA, is a publicly held professional services firm supporting government and industry in national defense/homeland defense programs, environmental health and safety and infrastructure revitalization. VERSAR operates a number of web sites, including the corporate Web sites,
http://www.versar.com, http://www.homelanddefense.com, and
http://www.geomet.com; and a B2B portal for homeland defense products and services,
www.nbcprotect.com and
www.dtaps.com.