Dear Mr. M.T.,
On the Internet, go to Army Electronic Product Support (AEPS) at:
You will need to sign in with your AKO password or request an AEPS password by
filling out a system access request.
Click the TACOM-SBC link on the left side of the page and then the PRODUCT
INFORMATION link on the next page. Select the piece of equipment you’re
researching and hit the GO button. The next page provides NSNs and shelf life
codes. At the bottom of the page, click SHELF LIFE INFORMATION. This brings
up lot numbers with their condition codes and expiration dates.
If you can’t find what you want or you don’t have access to the Internet, call the
Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Equipment Hotline at 1-800-831-4408
or email
ceh@ria.army.mil
Their website is
PS 636
NOV 05
25
NBC…
Sniffing
Out Shelf
Life?
Dear Half-Mast,
How do I check the shelf
life of items in the NBC
room like mask canisters
or M291 decon kits?
M.T.
PS 636
NOV 05
24
M41 Protection
Assessment Test
System…
Wicked hAbits
•
Using drugstore alcohol.
That causes the PATS to clog
and the only fix is to send it off.
There is only one alcohol to use
in your PATS:
reagent grade
isopropyl alcohol, NSN 6810-
01-382-2904.
Don't even think
about using anything else.
• name
• phone number
• fax number (if you have one)
• installation address and country
• branch of service and whether
active, Guard or Reserve
• equipment/category
(decontamination, for example)
• item
• lot number and quantity in
lot number
The lot number con-
tains a manufacturer’s
name (PBA for Pine Bluff
Arsenal, for example),
year of manufacture
(2-digit number such as
05) and month of manu-
facture (a letter, starting
with "A" for January–"I"
is skipped).
They’ll
need the
following
information:
I think your canister’s
shelf life has
expired…
but I’m not
sure how to check it.
let’s ask
MSG half-
mast… he’ll
know!
Two habits some NBC NCOs
have developed with their M41
protection assessment test
systems (PATS) are causing
heaps
of trouble…
…so
stop it!
•
Leaving the wet alcohol cartridge in the PATS
at shutdown.
The alcohol saturates the counting
mechanism, which means you won't be able to test
masks until you run PATS for several hours to clear it.
Sometimes that isn't enough and your TMDE people
must send it off for repair. When you're through test-
ing, remove the cartridge, install the storage cap, and
run the PATS for 10 minutes to purge it.
oOg!
not my
type of
alcohol…
Pull out
alcohol
cartridge for
shutdown
Use only
reagent
alcohol
Put on storage cap and
run for 10 minutes
636.24-25(C).qxd
9/30/05
10:01 AM
Page 1
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