PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-710

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 710

JANUARY 2012
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-710 - Page 22 of 33
41
PS 710
JAN 12
Dear Half-Mast,
We know you’re supposed to use a special alcohol with the M41 PATS
(protection assessment test system), but every time we try to order it, our
supply people say they can’t get it for us. What can we do?
SGT M.S.
Or, you can order the alcohol through the Internet at these sites:
Remember
that
when
you’re
through
testing
with
PATS, you need to remove the
alcohol cartridge. Otherwise,
alcohol saturates the counting
mechanism. Let the PATS run
for 3-5 minutes to get rid of any
excess alcohol.
Dear Sergeant M.S.,
The PATS is very particular about what alcohol it uses. The
only
alcohol you
can use with PATS is pure
reagent grade isopropyl alcohol.
If you use any other
kind, the PATS optical system will clog and the only Fx is to send it to the TMDE
headshed in Alabama. If you can’t get the correct alcohol, you’re better off just not
operating PATS until you can get the right stuff.
Part of the problem may be that the NSN for the reagent alcohol was changed
several years ago to NSN 6810-01-382-2904, but the change hasn’t made it into the
PATS TM. So you may have been using the wrong NSN.
But we have heard that some supply folks tell CBRN specialists that only
medical personnel are authorized the reagent alcohol. If you run into stubborn
supply people, you can get your commander to approve a local purchase. Most
local laboratory/chemical suppliers have it. Just make sure the bottle says ACS
REAGENT GRADE ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL or 2-PROPANOL, with 99.5% purity
by weight.
S
ome Soldiers are purchasing hardware for their M40/M42 and other CBRN masks that
allow them to get water from the Camelbak® or other hydration systems while wearing
their masks.
That could prove a fatal drink in a chemical environment. The hydration system may
not have a bladder that seals out CBRN agents. So you end up sucking in the very agents
your mask is protecting you from.
Just because an item is marketed
as “Chem-Bio Defense” or “Chem-
Bio Accessory” doesn’t necessarily
mean it will actually protect you
from CBRN threats.
The
only
authorized hydration
systems are the M1961 canteen,
NSN 8465-01-115-0026; the 2-qt
water canteen, NSN 8465-01-118-
8173; the M1 canteen cap, NSN
8465-00-930-2077; and the water
canteen cap, NSN 8465-01-529-
9800.
The M1 is AAL for (and
only
for)
the M40/M42 masks and works
with both canteens. The water
canteen cap also works with both
canteens and will be used only
with the new M50/M51 mask.
Isopropyl-Alcohol-Reagent-995-16oz-
P16071C670.aspx
index.cfm?PG=CTL&CS=HOM&FN
=ProductDetail&PID=13842
M41 PATS…
CBRN Protection Masks…
No Unauthorized Hydration Please
Use only an approved canteen
for drinking through your mask
Pull out cartridge
for shutdown
I know you need a
special
type of alcohol. But I
didn’t know where to get it,
so lemme know what you’d
like from this place.
what,
are you
nuts?!
I neEd
pure
alcohol! not
this
rotGUT!
Alcohol
Good
to Get
710 40-41.indd
1-2
11/23/11
2:45 PM
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