TM 10-8415-208-12
Section II. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION
1-8. EQUIPMENT CHARACTERISTICS, CAPABILITIES AND FEATURES. The STEPO-I is a personnel protective
system for use in immediate danger to life and health (IDLH) concentrations of class G, H and V agent environments.
The STEPO-I has the following capabilities and features:
Encloses the user completely
Approved for two hours of operating capability
Provides a tethered or self-contained air supply
Provides emergency air
Provides cooling capability to the user
Provide protection against class G, H and V agents
1-9. LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF MAJOR COMPONENTS. The STEPO-I provides personnel protection
against expected chemical hazards. The STEPO-I can be operated in two separate modes. The encapsulating
protective suit can be worn with the rebreather and ice vest or with the emergency breathing apparatus and tethered air
line. Both modes provide the operator with a source of breathing air and a body cooling capability.
1-9.1 Encapsulating Protective Suit. The encapsulating protective suit is a one piece totally encapsulating garment with
integral booties, an air tight glove cuff assembly and slide fastener closure. A polycarbonate view window is sealed into.
the head area of the suit allowing the user to see out. Additional chemical protection is provided to the view window by a
removable fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) overlay. The suit has an enlarged back area so it may be worn over a
self-contained breathing apparatus. Adjustable straps on the back of the suit allow excess material to be taken-up. An
air line passthrough is built into each suit so breathing air may be supplied from a remote air source through a tethered
air line. The suit can be configured with exhalation valves, to prevent over inflation in the tethered air mode of operation,
or with plugs when inflation of the suit is not expected.
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