Section II. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION

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. 1-4