A number of techniques for determining the protective efficiency of passenger and crew masks was developed, utilized and compared. In the case of newly developed passenger masks, subjects were exposed to a chamber flight profile designed around the National Aerospace Standard 1179. The two alternative methods of determining mask performance suggested in this document and based on gas analysis and blood oxygen saturation were used simultaneously in this study for comparison. Evaluation of newly developed crew oxygen masks was divided into three phases. The first phase consisted of exposing the subjects to a stepwise flight profile with a maximum altitude of 43,000 feet while wearing the mask. The second phase consisted of rapidly decompressing the subjects from 8,000 to 40,000 feet in 45-50 seconds while wearing the mask. The third phase consisted of rapidly decompressing these subjects from 8,000 to 40,000 feet with delayed donning of the mask during the decompression. Instrumentation of subjects provided for simultaneous determination of seven physiological parameters during decompression which are compared and discussed. Results of these experiments indicate that, insofar as design standards are concerned, the present criteria based on inspired oxygen partial pressure are satisfactory, but should be supplemented by determination of blood oxygen saturation during chamber evaluations. (Author).

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