04/22/21
National Safety Council
Pittsburgh, PA — NIOSH's National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory is set to undergo a $14 million renovation and expansion, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced March 29.
The project is intended to support the lab's Human Performance and Physiology Branch, its respirator certification program, and research and development of new personal protective equipment technologies.
CDC is slated to start developing design plans in the fall, with construction at the Pittsburgh facility scheduled to begin the next summer. The project is expected to be completed in late 2023.
“The important role of PPE in providing potentially lifesaving protection to workers has never been clearer,” NIOSH Director John Howard said in a press release. “These upgrades will advance NIOSH's research capabilities, facilitate innovation and enhance our certification program. This is an important step forward in improving the safety of health care workers, first responders and all workers who rely on these technologies to remain safe and healthy while on the job.”