Gas Mask and Powered Respirator PAPR: How to Choose Air Purifying Respiratory Protection Equipment
Choosing the right respiratory protective equipment is for all users and all applications a high level of security provides . For atmospheres with a minimum of 19.5% oxygen, 2 filter respiratory protection solutions are available: classic respiratory protective mask (more commonly known as a gas mask) or motorized air purifying respirator devices.
In air-purifying respiratory protection, the choice between a conventional mask and a powered mask is simple. Our experts recommend:
- A classic respiratory protective mask (gas mask) for interventions or short-term situations
- Powered air-purifying respirator for work or long-term interventions
Gas mask for short interventions
gas masks, filtered respiratory protective equipment is class 3 PPE (personal protective equipment), known in different forms: half masks, full face masks, single cartridge masks or double cartridge masks. These are the most popular and common respiratory protection devices. Whether full mask or half mask, this PPE is used in a multitude of applications and environments around the world.
A gas mask that covers the airways (nose-mouth) and sometimes the entire face (eye protection) cleans dirty, toxic and/or contaminated air through a filter system. Filter cartridges for gas masks, bayonet filters (compatible depending on brands and models of masks) or RD DIN 40 filters , well They are available as universal thread filters and protect against gases, organic vapors, solid and liquid particles, acid and nitrogen vapors, organic and inorganic compounds, monoxide and nitrogen oxides, radioactive particles, bacteria and viruses. very wide It offers a range of protection.
Use of gas mask significant and unnatural respiratory effort This type of protection is not suitable for long-term use. Gas mask selection when oxygen levels in the air exceed 19.5% by volume short-term situations or brief interventions True for (imminent problem, occasional and non-repetitive situations) (under supplied air breathing apparatus recommended).
A reinforced breathing apparatus unit for heavy or long-term work
A powered respirator (also known as a powered air-purifying respirator) is a positive pressure air filtration device. A small motor combined with a filtering cartridge block (usually positioned at the waist or rear) can clean and deliver polluted air without requiring any respiratory effort to its user. Purified air is distributed over a facepiece, which can be a hood, full mask, or even half mask.
Powered air breathing systems consist of 2 types of facepieces allows adaptation of: masks (panoramic, full or half masks) or respiratory protective headgear (usually offers a better field of view and is also preferred in case of chemical hazard, when wearing glasses or with a beard).
Our respiratory protection experts, during long working periods or in environments that are dirty, toxic, dusty and/or more than 40 times the OEL (occupational exposure limit value) of a pollutant physically demanding jobs recommends the use of PAPR during These devices are found in many areas, activities, workstations and production lines. These devices are used, for example, as welding respiratory protection, asbestos respiratory protection at decontamination sites, or as lead protective equipment after the Notre Dame de Paris fire.
Gas mask or powered respirator?
Choosing the right air purifying respiratory protective equipment should be based on several criteria, including type of use, duration of use, purchase budget and maintenance. Finally, The choice between gas mask and powered breathing apparatus is important, but for these devices choosing the right filter cartridge is essential. Use our filter cartridge selection tool to make the right choice and discover our gas mask maintenance solutions.
