Why Use Respiratory Protection?

Companies and individuals should use respirators to protect health and control occupational diseases caused by breathing air contaminated with harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays or vapors.
Safety mask respirators come in a wide range of types and sizes used by the military, private industry, and the public. Safety mask respirators range from cheaper, single-use, disposable masks to reusable models with replaceable cartridges and filters.

What kind of protection do respirators offer and how does it work?

Air-purifying respirators have an air-purifying filter, cartridge, or canister that removes specific air contaminants by passing ambient air through the air-purifying element. This provides an individual with safe, clean uncontaminated air to breathe in.

What Is A Respirator?

A respirator is a safety device to protect you from inhaling dangerous substances, such as chemicals and infectious particulates. There are several different types of respirators safety masks, as listed below:

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Particulate Respirators/Dust Masks

 

Particulate Respirators/Dust Masks are the simplest, least expensive, and least protective of the respirator types available. These respirators only protect against particles. They do not protect against chemicals, gases, or vapors, and are intended only for low hazard levels. The commonly known "N-95" filtering facepiece respirator is one type of particulate respirator, often used in hospital to protect against infectious agents. Particulate respirators are "air-purifying respirators" because they clean particles out of the air as you breathe. Even if you can't see the particles, there may be too many in the air for this respirator to provide adequate protection.

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Half Facepiece & Full Facepiece Gas Mask/Chemical Cartridge Respirators

 

These chemical and gas masks are also known as "air-purifying respirators" because they filter or clean chemical gases and particles out of the air as you breathe. This respirator includes a full facepiece mask or or half facepiece mask, and a filter/cartridge (if the filter is in a metal shell it is called a "canister"). Straps secure the facepiece to the head. The cartridge may have a filter to remove particles (such as a biological weapon), charcoal (to remove certain chemicals), both, or other parts. When the user inhales, air is pulled through the filter.

Gas & chemical masks are effective only if used with the correct respirator cartridge or filter for a particular biological or chemical substance. Selecting the proper filter can be a complicated process. There are cartridges available that protect against more than one hazard, but there is no "all-in-one" filter that protects against all substances. You need to know what hazardous materials you will face in order to be certain you are choosing the right filters or cartridges.

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Escape or Emergency Breathing Apparatus (EBA) Respirators

 

Escape or Emergency Breathing Apparatus (EBA) Respirators are designed to be used only in an emergency, and only to escape from a dangerous area to a safe area. There are several escape respirators on the market. Many of them use a hood with a neck seal instead of a facepiece. They are typically designed for one-time use for a short period, typically 15 minutes to 1 hour. They may be available in a variety of sizes and will fit most adults. Individuals with small or very large neck sizes may not be able to use some escape hood designs-check the supplier product information before purchasing.

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Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR)

 

Powered air-purifying respirators use a fan to blow air through the filter to the user. They are easier to breathe through and they need a fully charged battery to work properly. They use the same filters as gas masks, so you need to know what the hazard is, and how much of it is in the air.

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Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)

 

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) is the respirator commonly used by firefighters. These use their own air tank to supply clean air, so you don't need to worry about filters. They also protect against higher concentrations of dangerous chemicals. However, they are very heavy (30 pounds or more), and require very special training to use and to maintain them. Also, the air tanks typically last an hour or less depending upon their rating and how hard you are breathing.

How to Choose a Respirator or Dust Mask

Respirators and dust masks come in several styles and types.

Home and garden projects frequently involve exposure to harmful chemicals and toxins – such as paint fumes, solvents, dust, adhesives, pesticides, and caustic cleaning products – not to mention the annual assault from pollen and allergens. In addition to proper ventilation, a respirator or dust mask will go a long way in protecting your lungs and health.
Respirators and dust masks aren’t all the same – there are different kinds to choose from, as well as a rating system for efficiency. At home and around the workshop, either a particulate filter (dust mask) or chemical cartridge respirator are likely to be all you’ll need.

N95 and R95 particulate masks.

Particulate Filters

Particulate filters, including disposable dust masks, are the most common type of air-purifying device for home use. Particulate filters can be disposable or reusable with replaceable filters. They cover your nose and mouth and provide protection from airborne particles – including dust, mists, liquids, and some fumes – but not gases or vapors.
Particulate filters are rated by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) according to what, and how much, they filter out. The rating have both a letter and number:

Dust mask for cutting grass.
• N: Not oil proof
• R: Oil resistant (up to 8 hours)
• P: Oil proof (beyond 8 hours)
• Number: Particulate filters are rated 95, 97, or 100; which corresponds to the percentage of one-micrometer particles removed during clinical trials. A 95 rating means that the filter removes 95% of particles from the air. Filters rated 100 are considered High-Efficiency (HE or HEPA) filters.

What Type Particulate Filter Should I Buy?

The most common rating for disposable dust masks is N95, which will filter 95% of airborne particles that are not oil-based. N95 covers most woodshop dust, allergens, and airborne diseases. Filters for painting are often rated R95, or higher to handle oil-based particles.
If you’re looking for the highest level of protection in the widest variety of situations, go for P100, which will filter out 100% of both oil-based and non-oil-based particles.
When choosing a dust mask, consider:

• Masks with an adjustable nosepiece offer a tighter fit.
• Disposable masks with foam face seals will be more comfortable and a little more effective.
• Masks with an exhalation valve will make breathing easier.
• For highly toxic particles (such as asbestos), choose a non-disposable mask with sealing gaskets.

Half-mask, dual cartridge respirator.

Chemical Cartridge/Gas Mask Respirators

Chemical cartridge respirators contain special carbon filtering material that absorbs gases and vapors from the air. The replaceable cartridges are inserted in a mask that seals tightly around the edges to block out unfiltered air. Cartridge respirators may be half-mask (covering only your nose and mouth) or full-face (for protection against chemicals that irritate the skin).
Chemical cartridge filters include:

• Chemical Cartridge: Block out vapors, but don’t have a separate prefilter to remove particles.
• Dual Cartridge: Include a replaceable pre-filter for particulates, giving you both types of protection. The particulate pre-filter will be rated just like any other particulate filter (see above).
• PAPR (Powered Air-Purifying Respirator): Have a battery-powered fan that blows air through the filter to make breathing easier.

What Type Chemical Cartridge Respirator Should I Buy?

To choose the right cartridge respirator, you need to know what toxins you’ll be facing. The cartridges are color-coded for specific purposes (such as organic vapors, ammonia, mercury, or acids). If you don’t know, or if your project it likely to contain small amounts of different substances, choose a dual-cartridge respirator with a multipurpose chemical cartridge and a P100-rated particulate filter.

Wear a protective mask when spraying potentially harmful chemicals.

Guide to Respirators

The following chart will help you decide what kind of respirator you need:

Substance	Type of Respirator	Rating (if applicable)
Acid Gases	Chemical cartridge
Allergens	Particulate filter	N95 or higher
Ammonia	Chemical cartridge
Asbestos	Particulate filter	N100 or HE
Bacteria and Viruses	Particulate filter	N95 or higher
Bleach	Particulate filter	N95 or higher
Dust	Particulate filter	N95 or higher
Fibers (not asbestos)	Particulate filter	N95 or higher
Insulation	Particulate filter	N95 or higher
Lead	Particulate filter	N100 or HE
Mold	Particulate filter	N95 or higher
Organic vapor	Chemical cartridge
Paint	Particulate filter	R95 or higher
Pesticides, Sprays	Particulate filter	R95 or higher
Pollen	Particulate filter	N95 or higher
Sanding	Particulate filter	N95 or higher
Welding	Particulate filter	N95 or higher

Respirator Safety Tips

• Notice Smells: Change the filter if you notice any changes in smells or taste; or if your throat, nose, or lungs become irritated.


Wear a protective mask when using chemicals.
• Breathe Easy: You should also change your respirator if it becomes clogged and hard to breathe through.
• Keep Dry: Many respirators, especially disposable ones, become ineffective if they get wet.
• Follow Instructions: Replace filters as instructed on the package.
• Don’t Reuse: Disposable respirators aren’t meant to be used more than once.
• Throw Away if Broken: Discard any respirator or filter canister that is dirty or damaged. Replace gas masks if rubber seals are damaged.