So you're doing some work involving exposure to dust, particulate, gases, odors, vapours? What do you need to keep yourself or your team safe?
Choosing the right respirator is key. No matter how well made your respirator is, it can’t filter out hazards that it’s not designed for. Once you have the results of your exposure assessment, you’re ready to select appropriate protection for your employees.
Step One: Know your hazard type.
Step Two: Find out if your workers need respiratory protection.
Step Three: Determine level of protection needed.
Step Four: Choose a respirator type
Respiratory Equipment Types
Negative-Pressure
Negative-pressure respirators rely on the wearer to pull air in through cartridges or filter. This has the potential to put a strain on the wearer, which is why medical evaluations are important and recommended.
 Filtering Facepiece
Disposable respirators, also known as filtering facepieces, are used to help protect against some particulate hazards. They’re lightweight and require no maintenance since they’re discarded after use. |
Reusable |
 Half-Face
Half-face respirators cover the lower half of the face, including the nose and mouth. |
 Full-Face
Full-face respirators cover the eyes and much of the face, and can sometimes replace the need for safety glasses. |
Positive Pressure (PAPR)
 Tight-Fitting
Tight-fitting respirators must be fit-tested when use is required, and users must perform seal checks every time a tight fitting negative pressure respirator – a filtering facepiece or half facepiece respirator - is worn. |
 Loose-Fitting
Loose-fitting respirators typically have a hood or helmet. |
Choose a Cartridge and/or Filter
As per AS/NZS 1715 there are 3 different classes of particulate filters, P1, P2 and P3.
The negative pressure particulate categories are based facepiece coverage. All particulate filtering facepieces that cover the nose and mouth area only can achieve only a P1 or P2 classification. A P3 classification can ONLY be achieved when worn with a full facepiece.
- Class P1 particulate filters are used against mechanically generated particulates e.g. silica and wood dust.
- Class P2 particulate filters are used for protection against mechanically and thermally generated particulates or both e.g. metal fumes.
- Class P3 particulate filters are used for protection against highly toxic or highly irritant particulates e.g. beryllium (when worn with a full facepiece).
- NOTE: certain contaminants may have specific respiratory selection criteria outside this guide e.g. asbestos.
- Gas and vapour cartridges categories are distinguished by their filter type and class. Refer to AS/NZS 1715 for the complete list of filter types and what they are used for. Some commonly used filter types are:
- Filter type A = Certain organic vapours (boiling point above 65⁰C) from solvents such as those in paints and thinners (cartridge label colour = brown)
- Filter type B = Acid gases such as chlorine and hydrogen sulfide (sulphide) (cartridge label colour = grey)
- Filter type E = Sulfur dioxide (cartridge colour = yellow)
- Filter type ABE = are suitable for both certain organic vapours/acid gases and sulfur dioxide e.g. solvents, chlorine and sulfur dioxide (cartridge label colour = brown, grey and yellow)
- Filter type K = ammonia gas (cartridge label colour = green)
- Filter type ABEK = are suitable for both certain organic vapours/acid gases, sulfur dioxide and ammonia (cartridge label colour = brown, grey, yellow and green)
How to fit it all together?
- Choose your mask style
- Choose your filter
- Add in adapters and prefilters
