Respiratory Protection

Buyer’s Guide to Choosing Respiratory Protection

Respiratory protection helps reduce exposure to airborne particles, dust, fumes and selected workplace contaminants when the correct equipment is chosen for the hazard. Insinc’s range includes disposable nuisance-dust masks, P1 and P2 respirators, KN95 and N95 masks, reusable half- and full-face respirators, and CleanAIR powered air-purifying respirator systems.

The category also includes paint respirators, welding systems, asbestos PAPR kits, particulate filters, vapour cartridges, prefilters, batteries, chargers and compatible accessories.

Disposable or Reusable Respiratory Protection?

Disposable masks suit short-duration tasks and situations requiring regular replacement. Options include valved and non-valved P2 masks, flat-fold respirators, P1 masks, N95 respirators and KN95 masks.

Nuisance-dust masks should not be treated as certified respiratory protection. P1, P2, N95 and KN95 are different standards, so check the individual product certification and workplace requirements rather than assuming they are interchangeable.

Reusable half- and full-face respirators suit applications where compatible filters or cartridges are required. Paint-project respirators and replacement kits are available, but the correct cartridge must be matched to the specific contaminant.

When Is a Powered Air System Needed?

CleanAIR powered systems provide filtered airflow through compatible masks, hoods or welding helmets. Options include AerGO sets, full-face masks, welding packages and asbestos PAPR kits, along with filters, batteries, belts, chargers and prefilters.

Compatibility is critical. Filters, cartridges, masks and accessories should only be combined where approved for the exact respirator system.

Respiratory protection must be selected through a workplace risk assessment. Check the contaminant, concentration, required protection factor, fit-testing requirements and product limitations. Facial hair may prevent an effective seal on tight-fitting respirators.