European Standards for Respirators
Respirators are used to protect the wearer from inhaling harmful dusts, fumes, vapors or gases. It is the responsibility of the employer to provide respirators which are applicable and suitable for the purpose intended.
Protect Direct has a comprehensive range of respiratory products from fold-flat and molded disposable masks to powered and supplied air respirators.
Identification of the hazard
- Dusts: Sanding, cutting , grinding and brushing
- Mists: Spraying, cutting, cleaning and grinding
- Fumes: Welding, smelting and pouring metals
- Vapours: Methylated spirits, petrol and degreasers
- Gases: Air like at room temperatures and have the ability to travel a long way very quickly
- Oxygen Deficient Note: Normal respiratory equipment will not protect against this hazard.
EN149: 2001
Filtering half masks to protect against particles.
A filtering half mask is one in which the facepiece consists entirely or substantially of filter material or comprises a facepiece in which the main filter(s) from an inseparable part of the device.
Respirators which meet the requirements of EN149: 2001 are designed to protect against solids, water based aerosols and oil based aerosols. There are three classes of protection detailed in EN149: 2001 – FFP1, FFP2 & FFP3 and filtering facepieces are classified according to filter efficiency.
- FFP1 (80% Filter efficiency) Suitable for protection from non-toxic contaminants in concentrations up to 4 x OEL or 4 x APF
- FFP2 (94% Filter efficiency) Suitable for protection from low to average toxicity contaminants in concentrations up to 12 x OEL or 10 x APF
- FFP3 (99% Filter efficiency) Suitable for protection from toxicity contaminants in concentrations up to 50 x OEL or 20 x APF OEL = Occupational Exposure Limit APF = Assigned Protection Factor
- FFP1 Filter separates 80% af airborne particles < 22%
- FFP2 Filter separates 94% af airborne particles < 8%
- FFP3 Filter separates 99% af airborne particles < 2%
EN141, 143 and EN371
Half Mask Respirators
EN141 - Gas Filters
Gas filters to remove specified gases and vapors or combined filters for removing solids and/or liquid particles and specified gases and vapors. According to their application and protection capacity gas and combined filters are classified in types and classes.
- Type A: For use against certain organic gases and vapours with a boiling point higher than 65C. Filters are required to be marked with colour code Brown.
- Type B: For use against certain inorganic gases and vapours . Filters are required to be marked with colour code Grey.
- Type E: For use against sulphur dioxide and other acidic gases and vapours. Filters are required to be marked with colour code Yellow.
- Type K: For use against ammonia and organic ammonia derivatives. Filters are required to be marked with colour code Green.
- Type P: For use against for protection against Particuate. Filters are required to be marked with colour code White.
- Class 1- low capacity , upto 1000ppm
- Class 2- medium capacity , upto 5000ppm
- Class 3- high capacity , upto 10,000ppm
EN143 - Particulate Filters
particle filters and these are classified according to their filtering efficiency. There are three classes of filter P1, P2 & P3.
P1 filters are intended for use against solid particles only, P2 and P3 are subdivided according to their ability to remove both solid and liquid particles or solid particles only.
EN371 - AX Filters
AX filters are designed for use against certain low boiling organic compounds. They are classified only one type and class AX.
Particles are classified according to their particle efficiency: AXP1, AXP2 & AXP3. AX filters are colour coded Brown-White.
EN405
Valved filtering half mask to protect against gases and particles
A valved filtering half mask which has both inhalation and exhalation valves and consists entirely or substantially of filter material comprises a facepiece in which the gas/ vapour filter forms an inseparable part of the device and where particle filters may be integral or replaceable. Particle filters protects against solids, water and oil based aerosols and are classified depending on the filter efficiency (For gas filter types refer EN 141).
EN136
Full Face Masks
This standard specifies the requirements for full face mask for use as part of a respiratory protective device. These facepieces may be used in negative pressure systems, powered or supplied air systems. There are three classes of full face masks:
- Class 1 – Light duty and Low maintenance
- Class 2 – General duty with maintainable parts
- Class 3 – Heavy duty Fire fighter
EN12941
Powered Air Respirators
The device consists of
- a hood or helmet
- a turbo unit designed to be carried by the wearer which supplies filtered ambient air to the facepiece
- the exhaled air being discharged outside the respirator by exhalation valves
- Powered air respirators are classified into three categories depending on the levels of protection; THP1, THP2 & THP3 (TH= Turbo Hood or Helmet)
EN1835
Supplied Air Respirators
The device consists of
- a helmet or hood in which the wearer is supplied with breathable quality air from a source of compressed air
- an adjustable continuous flow valve provide a flow of air to the wearer in excess of the wearer’s demand, with the exhaled air being discharged outside the respirator by exhalation valves
- The device has three classes LDH1, LDH2 & LDH3 (LDH=Light Duty Hose)
