Respiratory Protection Standards
If you or your team work within contaminated air, respiratory protection equipment is vital for your health and safety.
Respiratory protection equipment should be adequate and suitable; meaning it is right for the hazard, right for the environment and right for the wearer.
All respiratory protection we supply complies with UK safety regulations and falls within one of the standards listed below:
- BS EN 136 Full face mask
- BS EN 137 Compressed air full face mask
- BS EN 140 Half face masks and quarter masks
- BS EN 143 Particle filters
- BS EN 149 Filtering half masks
- BS EN 402 Emergency escape breathing devices
- BS EN 403 Filtering face mask with fire escape hood
- BS EN 405 Valved filtering half masks
- BS EN 1146 Compressed air mask with fire escape hood
- BS EN 12941 Powered air unit with hood or helmet
- BS EN 12942 Powered air unit with quarter, half or full face mask
- BS EN 14387 Gas and combined filters
- BS EN 14594 Compressed air continuous flow devices
Disposable Masks
As referenced above, BS EN 149 is the recognised safety standard for filtering half masks such as disposable masks and masks with changeable filters. This is the most common form of everyday respiratory protection and is defined by three classes:
FFP1: Filtering capacity of at least 80%. Filters up to 4 times the respective occupational exposure limit. Suitable for non-toxic and non-fibrogenic particles.
FFP2: Filtering capacity of at least 94%. Filters up to 10 times the respective occupational exposure limit. Suitable for noxious and harmful particles, smoke and dusts.
FFP3: Filtering capacity of at least 99%. Filters up to 30 times the respective occupational exposure limit. Suitable for toxic particles, smoke and dusts.
If a filtering half mask has the marking “R” it is reusable. If the mask has the marking “NR” it is not reusable after one shift.
Face Fit Testing
To ensure respiratory protection equipment is tight fitting and securely protecting the wearer in hazardous environments, Face Fit Testing is a mandatory procedure.
Working closely with Eurosafe, BSIF, HSE and respiratory protection manufacturers, our trained team can carry out face fit testing from both our sites and at your workplace.
Powered Respirators
Powered air purifying respirators, known as PAPRs, are the most advanced form of protection, consisting of a reusable battery powered blower unit with a facepiece, hood or helmet. They supply a safe continuous stream of purified air to the wearer for prolonged periods of time, which eliminates any breathing difficulties.
PAPR hoods and helmets generally do not require face fit testing, therefore allowing workers to maintain facial hair for personal or religious reasons.
At Arden Winch we pride ourselves on our supply and support of PAPR units, with exclusive UK stock holding, discounts and competitive prices available.
