According to the 89/686/EEC directive the respiratory protective equipment which protects against chemicals and dust ranks among protective equipment which has to be classified into category 3, i.e. the category of equipment providing protection against the highest risk of injury to health.
Basic requirements for air to which a worker is exposed:
The basic standard which governs the classification of respiratory protective equipment is the EN133 standard “Respiratory protective equipment”. The division is based on the concentration of harmful substances and oxygen content.
Depending on the risk type, there are two types of situations:
This division influences the choice of adequate respiratory protective equipment - depending on the requirements filtering or insulating equipment should be used.
The air is purified of harmful chemicals and dust by filters, gas filters and combined filters.
These devices do not constitute independent protective equipment but are incorporated into given protection equipment, such as: half face masks, masks, hoods, helmets etc. The exception are single use half masks - in this case the filter and the mask constitute an integral device.
In some cases filtering equipment may feature elements which force or support air circulation.
According to the EN143 standard “Respiratory protective equipment - requirements, testing, marking” filters are divided into three protection classes depending on their efficiency - measured as the amount of blocked harmful substances, referred to as a penetration rate.
Class | Protection against | Filtering capacity | Permitted penetration |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Solid or liquid non-toxic aerosols in concentration of up to 4TLV (5TLV along with the mask) | 80% | 20% |
![]() | Liquid or solid non-toxic and moderately toxic aerosols in concentration of up to 10TLV (16 along with the mask) | 94% | 9% |
![]() | Liquid or solid non-toxic, moderately toxic and highly toxic aerosols in concentration of up to 20TLV (900TLV along with the mask) | 99,95% | 0,05% |
Class | Protection against | Filtering capacity | Permitted penetration |
---|---|---|---|
FFP1 | Solid or liquid non-toxic aerosols in concentration of up to 4TLV | 80% | 20% |
FFP2 | Liquid or solid non-toxic and moderately toxic aerosols in concentration of up to 10TLV | 94% | 6% |
FFP3 | Liquid or solid non-toxic, moderately toxic and highly toxic aerosols in concentration of up to 20TLV | 99% | 1% |
Gas filtering equipment includes a faceblank and a gas filter. It is used in environments where there is a risk of intoxication with chemicals in the form of vapours or gases. Gas filters are classified on the basis of the substance against which they protect.
Gas filter class | Maximum concentration of toxic gases |
---|---|
CLASS 1 | 0,1% = 1000ppm |
CLASS 2 | 0,5% = 5000ppm |
CLASS 3 | 1% = 10000ppm |
Marking | Protection type |
---|---|
![]() | gases and organic vapours whose boiling point exceeds 65oC |
![]() | inorganic gases, excluding carbon monoxide |
![]() | some acid gases and vapours, including sulfur dioxide |
![]() | ammonia and some amine derivatives |
![]() | mercury and derivatives |
![]() | nitrogen oxides |
![]() | carbon monoxide |
Combined equipment consists of filtering devices and gas filters and provides protection against both gases and solid particles.
The role of the insulating equipment is to provide the user with insulation against air containing harmful substances or deficient in oxygen. This equipment supplies air from independent sources and ensures that the harmful air does not access the user’s lungs. The equipment may be divided into:
A special group of respiratory protective equipment is the escape equipment. This equipment is used during emergency evacuations. This equipment is not used for regular work, but only in case of an emergency, when there is a need to escape a contaminated site.
Required protection ratio | = | Actual concentration level Acceptable concentration level |
Required protection ratio | = | 250 mg/m3 50 mg/m3 |
required protection ratio =5
which means that the required TLV = 10
Threshold limit value
- weighed value - level of concentration of a toxic compound to which a worker may be exposed during an 8-hour workday and average work week provided for in the Labour Code for the duration of the worker’s professional activity without deterioration in the worker’s health and the health of his future offspring.Assigned Protection Factor. It refers to a level of protection provided by a given protector achieved in 95% if fully functional equipment is used by qualified and experienced workers.
NPF | = | 100% % of acceptable internal leakage rate |
Nominal Protection Factor. Nominal protection level provided by the equipment for maximum percentage of inward leakage permitted for the given type of equipment.
Powder and dust | Occurs as a result of processing solid materials. Powder and dust arise during brushing, abrasive blasting, but also cutting, turning and other actions which require treatment of solid structures. The smaller the particles are, the more dangerous they are to the respiratory system. Fibers of fabric also should be considered dust. |
Fog | Occurs during atomization of liquids (spraying, cleaning, wet cutting). The fog consists of small droplets of sprayed liquid. |
Smoke | Occurs as a result of combustion of solid materials at a high temperature. Extremely small particles form smoke or condensate. Smoke is a side effect of many processes, such as metal melting, casting, welding and others. |
Fumes | Gas phase occurs as a result of evaporation of substances which are normally solids or liquids in room temperature. |
Gases | Substances which in room temperature occur as gases. Gases can move with unusual speed for long distances. |
Lack of oxygen | When the oxygen content in the air drops below 19%, it is called a lack of oxygen. ATTENTION! Standard respirators do not protect against this danger! |
When selecting appropriate respiratory equipment to be used in a given environment one should answer the following questions:
Depending on the type of agents, one should select appropriate filtering equipment, gas filtering equipment or combined filters.
You should check whether the selected protective equipment is suitable for the intended application.
If there is a risk of hypoxia, insulating equipment should be used.
Usually the work time is limited due to the parameters of the equipment - the volume of air in the cylinder, filtering capacity in a highly contaminated environment etc.
Extremely high and low temperatures may influence both the user and the operation of the protective equipment. The shelf life of gas filters may be affected by work in high or extremely low temperatures or increased humidity level. Low temperatures may affect the operation of battery powered devices.
Protective equipment worn on face may limit the field of vision and deteriorate the safety of the user. Filtering equipment and breathing apparatus may to some extent limit the moves of users.
If there is a need of communication between workers who wear respiratory protective equipment, an equipment featuring an acoustic membrane should be used.
If other protective equipment is used, the user should make sure that the protection in each area is sufficient.
Examples of dangers | FFP1 | FFP1V | FFP2 | FFP2V | FFP2CV | FFP2DV | FFP3V | FFP3DV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brick dust | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Concrete | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Iron and metal fumes | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||
Glass fiber | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||
Lead fumes | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||
MDF - manual treatment | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||
MDF - mechanical treatment | AB1P2 | |||||||
Mineral fibers | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||
Paint fumes (excluding isocyanates) | AB1P2 | |||||||
Plaster | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Mineral wool | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Sandstone | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Welding | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||
Silica | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||
White spirit | AB1P2 | |||||||
Softwood | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||
Hardwood | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
|
|
|
|
Applications | Risk type | |
---|---|---|
![]() | Stonemasonry and rubble removal | Dust and tiny particles |
Grain sorting and cellulose production | Dust and tiny particles | |
![]() | Softwood grinding (excluding beech and oak wood) | Dust and tiny particles |
TIG/MIG/MAG welding, gas welding, oxygen cutting, soldering, braze welding | Tiny particles and metal fumes, ozone | |
Cutting | Metal dust | |
Machine cutting, grinding | Metal dust | |
Rust, gypsum, plastic grinding | Particles and tiny particles | |
Powder coating (excluding paints which contain lead chromate) | Particles | |
![]() | Hardwood grinding, e.g. beech or oak wood | Particles i drobne |
Timber treatment using water which contains copper | Particles | |
Mechanical paint removal | Particles and tiny particles | |
Powder coating using paints which contain lead chromate | Particles |
There are the following types of respiratory protective equipment:
Respiratory protective equipment. Powered filtering devices incorporating helmets or hoods. Requirements, testing, marking.
The standard specifies minimum requirements concerning powered filtering devices featuring a helmet or a hood with a gas filter(s), filter(s) or combined filter(s) used to protect the respiratory system.
The standard does not apply to equipment designed for use in oxygen deficient environments and to respiratory protective escape equipment.
The standard describes laboratory tests and field tests which enable the assessment of conformity of the equipment with the requirements.
Performance class | APF | NPF |
---|---|---|
TH1P | 10 | 12 |
TH2P | 20 | 50 |
TH3P | 40 | 500 |
Respiratory protective equipment. Half and quarter masks. Requirements, testing, marking.
The standard specifies the minimum requirements for half masks and quarter masks used for the protection of the respiratory system, with the exception of escape equipment and diving equipment.
The standard describes laboratory tests and field tests which enable the assessment of conformity of the equipment with the following requirements:
Performance class | APF | NPF |
---|---|---|
FGAS x P1 | 4 | 4 |
FGAS x P2 | 10 | 12 |
FGAS x P3 | 10 | 12 |
P1 | 4 | 4 |
P2 | 10 | 12 |
P3 | 20 | 50 |
Respiratory protective equipment. Filters. Requirements, testing, marking.
The standard describes filters used in respiratory protective equipment, with the exception of escape equipment and filtering faceblanks. It also lists laboratory tests which enable the assessment of conformity of the filters with the requirements. Some of these filters, upon their testing and marking, are approved for use in other types of respiratory protective equipment.
Respiratory protective equipment. Gas filter(s) and combined filter(s). Requirements, testing, marking.
The standard describes gas filters and combined filters used in respiratory protective equipment without air flow support system. The standard does not apply to elements protecting against CO. The described laboratory tests enable assessment of the conformity of the equipment with the requirements. Some filtering elements compliant with this standard can be used alongside respiratory protective equipment featuring air flow support system and should be tested and marked in accordance with an appropriate standard.
Respiratory protective equipment. Gas filters and combined filters. Requirements, testing, marking.
This standard specifies the requirements for gas filters and combined filters used in respiratory protective equipment without air flow support system.
The standard does not apply to AX filters for use against low boiling organic compounds, SX filters for use against specific compounds and CO gas filters.
The standard specifies laboratory tests which enable the assessment of the conformity of the equipment with the requirements, and marking methods.
Filtering half masks protecting against particles. Requirements, testing, marking.
The standard specifies minimum requirements for half face masks used to protect against particles, with the exception of masks used as escape equipment. The standard describes laboratory tests which enable assessment of the conformity of filtering half masks with the requirements.
If a given mask is designed for one work shift only, it is marked with “NR” symbol. If it is a reusable mask it is marked with an “R”. Reusable masks have to be tested for dolomite clogging and marked with a “D” symbol which means the mask passed the test. In case of NR-marked masks this test is optional.
Performance class | APF | NPF |
---|---|---|
FFP1 | 4 | 4 |
FFP2 | 10 | 12 |
FFP3 | 20 | 50 |
Respiratory protective equipment. Valved filtering half masks with gas filters or combined filters. Requirements, testing, marking.
The standard specifies requirements, test methods and marking for valved filtering half masks with gas filters or combined filters which are used as respiratory protective equipment, with the exception of escape equipment.
Performance class | APF | NPF |
---|---|---|
FGAS x P1 | 4 | 4 |
FGAS x P2 | 10 | 12 |
FGAS x P3 | 10 | 12 |
P1 | 4 | 4 |
P2 | 10 | 12 |
P3 | 20 | 50 |
Respiratory protective equipment. Masks. Requirements, testing, marking.
The standard specifies minimum requirements for masks used in respiratory protective equipment. It describes laboratory and field tests which enable assessment of the conformity of the equipment with the requirements.
The standard does not apply to masks used in diving equipment.
Performance class | APF | NPF |
---|---|---|
P2 | 10 | 12 |
P3 | 40 | 2000 |
Respiratory protective devices. Self-contained open-circuit compressed air breathing apparatus with full face mask. Requirements, testing, marking.
Described minimum requirements for self-contained open-circuit with compressed air equipped with a mask, used as respiratory protection, excluding escape instruments and apparatus for diving. The equipment is intended for use in such environments where the risk of increased pressure in pressure tanks with valves, caused by high ambient temperaturę, is low.
Protective clothing. Protection against liquid chemicals. Requirements for protective clothing for specific body parts.
It specifies the minimum requirements for protective clothing protecting specific body parts (such as: aprons, arm protectors, hoods) against liquid chemicals.
Guide to implementing effective respiratory protection system.
Respirators, breathing apparatus, air supplied by breathing apparatus, safety devices, air filters, filters, safety measures, occupational safety, air pollution, dust, gases and pollutants, air pollutant particles, industrial air pollution, marking classification, efficiency, colour codes, standards, hazards, conformity, training, maintenance, visual inspection, chemical protection at the work place, efficiency tests, tightness tests, pressure testing of compressed air systems, quality, pollution tolerance, protective clothing, flow gas, mathematical calculations, bibliography, risk assessment.
Respiratory protective equipment. Half masks without inhalation valves and with separable filters to protect against gases or gases and particles or particles only. Requirements, testing, marking.
The standard specifies the requirements for operation, test methods and marking requirements concerning reusable half masks without inhalation valves and with separable filters to protect against gases or gases and particles or particles only (designed to be used for one work shift at the most). The standard does not apply to equipment to be used in oxygen deficient environments (oxygen content lower than 17%) or as an escape equipment. The standard describes laboratory tests which enable assessment of the conformity of the equipment with the requirements.
Respiratory protective devices for self-rescue - Part 7: Filtering devices for self-rescue; requirements, testing, marking.