What Is A Powered Air Respirator?

A common question we get asked is ‘What is a Powered Air Respirator and Why Is A PAPR important?’

A Powered Air Purifying Respirator (or PAPR) is a portable air filtration system that provides effective protection against potentially hazardous particulates, fumes and gases present when welding, cutting or grinding. These harmful contaminants – collectively known as ‘welding fume’ – can pose significant health risks when inhaled. Welding fume can contain a mixture of airborne gases that may include oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), ozone(O3) and shield gases eg argon, helium. Effective respiratory protection, such as using a powered air system helps to protect against potential short and long-term health effects. Therefore the PAPR is not just important but considered a critical element in the process.

Recent changes in the classification of welding fume by the International Agency for the Research on Cancer (IARC) has seen welding fume changed from Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans) to Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans). This has shone the light once again on the importance of welding safety, as the effects of harmful welding fume have now been proven to have direct links to cancer.

In protecting against welding fumes, the 3M Speedglas Welding Helmet 9100XXi with the 3M Adflo Powered Air Respirator filters out particulates and gases and provides a constant flow of clean, filtered air through to the breathing zone. The Adflo PAPR unit is a light, portable belt-mounted respirator that connects to the Speedglas 9100 respiratory welding helmets. Available with a range of stackable particulate and gas filters, the Adflo system provides a Required Minimum Protection Factor (RMPF) of 50 – meaning the air that you breathe in through the system is 50 times cleaner than the surrounding air.

Article By: Team AWS

To know more about the latest information and news on the hazards of welding fumes click the link https://www.awsi.com.au/blog/welding-fume-white-paper

The QWS team is well trained in recommending efficient RESPIRATORY PROTECTION options to protect yourself from hazardous welding fumes at all times with efficient respiratory protection.

QWS offers a broad range of respiratory protection, we have RESPIRATORS WITH VALVES, FILTERS & PRE-FILTERS, SILICON HALF MASK FACE PIECE, PARTICULATE FILTERS, HEAD HARNESS, FILTER ADAPTORS, PEEL-OFF VISOR OPTIONS, NECK PADS, FILTER RETAINERS, TWIN FILTER HALF MASKS, RESPIRATOR CLEANING WIPES, SOCK FILTERS, DISPOSABLE RESPIRATORS, RESPIRATOR WELDING KIT, BREATHING TUBES and many more…

Click on the link to see our full range of Respiratory Protection https://queenslandweldingsupplies.com.au/collections/respiratory-protection

Contact Queensland Welding Supply anytime to discuss your personal requirements in detail so we can find the most suitable solution for you. CALL US 07 3399 6199 OR 1800 108 900