Respirator with blower

Respirators with blower assistance are independent of the ambient atmosphere. 

Combination of air-line respirator and auxiliary self- contained air supply or air-storage receiver with alarm Self-contained breathing apparatus Hose mask with blower... 

If longer use times are required, respirators with powered air supply can be used. In this case, particle filters of type PI, 2 or 3 can be worn on the body as a compact unit together with the blower and the storage battery. The air supply for the corresponding fuU, half, or quarter masks is provided by a hose (see Section 6.8.4.I.3. 

Table 6.27 Maximum allowable concentrations of air contaminants using a blower-assisted respirator with a full-face, half, or quarter mask.

Air-line respirator Hose mask with blower... 

Air-purifying half-mask or mouthpiece respirator with filter pad or cartridge Air-line respirator Air-line abrasive-blasting respirator Hose mask with blower... 

Expected duration of exposure. The requirements for short duration exposure can be different from those for long duration. A task, for example, that requires 30 minutes of work in an enclosed space with toxic gas might well be satisfied by a cartridge respirator. For prolonged exposure, a mask with an attached air supply hose and blower might be more appropriate. 

Location of the hazard area. Air supply for a hose mask or air line respirator requires a source of clean, uncontaminated air within the distance limits of the air hose, that is, 300 feet for a hose with an attached air blower and 75 feet without a blower. Obviously, before selecting a respirator of that type, the source of clean air should be identified. 

Powered air-purifying respirators use a blower to draw air to the user. PAPRs should not be confused with air-supplying respirators, because they do not supply clean air. The air is cleaned by cartridges or canisters, as it is with other air-purifying respirators. These respirators are available as lightweight backpacks, or they may be mounted on or in application equipment where the power is supplied by the vehicle s electrical systems. 

For more intensive care, however, increased precautions are advisable. Members of the patient care team should be limited to a small number of selected, trained individuals, and special care should be directed toward eliminating all parenteral exposures. Use of endoscopy, respirators, arterial catheters, routine blood sampling, and extensive laboratory analysis increase opportunities for aerosol dissemination of infectious blood and body fluids. For medical personnel, the wearing of flexible plastic hoods equipped with battery-powered blowers provides excellent protection of the mucous membranes and airways. 

Looking at the various fresh-air hose respirators, the breathing air can be provided to the person either by the lung power (fresh-air device with a suction hose) or by the support of a blower (fresh-air compressed air device). 

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