Personal respiratory protective equipment (PPE), their types and classification

Personal Protective Equipment for the Respiratory Organs (PPE-RO) is designed to protect individuals from inhaling harmful substances such as dust, gases, aerosols, and is also applicable in oxygen-deficient conditions. They are classified according to their mode of action, area of application, and design.

Main Types of PPE-RO Include:

Main Types of PPE-RO:

Respirators: designed to filter inhaled air from harmful aerosols, dust, smoke, and vapors. They prevent dangerous substances from entering the respiratory tract.

Masks: depending on the type of facepiece, they can cover the entire face (full-face masks) or a specific part of the face, such as the mouth and nose (half-masks). They can be used as standalone protective devices with built-in filters or with separate replaceable filters. This allows for adaptation to specific conditions and types of harmful substances.

Half-masks: cover the nose, mouth, and chin, ensuring a tight fit to the face. Used with filters or cartridges to protect from harmful substances.

Gas masks: full-face protection that protects the respiratory organs, eyes, and facial skin from toxic gases, vapors, and aerosols. Equipped with filters or an air supply system.

Filters: replaceable elements installed to purify inhaled air from specific harmful substances. They are selected depending on the type of danger: dust, gas, or combined filters.

Prefilters: additional filtering elements installed before the main filter. Their main functions are to trap large particles and extend the service life of the main filter by preventing it from clogging quickly.

Self-rescuers: compact devices for emergency respiratory protection. Designed for quick donning in emergencies and evacuations from hazardous areas. They provide short-term protection for the respiratory organs.

Respirators	Masks	Half-masks	Gas masks

Filters	Prefilters	Self-rescuers

* Also, there are rarer specialized types of PPE-RO, such as:

Compressed air isolating breathing apparatus: Provides the user with compressed air from a cylinder, completely isolating them from the surrounding atmosphere. Used in high-risk conditions or oxygen-deficient environments.

Oxygen breathing apparatus: Delivers pure oxygen from a cylinder. Designed for use in conditions where breathable air is absent.

Regenerative devices: Devices that regenerate exhaled air by removing carbon dioxide and adding oxygen. They allow for extended operation without an external air source.

Autonomous breathing systems: Complex systems providing the user with air or oxygen independently of the surrounding atmosphere. Used in extreme conditions.

Breathing helmets and hoods: Cover the head and neck, ensuring protection for the respiratory organs and skin. Often used with air supply systems.

Air-supplied helmets: Equipped with an air supply system that creates positive pressure inside the helmet, preventing contaminated air from entering.

Powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR): Use a fan to supply purified air to the mask or hood, reducing the strain on the respiratory organs and increasing comfort.

Hose breathing apparatus: Supply air to the user through a hose from a remote source. They limit mobility but provide long-term protection.

Facepiece Types:

The type of facepiece determines the area of the face covered by the PPE-RO and affects the level of protection, comfort, and compatibility with other protective equipment.

PPE-RO is divided into the following facepiece types:

• Half-masks: cover the nose, mouth, and chin, providing respiratory protection from harmful substances in the air.
• Full-face masks: cover the entire face, including the eyes, providing protection not only for the respiratory organs but also for the eyes.
• Panoramic masks: a type of full-face mask with an expanded field of vision. Thanks to a wide transparent facepiece, they provide panoramic vision, increasing safety while working. They provide a high level of sealing and comfort during prolonged wear.

Half-masks	Full-face masks	Panoramic masks

Exhalation Valve Types

The exhalation valve in PPE-RO is an important component that allows exhaled air to exit the mask or respirator with minimal resistance. It helps reduce moisture and heat buildup inside the mask, improving user comfort and protection efficiency.

Exhalation valve types in PPE-RO can be divided into the following categories:

1. With exhalation valve: PPE-RO equipped with a one-way exhalation valve that allows exhaled air to exit the mask with minimal resistance. Features:

• Reduces exhalation resistance.
• Minimizes moisture and heat buildup inside the mask.
• Does not filter exhaled air, which may be undesirable in conditions where infection control is critical.

2. Without exhalation valve: PPE-RO without an exhalation valve. All air passes through the filtering material. Features:

• Filters both inhaled and exhaled air, important in medical and public places.
• May increase breathing resistance and cause greater discomfort during prolonged use.
• Recommended in situations where it is essential to prevent the spread of infections from the user to others.

3. With reverse exhalation valve (with an exhale filter): PPE-RO equipped with an exhalation valve and an additional filter that purifies exhaled air. Features:

• Filters both inhaled and exhaled air, protecting both the user and those around them.
• Maintains the advantages of an exhalation valve, reducing breathing resistance and moisture buildup inside the mask.
• Necessary in environments where protection is needed for both the user and others, such as when working with highly dangerous biological agents or in sterile conditions.

With exhalation valve	Without exhalation valve	With reverse exhalation valve

PPE-RO Classification

The classification of PPE-RO includes numerous abbreviations, each denoting a specific type of protection or feature of the product. Below is a detailed description of the most common abbreviations along with their protection categories and efficiency classes.

Protection Categories:

A: Protection against organic gases and vapors with a boiling point above 65°C (e.g., solvents, gasoline, paints, and other organic chemicals).

B: Protection against inorganic gases and vapors, except carbon monoxide (e.g., chlorine, hydrogen sulfide).

E: Protection against acidic gases, such as sulfur dioxide and other acidic gases.

K: Protection against ammonia and its organic derivatives.

Hg: Protection against mercury vapors.

P: Protection against aerosols (dust, smoke, fog), including radioactive aerosols (P3).

AX: Protection against organic gases and vapors with a boiling point not exceeding 65°C.

NO: Protection against nitrogen oxides.

SX: Protection against specific gases and vapors as specified by the manufacturer (details provided in the instructions).

Efficiency Classes:

The numbers following the letter (e.g., A1, B1) denote the efficiency class of the filter:

*PDC: The maximum permissible concentration of a harmful substance in the air, at which a worker can remain in the work area without health damage.

• 1: Low-efficiency filters. Recommended for short-term work or conditions with low concentrations of harmful substances (up to 5 times PDC).
• 2: Medium-efficiency filters. Suitable for longer-term work. Designed for medium pollution conditions (up to 10 times PDC).
• 3: High-efficiency filters. Used in heavy pollution conditions or prolonged exposure. Provide protection from high concentrations of harmful substances (up to 50 times PDC).

For example, filter A1 is designed for protection against organic gases and vapors with a boiling point above 65°C and has a low efficiency class (up to 4 PDC).

FFP Classification

FFP is a European standard classification (EN 149) for filtering PPE-RO designed to protect the respiratory organs from aerosols, dust, smoke, and fog. Most FFP masks are disposable and should be discarded after use or if damaged.

Protection Classes:

FFP1:

• Protection against non-toxic dust and low-concentration aerosols.
• Protection level: Up to 4 PDC.
• Filtration efficiency: 80% and above.

FFP2:

• Protection against harmful dust and aerosols of moderate toxicity.
• Protection level: Up to 12 PDC.
• Filtration efficiency: 94% and above.

FFP3:

• Protection against highly toxic dust, aerosols, and fumes.
• Protection level: Up to 50 PDC.
• Filtration efficiency: 99% and above.

The labels P1, P2, and P3 refer to replaceable filters for reusable masks. Although they have similar designations, they are governed by different standards. "P" is regulated by EN 143.

Combined filters can combine protection against gases and aerosols, for example, A2FFP3 — a filter for protection against organic gases with a boiling point above 65 °C (medium efficiency) and aerosols (high efficiency).

Color coding and marking

Filters have color coding to facilitate identification:

• A — brown
• B — gray
• E — yellow
• K — green
• AX — brown
• SX — purple
• P — white
• Hg — red
• NO — light blue
• CO — black
• Reaktor — orange

This marking system helps users quickly determine the type of protection provided by the filter and choose the appropriate filter for specific working conditions.

Usage

• R (Reusable) — the filter is suitable for multiple uses.
• NR (Non-Reusable) — the filter is intended for single use only.
• D (Dolomite) — has passed the dolomite dust resistance test (provides longer service life).

 Areas of application

Civilian   Used by the general population in everyday life, especially in conditions of increased health hazards.   Used during pandemics and epidemics, ecological disasters, high air pollution, and other emergency situations.
	Military   Intended for use in extreme conditions, as well as during chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear incidents (CBRN).
Industrial   Used for specialized tasks.   Adapted for protection against specific substances or performing tasks in particular working conditions.   Protects workers from occupational diseases and injuries, and helps ensure compliance with occupational safety regulations.