WELDING RESPIRATORS

A selection of respirators for welding are here for your protection.  We carry a variety of particulate respirators, half and full face respirators, to the most advanced powered air respirator systems (PAPR). We have the welding respirator that you need in order to keep yourself protected. Finding which welding respirator will offer you the maximum protection is easy.

To select the proper respirator for welding for maximum protection against particulates, determine the following conditions:

• The concentration and identity of particles in the air.
  
• The OSHA or MSHA, or NIOSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL).
• Hazard ration (HR) - the airborne particulate concentration divided by the exposure limit.
• The Assigned Protection Factor (APF) for the class of respirators, which should not be larger than the HR.
• Any service life information available for cartridges or canisters.

Once an assessment of the environment has been completed, you can select the right welding respirator.

Air-Purifying respirators - These welding respirators can either be a filtering facepiece, full-face or half masks with mechanical or chemical cartridges to filter dust, mists, fumes, vapors or gases and are available in three types.

• Filtering Facepiece respirator - these are disposable and are for one-time-use only.  They filter out particulate matter only.
• Disposable air-purifying respirators - can be used one time or when the cartridge expires.  Cartridges are permanently attached and have no replacement parts.
• Reusable air-purifying respirators - use both replaceable cartridges and parts.
• Disposable/reusable air purifying respirators - have few or no replacement parts besides cartridges.

Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPR) - these welding respirators use a blower to pass the contaminated air through a filter, purify it, the deliver it to a mask or hood.  PAPR's filter mists, dust, fumes, vapors and gases, similar to ordinary welding respirators.  These welding respirators cannot be used in oxygen-deficient atmospheres, which can result when another gas displaces the oxygen or consumption of oxygen by a chemical reaction occurs.  Oxygen levels that are below 19.5% will require a source of supplied air  or supplied air respirator protection.  Levels below 16% are considered life threatening.

Optional Features

Other features are available to help customize your needs for the right respirator for welding. Nose cups are available and reduce lens fogging and lens covers protect the lens from paint, minor chemical splashes and scratches.