The Law

The wearing of Respiratory Protection in hazardous environments is a requirement under Regulation 4 of the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992. Under these regulations, employers are required to provide suitable PPE to employees who may be exposed to conditions where their health and safety are at risk.

The Hazards

Respiratory hazards can come from a variety of sources. These include Toxic dusts, mist and fumes, micro-organisms, gases and vapours.

PPE Surveys and PRoduct Training

In order to select the correct Respiratory Protection for the job, a process of risk assessment, job survey and product training may be required. Our Area Sales Managers are on hand to assist you in this process. Feel free to call on their extensive product knowledge and industry experience to help you in your assessments.

Risk Categories

The PPE regulations classify products and hazards into three Risk categories. Respiratory protection is classified in the High Risk Complex design (category III).

Fit Testing
Fit testing is now a requirement under UK Approval codes of Practice for Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAW) and controls of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH). Face fit testing of tight fitting face pieces ('disposables', half masks and full face masks) should be carried out to try to eliminate the possibility of misfitting masks being issued to personnel, thereby compromising protection.

There are 2 forms of testing.

1. 

Qualitative - A simple taste testing pass/fail test carried out with the aid of a test hood. This test is used on 'disposables' and half masks.

2. 

Quantitative - This test gives an objective numerical value to the facial fit. The test is typically carried out with a particle counter fitted to the respirator. This test is for Full face masks.

For further information and details on organising Face Fit Testing please contact your Local Area Manager.

Standards

Respiratory protection standards cover a variety of devices. Some of the most common standards are below.
EN136:1998 - Full Face Respirators
EN140:1999 - Half Mask Respirators
EN141:2000 - Gas Filters and Combined Filters for masks
EN143:2000 - Particles filters for masks
EN146:1991 - Powered particle filtering devices with Hoods or helmets
EN148:1999 - Threads for Facepieces
EN149:2001 - Filtering half masks (disposables)
EN269:1995 - Powered Fresh Air hose breathing apparatus with Hood
EN270:1995 - Compressed Airline breathing apparatus with hood
EN271:1995 - Compressed Airline breathing apparatus with hood for shot blasting
EN405:2002 - Valved Half Mask Respirators - Semi disposables
EN1827:1999 - Half masks without inhalation valves with separate filters
EN1835:2000 - Light duty compressed airline apparatus with hood or helmet.
EN12083:1998 - Filters with breathing hoses (non mask mounted)
EN12419:1996 - Light duty compressed airline apparatus with full face or half mask
EN12941:1999 - Powered filtering devices with hood or helmet
EN12942:1999 - Powered filtering devices with full face or half mask
EN14387:2002 - Gas and combined filters


EN149:2001 The 2001 changes to the Disposable Filtering Respirators standard
Effective 1^st May 2001, the European standard for particle filtering disposable masks changed. The new standard EN149:2001 replaced the old standard EN149:1991. The new standard raised the standards meaning that the masks had to be tested for their performance in trapping both solid and Liquid-borne particles (SL). This means that the old distinction of S (solids) and SL(solids & liquids) masks has gone, all masks are effectively SL approved under this standard.

The introduction of the new standard does not mean that masks approved under the old EN149:1991 standard cannot now be sold. So long as there is a demand for the old standard masks, they will continue to be available. Many manufacturers are however simply upgrading the existing masks to the new standard and dispensing with the old standard altogether.

Type of Product

Classification

NFP

APF

Disposable Masks (EN149)

FFP1

4.5

4

FFP2

12.5

10

FFP3

50

20

Reusable Dust Masks (EN1827)

FMP1

4.5

4

FMP2

12.5

10

28 Day Masks (EN405)

FF Gas + P1

4.5

4

FF Gas + P2

12.5

10

FF Gas + P3

50

10

Half Masks (EN140)

P1

4.5

4

P2

12.5

10

P3

50

20

Gas

50

10

Gas + P3

-

10

Full Face Masks (EN136)

P2

17

10

P3

1000

40

Gas

2000

20

Gas + P3

-

20

Powered Respirators (EN12941)

THP1

-

10

THP2

-

20

Compressed Airline Half mask (EN139)

-

50

20

Compressed Airline with Face shield (EN270)

-

200

40

Disposable Mask Selection Guide
Please note this chart is only a guide to selection and should not be taken as a recommendation. Advice should always be sought from your Liscombe Contact.

Workplace

Hazard

FFP1
(NPF - 4)

FFP2
(NPF - 12)

FFP3
(NPF-50)

Welding
Protection
according to
mask

Construction

Demolition

X

X

X

Groundwork

X

X

Low Level Asbestos

X

Scabbling

X

X

Shot creting

X

X

Metal Working

Molten Metal Handling

X

X

Machining

X

X

Grinding

X

X

Polishing

X

X

Linishing

X

X

Welding

Stainless Steel Welding

X

MIG/TIG

X

Spot Welding

X

X

Brazing/Silver Solder

X

X

Galvanised Welding

X

X

Trades / DIY

Rust

X

X

Filler Dust

X

X

X

Concrete / Plaster

X

X

X

Wood (soft & hard)

X

X

Plastic Dust

X

X

X

Paint Dust

X

X

Boiler Maintenance

X

X

Gas and Vapour Filters Marking

Filters are categorised as Class 1 or Class 2 according to the concentration of the contaminant. Class 1 up to 1000ppm (part per million) and class 2 up to 5000ppm.

Filter Life

The service life of filters depends on the conditions and use. The filter's life will be goverened by :-

• Consumption of air by the wearer. How hard the wearer is breathing
• Air humidity
• Air Temperature
• Content and Concentration of impurities and their combinations

Dusts

Produced when solid materials are broken down into fine particles. The longer dust remains in the air, the easier it is to inhale.

Mists

Tiny liquid droplets formed by atomisation and condensation processes such as spraying. Often a combination of several hazardous ingredients.

Metal Fume (Weld fume)

Occurs when metals are vaporised under high heat, such as welding. The vapour cools quickly and condenses into very fine particles that float in the air. When welding, in addition to the weld fume, Ozone may be given off during MIG and TIG processes. Ozone may cause nausea sickness and headaches.

Vapours

Vapours are gaseous forms of substances which would normally be solids or liquids at room temperature.

Gases

Gases are substances that are like air itself. At room temperature they would not be in solid or liquid form.

Occupational Exposure Limit

The HSE outlines in 'HSE Publication EH40', the concentration of different types of substances in which a person can work without having to wear Respiratory Protection (RPE). Above these levels, known as Occupational Exposure Levels (OEL), RPE must be worn.

Protection provided by protective masks is expressed in terms of the number of multiples of the OEL that the mask/filter will protect against. For example if a mask is approved to FFP2 and has an Assigned protection Factor of 10 x OEL, this indicates that the mask will protect the wearer in concentrations of up to 10 times the Occupational Exposure Limit (as laid down in the EH40)

NFP Nominal Protection Factor

Protection against airborne substances laid out in HSE EH40 is classified as the NFP, Nominal Protection Factor. This is the number of times the OEL that a filler will protect. I.e. a P2 mask will protect the wearer up to a level, 12 times the concentration of a substance outlined as acceptable in HSE EH40.

APF Assigned Protection Factor

A term given to the realistic 'in use' protection that will be provided by the masks, rather than the protection achieved in laboratory tests.