Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs)
A PAPR uses a battery-powered blower to pull air through filters and push it into a hood, helmet or facepiece. Breathing is easier, the airflow feels cooler, and some styles work for people with beards. They’re common for silica, welding fume, lead and long shifts in respirators.
- Construction
- General Industry
- Welders
Types of PAPRs
| Type | Assigned protection factor (APF) | Fit test? | Facial hair? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loose-fitting hood or helmet | 25 (higher only if the maker has test data showing it) | No | Usually OK |
| Tight-fitting half facepiece | 50 | Yes | No, must be clean-shaven where it seals |
| Tight-fitting full facepiece | 1,000 | Yes | No, must be clean-shaven where it seals |
An APF of 25 means the air inside should have no more than 1/25 of the contaminant outside, when the PAPR is working and worn correctly. Some rules, like the construction silica rule, call for an APF of 25 or more for certain long tasks, which a PAPR can meet.
Before each use
- Battery fully charged (bring a spare for long shifts)
- Right filters or cartridges for the hazard, seated correctly
- Airflow check passes, using the maker’s flow indicator
- Breathing tube has no cracks or holes and is connected at both ends
- Hood, visor or facepiece is clean and undamaged; seals and shrouds in place
- Low-flow and low-battery alarms work
If the alarm sounds or airflow drops, leave the contaminated area right away. With the blower off, a loose-fitting hood gives very little protection, and you can breathe back the air you exhaled.
Filters
- PAPR filters are made for that PAPR. Use only the maker’s approved filters; regular half-mask cartridges don’t fit or aren’t approved.
- Particle filters for PAPRs are usually HE (high efficiency). Gas and vapor cartridges need a change schedule, just like other respirators.
- Change particle filters when airflow drops below the minimum or the filter is damaged or dirty.
When a PAPR is the wrong choice
- Oxygen-deficient air, unknown air, or air that’s immediately dangerous to life or health: you need supplied air or SCBA.
- Gases or vapors that the filters aren’t rated for.
- Places where the blower could be an ignition source, unless the PAPR is approved for hazardous locations.
- Confined spaces with untested air. See Confined Spaces.
Program requirements still apply
A PAPR is still a respirator under OSHA’s rules. When it’s required, your employer must provide a medical evaluation, training, fit testing for tight-fitting models, and cleaning and maintenance. See Respiratory Protection and Fit Testing Methods.
Care
- Clean the hood or facepiece and breathing tube after each use, as the maker says
- Charge batteries after each shift; replace them when run time gets short
- Store in a clean container away from dust, heat and sunlight
- Replace hood shrouds, visor covers and other wear parts as needed
Standards & references
- 29 CFR 1910.134: Respiratory protection, including assigned protection factors
- NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory
- See also: Respirator Filters · Silica · Welding Helmets
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