Figure 6-4.—Types of respirators.
TYPES OF RESPIRATORS
You should be familiar with three basic types of
respirators: AIR-PURIFYING, SUPPLIED-AIR, and
SELF-CONTAINED
BREATHING
APPARATUS
(SCBA).
The air-purifying respirators (views A through D,
fig. 6-4) remove air contaminants by filtering or
absorbing them as the air passes through the
cartridge. These respirators may be disposable or
have a disposable prefilter on a cartridge.
The supplied-air respirator (fig. 6-5) is used when
insufficient oxygen is present, when the contaminant
has no odor, or when the contaminant is of such high
concentration or toxicity that a cartridge filter is
inadequate. This respirator is not used in
immediately dangerous to life or health situations
(IDLH) areas. IDLH areas are those in which death
or
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