Facemasks are what you typically see used by medical professionals. They are typically one use, throw away devices. Respirators are generally more robust and designed for harsher environments.
There are several decisions that must be made to choose the right type of protective device you should have in your prepper supply.
Let’s look at the considerations you need to make in selecting your respirator and then take a look at the various types.
In no particular order, here are several things to think about before making your purchase decision.
- What types of contaminants does the respirator block? Do they line up with the types of contaminants you think you may be exposed to in a disaster situation?
- Does the device come in a size that is right for your face? Many designs are one size fits all and may not be as good a choice as a brand that allows for a more personal fit.
- Do you need any special training to use the respirator? Will the place you purchase it from supply the training or do you need to seek out a local instructor.
- Are there any special storage and maintenance requirements you need to know about? Also do any of the components have an expiration date?
- Can you drink or talk while wearing the respirator?
- Does the unit affect your range of vision and is the limitation a significant factor for you?
- Is it something you can easily transport or do you need to store it in a fixed location? If it is too large to conveniently transport, is there a more portable solution that can get you to the bigger unit safely?
- Can the unit be used more than one time? If so, are there any parts you need to replace between uses?
There are five categories of facemasks/respirators that you may consider.
Particulate Filtering Facepiece Respirators
These are low cost, single use respirators that are typically made out of wool, plastic, glass or similar materials that can capture contaminants from the air. These masks provide limited protection against airborne contaminants. They provide no protection against gases and vapors, just particulate matter.
Their effectiveness is marked by a simple rating system:
- N95 – removes 95% of airborne particulate matter
- N99 – Removes 99% of airborne particulate matter
- N100 – Removes 99.97% of airborne particulate matter
Air Purifying Respirators (APRS)
APRS (more commonly known as gas masks) provide a very high level of airborne contaminant remove by filtering, absorbing or a chemical reaction.
Gas masks are typically negative pressure devices meaning that you need to force air through the system by breathing. In some cases, they are positive pressure devices, utilizing a battery and electric blower to force air into the unit through the filtration system.
Depending on its configuration, it can protect against biological, chemical nuclear and/or radiological contaminants.
APRS are rated by the duration of protection they offer against the contaminants they are designed for. For instance, a CAP 1 unit is good for 15 minutes, A CAP 2 unit is good for 30 minutes, etc.
Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR)
A PAPR is very similar to the gas masks described above. The difference is that ALL of them are positive air pressure devices. The advantage of a PAPR over a regular gas mask is that the positive pressure ensures that no contaminants can enter the mask through an insufficient seal with your face.
Fully Self Contained Respirators
Fully self contained respirators carry their own air supply. They come in three flavors: SCBA devices that have an air tank that straps to your back, SARs where the air is provided by a tether device and closed circuit SCBA units also known as rebreathers that scrub, reoxygenate and recirculate your own breath.
The last class of respirators is escape respirators. These are devices that are designed to be used in a very short term emergency situation like evacuating a building or subway tunnel. They provide better protection than a typical particulate filtering respirator and have the added advantage of covering your whole face – offering some level of protection for your eyes too. But they are not as robust as gas masks.
For those who are really interested in the huge array of choices available to emergency responders, we recommend that you download the 688 page guide “Guide to the Selection of Personal Protective Equipment for Emergency Responders.”
Here are a few more gas mask options:
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