MASK

A respiratory protective equipment is meant to protect a person against hazardous substances present in the atmosphere, where he/she should work under forms like solid or liquid aerosols or gas, vapors or steam.
The user of a respiratory protective equipment must know the nature of the present risks (composition and concentration of the toxic substances) in the atmosphere in which he/she should work on one hand, and the other hand, it’s important to take into consideration the time during which the protection must be ensured as well as the physiologic charge (breathing rhythm) of the user, in order to select a respirator device having the adapted autonomy.

Protection level	HAZARD TYPE	EXAMPLES
A1	Organic gases	Working with solvents created by paint sprays and adhesives…
B1	Inorganic gases and vapors	Working with chlorine, bromine, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulphide
E1	Acid gases	Working with sulphur dioxide, hydrogen chloride and other acid gases
K1	Ammonia	Working with ammonia and its derivatives
P1	Non toxic dusts	For use against non toxic dusts
P2 S	Non toxic dust fumes and water based mists	Working with hardwood, glass fibres and plastics, metalworking and welding
P2 SL	As P2 S but with additional protection against non-water-based fumes	As P2 S but with additional protection against e.g. oil based mists
P3 S	Dust, water-based mists and fumes	Working with toxic metals, biochemical dusts, hardwoods
P3 SL	Dusts, mists and fumes	As P3 but with additional protection against liquid aerosols e.g. oil mists