Respirators

Respirator

— the simplest type of respiratory protection devices. A classic respirator is a mask made of special fabric or paper that covers the mouth and nose; such a mask allows air to pass through, but filters out dust and other mechanical contaminants. Actually, the task of the respirator is solely to filter mechanical impurities and aerosols; from chemical hazards at the molecular level (poisonous gases, fumes, etc.), such a device will not save. And in general, the capabilities of such devices are quite modest, and the degree of protection is low. So, they do not have valves, and there is inevitably a gap between the mask and the face — as a result, air (on inspiration and especially on exhalation) passes not only through the surface of the respirator, but also “past” it. And on exhalation, the flow of air moving up, past the nose, can lead to fogging of the glasses worn. To eliminate this effect, the design often provides for a special bow, crimped to the shape of the nose, but even this solution may not be particularly effective. Also note that if the respirator becomes dirty, at best, you will have to wash it, at worst, throw it away and use a new one. On the other hand, such devices are quite universal, they are usually "all-size" and fit almost any person. Yes, this protection is cheap.

In general, this type of protective equipment is useful in situations where the air is polluted with various relatively safe suspensions — for example, when cutting concrete or stone “dry”, working with a spray gun or airbrush, etc.

Note that this category also includes some of the simplest half masks; for more details on them, see the relevant paragraph.