Airline Respirators

These systems are designed to deliver clean breathing air to hoods, helmets, full and half facepiece masks. The air sources include a compressed gas cylinder, plant air or a low pressure pump. They are most useful against contaminants that have poor warning properties or are not absorbed by traditional cartridges. For instance, spray painting with urethane paints that contain isocyanates. The choices available are in large measure determined by the available air source.

Air Cylinders
Sometimes referred to as bottled air, these are best used with Pressure Demand (PD) respirators that have a relatively low rate of consumption. Also convenient for use during confined space entry in remote locations.

Compressed Air
Most often this is so-called plant air. Because of concerns about contamination, this should be filtered and monitored during use. Portable air filtration panels that incorporate a Carbon Monoxide (CO) monitor are a preferred method.

Portable Air Pumps
These low pressure pumps are ideal for jobs with 1-3 workers where heating or cooling is not required. Inexpensive and economical, they are simple and easy to use. The inlet for the pump must be located in an area of clean air.

To maintain the NIOSH approval, masks and hoods must be used with a hose from the same manufacturer up to the point of attachment. This would be to the air pump, cylinder or filtration panel.