Bhabha Atomic Research Centre has developed half face mask dust and airline respirators to protect workers from inhalation of atmospheric contaminants such as radioactive particulates, bacterial and viral loaded particles, dusts, fumes & vapors (using combination cartridges), smoke etc.

Half Face Mask Dust Respirator

This is an air-purifying respirator having half-face mask to cover nose and mouth. The dust respirator, a half-face mask fitted with HEPA filter cartridges (P100, P3 or FFP3 type) provides respiratory protection of the personnel against inhalation of atmospheric contaminants such as radioactive particulates, bacterial and viral loaded particles, dusts, fumes & vapors (using combination cartridges), smoke etc.. The mask can also be fitted with a pair of combination type filter cartridges to remove organic & iodine vapors in addition to particulates from the working atmosphere. The newly modified face piece of the mask made up of silicon elastomer has soft internally rolled periphery, which assures comfortable and airtight fit on persons of widely varying facial contours and sizes. These Respirators are normally fitted with a pair of high efficiency filter cartridges having minimum efficiency of 99.97% against 0.3-micron size particles.

Half Face Mask Airline Respirator

Airline respirator is a continuous flow air supplying respirator. It has a half mask face piece to which clean and filtered air is supplied through a small diameter air hose. In this type of respirator, a set amount of air is continuously fed to the face piece. This respirator can be used in an atmosphere contaminated with gaseous and /or particulate matter. Positive pressure inside the face piece gives very little possibility for outside contaminated air to leak in. Continuous flow of fresh and cool air to the face piece provides cooling to the face of the wearer. This type of respirator can be worn for long duration without any discomfort.

1. Air purifying particulate respirator for non-IDLH environment
2. New design of face piece for better fit and comfort
3. Advance silicone material for increased comfort, greater durability, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties
4. Soft Exhalation valve makes breathing easier
5. Exhalation valve cover directs exhaled breath and moisture downward to reduce fogging
6. New design of metal yoke with lock for easy adjustment of headbands and tight fit
7. Low manufacturing cost

1. Positive pressure respirator for non-IDLH environment
2. Ideal for use where the wearer needs extended times in environments that are not immediately dangerous to life or health (non-IDLH) such as painting, plant maintenance & operations, welding etc.
3. Can be used with various lengths of braided Airline Hose for a combined total of up to 300 feet
4. Quick fit Connect option enables easy removal when needed
5. Newly developed face piece for better fit and comfort
6. Advance silicone material for increased comfort and greater durability
7. Newly designed metal yoke for headband easy adjustments with lock
8. Corrugated rubber hose for better body movements during work conditions
9. No batteries or electronic parts to maintain

Half Face Mask Dust Respirator

1. These respirators are mainly used in an atmosphere where protection against fine toxic particles such as radioactive dusts, silica dusts, particles carrying bacteria, molds and viruses is required.
2. The respirators can be used by workers in nuclear facilities such as nuclear reactors, fuel fabrication facilities, mines and other nuclear facilities
3. The respirators are very useful for respiratory protection of the workers in the operations involving painting, welding, chemical handling, construction, mining, manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, smelting and oil exploration.

Half Face Mask Airline Respirator

1. It is normally used when air purifying respirators will not give adequate protection against dusts, vapors and gases.
2. The airline respirators are very useful for respiratory protection of the workers during the work such as spray painting, grinding, stripping, welding, chemical handling, powder coating operations.
3. These respirators are very useful in nuclear power plants and nuclear facilities during maintenance works involving potential for internal exposure due to radioactive particulates.

Respiratory protection is a necessary adjunct in any industry where dusty or toxic atmosphere is met within the working atmosphere. Even in the plants having well designed ventilation systems and confinement systems, use of respiratory protective equipment may become necessary under certain conditions to protect workers from inhalation hazards. The degree of respiratory protection needed can vary over a wide range and thus different types of respirators have come to be in use. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre has developed half face mask dust and airline respirators to protect from inhalation of atmospheric contaminants such as radioactive particulates, bacterial and viral loaded particles, dusts, fumes & vapors (using chemical cartridges), smoke etc.

Half Face Mask Dust Respirators

This is an air-purifying respirator having half-face mask to cover nose and mouth. The newly modified face piece of the mask made up of silicon elastomer has soft internally rolled periphery, which assures comfortable and airtight fit on persons of widely varying facial contours and sizes. These Respirators are normally fitted with a pair of high efficiency filter cartridges having minimum efficiency of 99.97% against 0.3-micron size particles. This respirator can also be fitted with a pair of combination (Impregnated charcoal + HEPA) filter cartridges to remove organic and iodine vapors in addition to particulates from breathing atmosphere. These respirators are normally used in plants where toxic particulates/radionuclides are likely to be present in the working environment where there is a requirement for highly efficient respiratory protective equipment with filters having particulate removal efficiency in the order of 99.97% or more for 0.3 micron size particles. Also these respirators are applicable in atmospheres where protection against particulates like radioactive particulates, fumes and dusts generated during welding operations, beryllium dust, silica dust generated during mining operations, civil construction work etc.

Half Face Mask Airline Respirators

This is a continuous flow air-supplied respirator. It has a half-face mask to which respirable air at the rate of 120 l/min is continuously fed by means of an air-hose. Positive pressure inside the face-piece gives very little possibility for outside contaminated atmosphere air to leak in. These respirators are mainly used in conjunction with plastic suits to provide air for breathing and to protect the personnel against dusts, vapors and gases. Plastic suits are used to prevent skin contamination in the nuclear facilities. These equipment can also be used in various other industries such as chemical, food processing, agriculture, petroleum, pharmaceutical or mechanical industries. The effectiveness of a respirator depends on many factors such as the integrity of the face seal, the filtration capability of the selected canister or filter medium etc.

A. Half Face Mask Dust Respirators

1. Air purifying particulate respirator for non-IDLH environment
2. New design of face piece for better fit and comfort
3. Advanced silicone elastomer material used for increased comfort, greater durability, anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties.
4. Soft Exhalation valve makes breathing easier
5. Exhalation valve cover directs exhaled breath and moisture downward to reduce fogging.
6. Metal yoke with lock arrangement for easy adjustment of headbands and tight fit.
7. Low manufacturing cost.

B.Half Face Mask Airline Respirators

1. Positive pressure respirator for non-IDLH environment.
2. Ideal for use where the wearer needs extended times in environment that are not immediately dangerous to life or health (non-IDLH) such as painting, plant maintenance & operations, welding etc.
3. Can be used with various lengths of braided Airline Hose for a combined total of up to 300 feet.
4. Quick fit connect option enables easy removal when needed.
5. Newly developed face piece for better fit and comfort.
6. Advanced silicone material used for increased comfort and greater durability, anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties.
7. Newly designed metal yoke for headband easy adjustments with lock.
8. Corrugated rubber hose for better body movements during work conditions.
9. No batteries or electronic parts to maintain.

A. Half Face Mask Dust Respirators

1. Dust respirators are mainly used in atmosphere where protection against fine toxic particles such as radioactive dusts, silica dusts, particles carrying bacteria, molds & viruses is required.
2. It can be used by workers in nuclear facilities such as nuclear reactors, fuel fabrication facilities, mines and other nuclear facilities
3. It is very useful for the protection of the workers in the operations involving painting, welding, chemical handling, construction, mining, manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, smelting and oil exploration.

B. Half Face Mask Airline Respirators

1. It is normally used when air purifying respirators will not give adequate protection against dusts, vapors and gases.
2. The airline respirators are very useful for the protection of the workers during the work involving spray painting, grinding, stripping, welding, chemical handling, powder coating etc.
3. These respirators are very useful in nuclear power plants and nuclear facilities during maintenance works involving potential for internal exposure due to radioactive particulates.

Testing Facility

Various facilities and equipment are required for the testing of components. Equipment like rubber hardness tester and a compressor for checking the hardness & leakage due to rubber components respectively are essential. A respirator jig has to be fabricated for testing the leakage in exhalation valves, dust respirators and also to determine the pressure drop/ resistance of the exhalation valve as well as filter cartridges. For inward leakage testing of the respirator, a leakage testing setup by leak meter is required. Visual inspection of all the rubber and plastic components under good light condition is to be carried out for smoothness, blowholes, cracks, good workmanship etc. A portable compressor and a test unit (technology of which will be provided by BARC) to test the leakage in respirators and pressure drop of filter cartridges, exhalation valves and other components are required.

The firm should have:

1. A well maintained light duty workshop to fabricate metal components required for the production of respirators, servicing of moulds, etc.
2. A hand / semi-automatic plastic molding machine to fabricate plastic components
3. A large size hot press (60cm X 60cm) for molding rubber components. The moulds required for face-piece (nose-cup), corrugated rubber hose; exhalation valve, cartridge holder etc. either can be made by outsourcing or fabricated in the workshop as per drawings

SPACE

1. A covered space for workshop and molding facilities would be about 35 sq. meters and that for assembly and testing of finished products would be an air-conditioned dust free space of 30 sq. meters for production of 2000 dust respirators and 1000 airline respirators annually.

POWER

1. Three phase power connection.

MANPOWER

For the production of 2000 dust respirators and 1000 airline respirators per annum, the man- power requirement is as follows:

1. One mechanic, with ITI diploma for handling of various workshop operations.
2. Two operators, for operation of rubber and plastic molding machines and other related jobs.
3. Three skilled persons, for assembly and testing of respirators.