Reliable Nuclear Grade Half Face Mask, having features like high filtration efficiency with respect to sub micron sized particulate matter, comfortable breathing, low cost etc. are in huge demand in nuclear & other dust environment industries for protection from radioactive & fine particulate dust.

BARC has developed Nuclear Grade Half Face Mask using indigenously developed glass filter media (HEPA) at a nominal price and is very useful for radiation and other dust environment industries workers. The developed glass filter media serves as an import substitute and is a step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.

1. High Particulate filtration efficiency : > 95 % for 0.3 micron size particles Meeting the codal requirements

1. Comfortable breathing
2. Excellent sealing / leak proof
3. Light weight
4. Oil resistant
5. Environment friendly
6. Cost effective
7. Reusable
8. Compliant to international standards for mask testing

Half face masks, based on glass fibre media in cartridges form, are being used in Nuclear Industries. These cartridges are being imported and assembled to form half face mask. The silicon based mask and filter cartridge have been developed at BARC, using indigenously developed glass filter media (HEPA) at a nominal price. This in-house developed Nuclear grade half face mask is a breakthrough solution towards Atmanirbhar Bharat. It is engineered to maintain a comfortable breathing condition and also to avoid build up of CO₂ in the mask's internal volume.

Glass fiber media has been used as a filtering medium. The filter media mainly works on following three mechanisms-

1. Inertial impaction
2. Interception
3. Diffusion

The technology of Nuclear Grade Half Face Mask uses specially designed Glass fiber (HEPA) media developed by BARC. It meets all the international / national standard parameters such as low breathing resistance, splash proof with excellent fit factor and environmental compatibility. Figs 1 & 2 show mask filtering cartridge and configuration.

1. Easy breathe
2. Excellent sealing / leak proof
3. Splash Proof
4. Light weight (Weight of filters for half mask shall be limited till 300g.)
5. Reusable by replacing cartridge
6. Modular design
7. Cost Effective
8. Possible to disinfect the components
9. Long life

Sr. No.	Parameter	Value
1	Basic Weight	65-75 gm/cm2
2	Thickness in microns	300 micron
3	Particulate removal	≥ 99.97% for 0.3 micron size particles
4	Air flow Resistance @2.5 cm/sec	< 18 mm H2O
5	Uniformity	Uniform properties throughout the cross - section

The indigenously developed mask meets all the criteria as per international and national standards like IS15322. All parameters like breathing resistance, splash resistance and flammability have been tested and approved. Glass fiber based filter media needs only BARC approval.

1. Useful for safe breathing in any industry with high air born contamination like mining, automobile etc.
2. Suitable for radioactive labs
3. Very useful in radioactive accident scenario

Infrastructural Requirements

Space

1. Approximately 1000sq feet space will be required to set up the assembly facility (dust proof with controlled temperature (25±1°C) and humidity (<55%) with continuous electricity)

Facilities required

1. Molding set up for molding of silicon based outer enclosure
2. Cutting and machining set up for sizing of media in adequate form
3. Pleating machine for pleating of media
4. Packaging facility for packing of face masks

Manpower Requirement

1. Two skilled workers, One Supervisor (Diploma in Mechanical Engineering).

Raw material Requirement

1. Silicon rubber material- required for oronasal and is easily available in Indian market
2. Cartridge cover- High density Polyurethane (HDP)
3. Cartridges cover connector –Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
4. Elastic strap holder - Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
5. Elastic strap- Polyester rubber