Description
Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) provide a steady flow of filtered air into the mask or hood to protect from virus contamination. The blower imparts a positive flow of air which reduces CO2 re-inhalation, prevents fogging, accommodates facial hair, and protects the eyes and face from debris. Using a tight-fitting face piece for the hood increases the assigned protection factor (APF) of the PAPR. Using a PAPR instead of an N95 is preferred for workers who are in contaminated areas for extended periods of time. Most hoods can be cleaned and reused by a single user, but will eventually need to be replaced. In addition, each user of the PAPR should have their own hood. Therefore, we’ve linked below an open source design to fill the gap when more hoods are needed. This design includes a universal connection port capable of connecting to all hoses that come with the blower systems from various manufacturers including 3M, Miller Electric, and RPB blowers. Recommendations For workers spending extended time in contaminated areas, PAPRs provide greater protection against contact with the virus as denoted by the higher APF rating. See Figure 1 below. Where to buy?
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Figure 1.
Taken from OSHA’s Respiratory Protection document: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/3352-APF-respirators.pdf |
Additional Resources:
- Universal PAPR hood design
- Compact PAPR (lightweight, low-cost) from UW-Madison coming soon
Basic Use of a PAPR
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PAPR Donning and Doffing Procedure |
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