Below are answers to frequently asked questions from our customers. Can't find an answer here? Please contact your local distributor or reach out to our team.
| General PAPR | PureFlo 1000 - EN-Certified |
General PAPR
Powered Air Purifying Respirator
PAPRs, where applicable, offer the user an alternative to tight-fitting respirators, thus eliminating the need for fit testing and associated costs. PAPRs also provide the comfort of moving filtered positive pressure airflow to help the user breathe easier during work activity. PureFlo brand PAPRs have the added bonus of having no cumbersome waist belts or hoses, plus options for complete respiratory, head, eye, and face protection combined.
A head-mounted PAPR is free of cumbersome waist belts and hoses, thus providing more freedom of movement and less risk of snagging on other equipment. The motor, filter, and batteries are all located within the head top of the head-mounted PAPR system. Waist-mounted PAPRs have the motor blower, filters, and batteries located on a belt. The air is filtered at the waist and delivered through a hose into the head top.
The majority of PAPRs are loose-fitting systems, which do not require fit testing. Generally, only PAPRs with a tight-fitting, acclusive mask would require a fit test.
Positive pressure is air fed into the headtop at a rate that keeps the air pressure within at a positive flow rate level at all times. Negative pressure respirators require a tight fit as the user is required to breathe air into the respirator through a filter and without the assistance of battery powered airflow.
PAPRs tend to be a matter of choice based on the hazards that are present for the tasks at hand. The breathing hazards, comfort level within tasks, and other protective needs such as face and head protection all play a part in the decision-making for what PAPR is right for you.
PureFlo 1000 - EN-Certified
Both of our masks are effective respiratory protection solutions but, the specifications of your role specific may decide as to which may be the better solution for you. If you take a hospital as an example, then most doctors and nurses would wear the half mask with the correct eye protection, whereas most surgeons would benefit from using the full face mask. However, if you are unsure then contact your Health and Safety Officer or your Infection Control department for further advice.
We generally advise that the masks are fully serviceable for 5 years, but this is dependent on the environment in which they are used.
As fit testing is mandated by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) we would always advise being fit tested by an accredited person.
The PureFlo 1000 P3 R filter is the most commonly used to protect against hazardous vapours, including COVID-19. However, any of our combination filters with a P3 R element can also be used to protect against hazardous vapours in addition to COVID-19 (i.e. the PureFlo 1000 range A1P3 R D, A2P3 R D, ABE1 P3 R D, or ABEK1 P3 R D filters).
We advise that our filters last 3 months of use or until the filters become clogged or damaged (whichever point is reached sooner). This is based on HSE guidance (HSG53/COSHH essentials R3)and is assuming that the user is breathing through the filters for an average of 40 hours per week (8 hours per day) and that the filters are well-maintained. Filter longevity is also subject to an individual’s breathing rate and the level of contaminant present in the work environment.
The definition of a 'clogged' filter is when it becomes difficult for the user to breathe through it.
Yes, as no latex is used in any of the assemblies in the PureFlo 1000 range. This includes, but is not limited to, the PureFlo 1000 half mask and full face mask together with the PureFlo 1000 filter range.
Like many disposable and tight-fitting reusable respirators, air is only filtered on the inhale and therefore only the user would be explicitly protected against COVID-19.
Some people can find it difficult wearing respiratory protection for long periods. As per HSE guidance (HSG53), we would recommend taking a small break every hour if possible.
We are advising a 10% bleach solution with water to wipe the whole of the mask and the outside of the filters (making sure the solution does not go inside the filters as this will cause damage). The mask can also be dunked into the solution without the filters on. This will not harm the mask. Rinse the mask and outside of the filters with plenty of water and ensure your products are dry before use or storage.
We also acknowledge that 60% or over alcohol products, hypochlorous acid products and hydrogen peroxide solutions can effectively disinfect our masks and filters. Again, make sure these cleaning solutions do not go inside the filters.
This would ultimately be the decision of your Infection Control department or Health and Safety Officer. However, we would advise that you should at least disinfect at the end of each shift, and more often if coming into direct contact with COVID-19 positive patients.
Yes, our PureFlo 1000 full face masks and half masks can be worn during AGPs. The masks and filters can be disinfected as specified in the answer above following the AGP.
Although our filters have been designed to prevent most droplets entering the filter, there is the chance that some of the fluid will bypass this cover and reside on the pleated filter material inside. This would be a call for your Infection Control department or Health and Safety Officer as to how they would want to address this e.g. whether they would advise changing the filters more often or disposing of the filter in such circumstances. However, should splashes contain mucus/bacterial substances and this resides on the pleated material on the inside of the filter, then we would advise filter change regardless.
We recommend storing the mask and filters in a polythene bag, preferably zip-locked with some form of desiccant (such as a silica gel sachet), when not in use. A polythene bag is included when purchasing a PureFlo 1000 half mask or full face mask. Make sure your mask and filters are dry before storing in this way.
However, if this is not possible, it is suitable to store the mask and filters in a clean area where there is no risk of contamination, e.g. a disinfected personal locker.
For those wearing the mask day-after-day, we would advise owning three pairs of filters per mask and using them on rotation (using pair 1 on the first day, pair 2 on the second, pair 3 on the third, then returning to pair 1 on the fourth day and so on).
This is so the filters can be stored in a polythene bag as specified in the answer to question 12 for 3 days, which would cause the COVID-19 contaminants to die provided the storage bag is zip-locked and contains a desiccant. This is an extra measure that we propose for user safety. Products should always be appropriately disinfected in advance of storing regardless of how long they may remain unused.
If you only have access to one pair of filters, this is acceptable provided that your filters are thoroughly disinfected after use.
Yes, it can. Please see the cleaning procedure detailed in the answer to the cleaning question above. Please note that our Portacount adaptor is designed to be handled with care.