Air-Purifying Respirator #2: Gas & Vapor Respirators

The second of the three types of air-purifying respirator is the gas and vapor respirator. As the name suggests, these respirators are typically for situations involving hazardous gases and vapors in the air. The respirator uses chemical filters (known as "cartridges" or "canisters") that remove the air's harmful gas and vapor contaminants. These respirators do not protect against airborne particles.

These respirators have an absorption capacity. They do not provide protection if this is depleted. The time until depletion (referred to as "service life") depends on many factors, including the following:

• Environmental conditions
• Breathing rate
• Cartridge filtering capacity
• The number of contaminants in the air

To learn more about Respiratory Protection visit our Respiratory Protection Online Training web page.