No, all types of respirators are not the same. There are two main categories of respirators with distinct functions and designs:
- Air-Purifying Respirators (APRs): These filter contaminants from the surrounding air. Types within this category include disposable particulate respirators (like N95 or FFP masks), reusable elastomeric respirators with replaceable filters, and powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) that use battery-powered fans to provide filtered air. APRs rely on filtering out particles, gases, or vapors but do not supply oxygen.
- Supplied-Air Respirators (SARs): These provide clean, breathable air from an external source such as compressed air tanks or air lines. These are used in environments with low oxygen or high concentrations of contaminants where filtering ambient air isn't sufficient. Subtypes include self-contained breathing apparatus used by firefighters and miners.
Respirators also vary by features such as face coverage (half-face, full- face), reusability (disposable vs. reusable), and protection levels (e.g., filtering capacity against particulates or gases). Additionally, some masks have exhalation valves while others do not, impacting ease of breathing and source control.
In summary, respirators differ significantly in type, design, purpose, and protective capacity, so selecting the appropriate respirator depends on the exposure risks and intended use.
