1. Control at source
Wet methods, HEPA extraction, local exhaust, isolation and less hazardous products come before PPE.
11 types explained
Masks, respirators, filters and cartridges
Understand names, uses, limits, fit and care before dusty or chemical work.
A mask is not permission
Asbestos, lead, significant silica, isocyanates, unknown atmosphere, confined space, oxygen deficiency, smoke or carbon monoxide require assessment and often professionals. No air-purifying respirator supplies oxygen.
2. Identify contaminant
Particles, gases and vapours require different elements. Read the SDS and assess exposure.
3. Obtain a real seal
Facial hair in the seal area, wrong size or eyewear can cause leakage. Complete required fit testing and a user seal check every use.
4. Verify approval
Look for the NIOSH label and TC number; use facepiece, filters and cartridges in the approved configuration.
11 results
Non-certified dust mask
- Use
- Comfort against some coarse nuisance dust only; no assigned protection.
- Does not protect against
- Silica, asbestos, lead, significant mould, fumes, gases, vapours or regulated work.
- Fit
- Does not replace a fitted, approved respirator.
- Care
- Disposable; do not present as certified respiratory PPE.
- Replacement
- Replace if dirty or damaged, but replacement does not make it approved.
Medical or surgical mask
- Use
- Controls some droplets and splashes depending on product; it is not a tight-fitting construction respirator.
- Does not protect against
- Construction dust, silica, asbestos, solvent vapours, fumes or hazardous atmospheres.
- Fit
- Designed with edge leakage; no respirator fit test.
- Care
- Disposable according to manufacturer instructions.
- Replacement
- Replace if wet, soiled or damaged.
NIOSH Approved N95 filtering facepiece respirator
- Use
- At least 95% filtration of test particles; useful only for particles when exposure level and the respiratory program allow it.
- Does not protect against
- Gases, vapours, oxygen deficiency, unknown contaminant, fire or IDLH atmosphere.
- Fit
- Tight seal on clean-shaven skin, suitable model and size; user seal check every use and fit test where required.
- Care
- Disposable; do not wash. Store clean and dry per manufacturer.
- Replacement
- Replace if damaged, dirty, wet, difficult to breathe through or as required by manufacturer/program.
NIOSH Approved P100 filtering facepiece respirator
- Use
- 99.97% particulate filtration and oil-proof classification; selection must be exposure-based.
- Does not protect against
- Gases, vapours, unknown or oxygen-deficient atmospheres. A P100 does not make asbestos or lead removal safe for an unqualified person.
- Fit
- Requires a facial seal, clean-shaven seal area and correct model/size selection.
- Care
- Disposable or model-specific; follow the complete approval configuration.
- Replacement
- Based on breathing resistance, damage, contamination and manufacturer limits.
Elastomeric half-mask with P100 filters
- Use
- Particles when compatible approved P100 filters are installed on the approved facepiece.
- Does not protect against
- Gases or vapours without the correct cartridge, oxygen deficiency, unknown contaminant or IDLH concentration.
- Fit
- Fit test, clean-shaven seal area and user seal check each use.
- Care
- Clean, disinfect, inspect valves and seals, dry and store in a clean container.
- Replacement
- Filters according to damage, contamination, breathing resistance and program/manufacturer schedule.
Half-mask with organic vapour cartridges and particulate prefilters
- Use
- Organic vapours named by the approval and particles, only when the cartridge matches the product and exposure.
- Does not protect against
- All solvents indiscriminately, isocyanates without a validated strategy, unknown, oxygen-deficient or IDLH atmospheres.
- Fit
- Fit test and facial seal required; eyewear and hair must not break the seal.
- Care
- Keep cartridges sealed when not in use; clean facepiece without immersing cartridges.
- Replacement
- Use a written change schedule based on manufacturer data and exposure; never rely on odour as the sole warning.
Specific acid-gas, ammonia or multi-gas cartridge
- Use
- Only contaminants explicitly listed by the approval and within service limits.
- Does not protect against
- Selection by colour alone, unknown products, unevaluated mixtures, oxygen-deficient or IDLH atmospheres.
- Fit
- Compatible facepiece, fit-tested and used in its approved configuration.
- Care
- Store airtight and follow cartridge-specific restrictions.
- Replacement
- Written change schedule required based on contaminant, concentration, humidity, temperature and duration.
Full-face elastomeric respirator
- Use
- Particles and/or certain gases/vapours with appropriate elements; also protects eyes from some irritants and splashes.
- Does not protect against
- Unknown, oxygen-deficient or IDLH atmospheres; does not replace supplied air.
- Fit
- Quantitative or program-compliant fit test, clean-shaven seal and compatible spectacle inserts.
- Care
- Detailed inspection of lens, valves, seals, straps, filters and cartridges.
- Replacement
- Filters/cartridges by schedule; facepiece repaired only with approved parts.
Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR)
- Use
- Powered protection against contaminants covered by the filter/cartridge; some loose-fitting hoods suit users who cannot use a tight face seal.
- Does not protect against
- Oxygen deficiency, unknown contaminant or IDLH, unless specifically approved—which generally requires supplied air/SCBA.
- Fit
- Tight-fitting models require fit testing; loose hoods have flow and inspection requirements.
- Care
- Check airflow, battery, alarm, hoses, hood, filter and cleaning before each use.
- Replacement
- According to airflow indicator, alarm, battery and filter/cartridge schedule.
Supplied-air respirator
- Use
- Provides breathing air from a controlled source for certain high-exposure professional work.
- Does not protect against
- Improvised setup, non-breathing-air compressor or use without an appropriate program, monitoring and rescue plan.
- Fit
- Model-dependent; tight-fitting facepieces require fit testing.
- Care
- Breathing-air quality, hoses, fittings, alarms, airflow and source controlled under a professional program.
- Replacement
- Maintenance and inspection per manufacturer and program; no generic schedule.
Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
- Use
- Professional entry into certain IDLH atmospheres with appropriate equipment, training, monitoring and rescue plan.
- Does not protect against
- Residential DIY, untrained use or substitute for immediate evacuation.
- Fit
- Specialized program, fit testing, medical evaluation, training and rescue team.
- Care
- Regulated inspection, testing and maintenance by competent personnel.
- Replacement
- Cylinder and component management under a specialized program.
Pre-use check
- Known contaminant and concentration; no IDLH or oxygen-deficient atmosphere.
- Approved model, correct filter/cartridge and valid change date.
- Facepiece inspected, clean, with no damaged valve/seal.
- Seal area clean-shaven and no accessory breaks the seal.
- User seal check passed; valid fit test where required.
- Stop, ventilation, cleanup and decontamination plan prepared.
Verified references
- CCOHS — Respirator SelectionCanadian respirator selection and program guidance
- CCOHS — Respirator CareRespirator inspection, cleaning and storage
- Health Canada — Medical masks and respirators: information for usersN, R and P filter classifications and authentic respirators
- NIOSH — Respirator Types and UseFit testing, use and respirator types
- NIOSH — Identifying NIOSH Approved RespiratorsApproval label and TC number verification