People who work in environments where there is a probability of breathing potentially hazardous substances such as harmful gases, vapours and/or particles, must be equipped with appropriate respiratory protective equipment certified to specific harmonized European Standards.
The basic devices to resort to in these situations are filters located somewhere between the face and the hazardous environment in order to prevent these harmful substances from entering the respiratory tract. European standards classify filters which protect against particles and gas into different protection types and classes depending on their filtering capacity.
A different protection class for every use.
European Standard EN 14387 related to filters for protection against gasses classifies these filters in terms of their filtering capacity as follows:
- Class 1 – low capacity filters – for use in environments where the gas concentration does not exceed 0.1% of the volume.
- Class 2 – medium capacity filters – for use in environments where the gas concentration does not exceed 0.5% of the volume
- Class 3 – high capacity filters – for use in environments where the gas concentration does not exceed 1% of the volume.
Gas filters are, furthermore, classified into one of the following types which are also colour coded : A, B, E, K, AX, and SX .
Particle filters for protection against dusts are also divided into three classes as specified in European Standard EN 143:
- P1 – Suitable for protection against non-toxic solid particles, such as cement, calcium, sulphur.
- P2 – Suitable for protection against solid and / or liquid particles that may be hazardous or irritant.
- P3 – Suitable for protection against solid and/or liquid particles which can actually harm the safety and health of workers.
The classification of combined filters, suitable for use in environments containing both particles and gas, includes that of particle filters and is described as in the following example: ABE2K1P3.
Kasco manufactures Respiratory Protective Equipment offering different protection classes for numerous different uses in compliance with current European Standards.
Oct 10 2016
Respiratory Protective Equipment Protection classes
People who work in environments where there is a probability of breathing potentially hazardous substances such as harmful gases, vapours and/or particles, must be equipped with appropriate respiratory protective equipment certified to specific harmonized European Standards.
The basic devices to resort to in these situations are filters located somewhere between the face and the hazardous environment in order to prevent these harmful substances from entering the respiratory tract. European standards classify filters which protect against particles and gas into different protection types and classes depending on their filtering capacity.
A different protection class for every use.
European Standard EN 14387 related to filters for protection against gasses classifies these filters in terms of their filtering capacity as follows:
Particle filters for protection against dusts are also divided into three classes as specified in European Standard EN 143:
The classification of combined filters, suitable for use in environments containing both particles and gas, includes that of particle filters and is described as in the following example: ABE2K1P3.
Kasco manufactures Respiratory Protective Equipment offering different protection classes for numerous different uses in compliance with current European Standards.
By Kasco Srl • Blog •