05 June 2019 P1, P2, P3 and Gas/Vapour Filter Classifications - Know the different Respiratory Protection Levels!
Classification Of Respiratory Filters
Do You Know The Difference Between P1, P2 And P3 Respiratory Filter Classifications?
First, Identify The Contaminant That You Will Be Working With
When choosing your RPE, your respirator needs to have capabilities against the physical form of the contaminant.
Are you working with:
Are you working with:
|
- Gases - Formless fluids that expand and occupy the space in which they are confined (e.g. a room)
- Examples include: nitrogen, oxygen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide
- Vapour - The gas form of a substance which is usually in the form of a solid or liquid when at room temperature and pressure.
- Examples include: methylene chloride, toluene and mineral spirits.
Second, Determine If You Are Working With Mechanically Generated Particles, Thermally Generated Particles Or Gas And Vapour Concentration
Knowing this will allow you to choose the correct RPE to ensure you are completely protected against the known contaminants.
The tables below helps establish suitable RPE for the minimum required protection factor.
The tables below helps establish suitable RPE for the minimum required protection factor.
Mechanically Generated Particles
|
Required Minimum Protection Factor |
Suitable RPE |
|
Up to 10 |
P1, P2 or P3 filter half facepiece – replaceable filter P1 or P2 disposable facepiece PAPR – P1 filter in PAPR with any head covering or facepiece |
|
Up to 50 |
P2 filter in full facepiece PAPR – P2 filter in PAPR with any head covering or full facepiece PAPR – P3 filter in PAPR with any head covering Half facepiece with positive pressure demand or continuous flow air-line Half facepiece – air-hose RPE with electric blower |
|
Up to 100 |
P3 filter in full facepiece Full facepiece air-hose (hose mask) natural breathing type |
|
100+ |
PAPR – P3 filter in PAPR with full facepiece or head covering and blouse Head covering air-hose with electric blower Head covering air-line respirator – continuous flow Full facepiece air-line respirator – positive pressure demand or continuous flow modes Full facepiece air-hose with electric blower |
Thermally Generated Particles
|
Required Minimum Protection Factor |
Suitable RPE |
|
Up to 10 |
P2 or P3 filter half facepiece – replaceable filter P2 disposable facepiece |
|
Up to 50 |
P2 filter in full facepiece PAPR – P2 filter in PAPR with any head covering or full facepiece PAPR – P3 filter in PAPR with any head covering Half facepiece with positive pressure demand or continuous flow air-line Half facepiece – air-hose RPE with electric blower |
|
Up to 100 |
P3 filter in full facepiece Full facepiece air-hose (hose mask) natural breathing type |
|
100+ |
PAPR – P3 filter in PAPR with full facepiece or head covering and blouse Head covering air-hose with electric blower Head covering air-line respirator – continuous flow Full facepiece air-line respirator – positive pressure demand or continuous flow modes Full facepiece air-hose with electric blower |
Gas And Vapour Concentration
|
Required Minimum Protection Factor |
Maximum Gas/Vapour Concentration Present in Air p.p.m. (by volume) |
|
|
Up to 10 |
1 000 |
Class AUS, 1, 2 or 3 filter with half facepiece – replaceable filter or disposable facepiece Class PAPR-AUS, PAPR-1 or PAPR-2 filters in PAPR with any head covering or facepiece |
|
Up to 50 |
1 000 |
Class AUD or Class 1 filter with full facepiece |
|
Up to 50 |
5 000 |
Half facepiece air-line respirator with positive demand – or continuous flow Half facepiece air-hose, with electric blower |
|
Up to 100 |
5 000 |
Class 2 filter with full facepiece Class PAPR-2 filters, with full facepiece PAPR |
|
Up to 100 |
10 000 |
Class 3 filter with full face respirator Full facepiece air-line respirator – negative pressure demand SCBA negative pressure demand Full facepiece air-hose (air mask) natural breathing type |
|
100+ |
|
Full facepiece, head covering or air-supplied suit with air-line respirator – positive pressure demand or continuous flow SCBA positive pressure demand Full facepiece air-hose with electric blower |
Third, Determine The Respirator/Filter That Meets The Required Classification For The Work Being Carried Out
-
Particulate Filters
Particulate filters (dust, mist, fume and smoke) are classified according to their ability during a test to filter different sizes particles as defined in AS/NZS 1716:2012.- Class P1 Filters
- P1 filters protect against mechanically generated particles. P1 filters are available as the powered type, replaceable filter type and disposable type.
- Class P2 Filters
- P2 filters protect against mechanically or thermally generated particles (or both). P2 filters are available as the powered type, replaceable filter type and disposable type.
- Class P3 Filters
- P3 filters are to protect against highly toxic or irritant particles. P3 filters are available as the powered type and replaceable filter type.
- To achieve P3 filter classification a FULL FACEPIECE is required (for non powered air), OR a HEAD COVERING or FULL FACEPIECE for a Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR).
- Note: When a P3 filter is used in conjunction with a half facepiece, the protection level is equivalent to a P2 filter
- Class P1 Filters
|
Class |
Efficiency |
Penetration |
Application |
|
P1 |
80% (Particles to 1μm micron = 0.001mm size) |
Not more than 20% |
Dusts |
|
P2 |
94% (Particles to 0.3μm micron = 0.0003mm size) |
Not more than 6% |
Toxic dusts, including welding fumes and asbestos |
|
P3 |
99.95% (Particles to <0.3μm micron =less than 0.0003mm size) |
Not more than 0.05% |
Toxic dusts including asbestos, welding fumes (Only achieved with PAPR or Full Face) |
Gas Filters
Classes for gas filters are distinguished by how much gas they're able to absorb. Gas filters are classified by one of the following classes:- Class AUS - low absorption capacity filters
- Class 1 - low to medium absorption capacity filters
- Class 2 - medium absorption capacity filters
- Class 3 - high absorption capacity filters
|
Class |
Efficiency |
Application |
|
A (All classes) |
Organic Vapours |
Solvents (with boiling point above 65°C) |
|
B AUS of B1 |
Acid gases |
Chlorine/sterilization of water; chemical manufacture; hydrogen chloride/chlorinated organic chemical manufacture; steel pickling |
|
B2 |
Acid gas and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) |
Plastics manufacture; gold ore refining |
|
B3 |
Acid gas and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) |
HCN fumigation |
|
E |
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) |
SO2 /casting of metals; bleach manufacture; manufacture of sulfuric acid; fertiliser manufacture; metal cleaning; petroleum refining |
|
G |
Agricultural Chemicals |
Low vapour pressure (below 1.3Pa at 25°C) organic vapours, pesticide spraying, mixing, manufacture |
|
K |
Ammonia (NH3) |
NH3/refrigeration; manufacture of fertilisers, explosives, plastics; low boiling point amines/chemical manufacture |
|
Hg |
Mercury |
Metallic mercury/chemical industry; inorganic mercury compounds |
|
NO |
Oxides of Nitrogen |
Oxides of Nitrogen |
|
MB |
Methyl Bromide |
Fumigation |
|
AX |
Low boiling point organic compounds (below 65oC) |
As specified by the manufacturer, e.g. dimethyl ether, vinyl chloride |
|
Specific Chemical Type |
Specific Chemical Name |
For use against specific chemicals not falling in the above type description as specified by the manufacturer, e.g. hydrogen fluoride |
|
A |
Organic Vapours (boiling point >65oC) |
|
|
B |
Inorganic Gases |
|
|
E |
Acid Gases |
|
|
K |
Ammonia |
|
|
Hg |
Mercury |
|
|
G |
Organic Compounds w/ Low Vapour Pressure |
|
| A | Organic Vapours (boiling point >65ºC) | |
| B | Inorganic Gases | |
| E | Acid Gases | |
| K | Ammonia | |
| Hg | Mercury | |
| G | Organic Compounds with Low Vapour Pressures |
| A | Organic Vapours (boiling point >65ºC) | |
| B | Inorganic Gases | |
| E | Acid Gases | |
| K | Ammonia | |
| Hg | Mercury | |
| G | Organic Compounds with Low Vapour Pressures |
