Respirator Swap: Even-Steven

For a limited time, IBT Safety, in connection with North Safety, will take your old respirator, in any condition, and swap it for a brand new North Safety unit. The program is good for North 7700 Series Half Mask Air Purifying Respirators, only.

They will take any brand of used or abused respirator that can be replaced by this model.

In addition, they want to call your attention to North's new PAPR, Powered Air-Purifying Respirator. It is an air-purifying respirator that has a battery powered blower.

Both the North Series 7600 Full facepiece and the 7700 Series half-masks will work in connection with the new PAPR.

The PAPR works by using a blower powered by a battery to pull ambient air through cartridges, filters or a canister. A constant flow of clean air is delivered to the facepiece or hood.

The blower can be belt mounted or facepiece mounted. The battery is always mounted on the belt. When the blower is mounted on the belt it can be separate from the battery, or they can be integrated into a single case. The battery may be rechargeable or non-rechargeable, supplying power for four to eight hours depending on the model.

The North Compact Air PAPR is a very comfortable and lightweight unit, especially when compared to similar style PAPRs. It features a comfort back pad to distribute weight evenly. Weight for the complete unit is only four to six pounds, depending on the filters or cartridges used and the backpad configuration.

No adapter is needed to convert a North air-purifying facepiece to a PAPR. The unique 'Y' breathing tube screws directly onto the facepiece cartridge connectors. No adapter or tools are needed.

The Compact Air PAPR is supplied without a facepiece. It can be used with North half masks, full facepieces and several styles of loose fitting head covers. Additionally, tight and loose fitting facepieces are available in several sizes. This allows users to find the right facepiece or head cover for the job, and to give workers the best fit possible.

The key advantage of a PAPR over an APR (air-purifying respirator) is less worker fatigue: Because the air is pulled through the filters or cartridges by a blower, rather than the inhaled breath of the worker, the worker does not tire as quickly.

Air is delivered to the worker: A constant flow of air is delivered to the facepiece or hood. While this air is not cooled, the effect of the air does cool the worker. It also has a higher protection factor. Because a PAPR has a positive pressure rather than a negative pressure inside the hood or facepiece it has a higher protection factor than the comparable APR version.

The key advantages of a PAPR over a SAR (supplied air respirator) is less initial cost: Supplied air respirators require a pump or a compressor with filtration system, hoses and couplers that add to the initial cost of set-up. In addition, with PAPR there are no hoses to drag around: A powered air-purifying respirator is self contained, with the battery and blower worn by the worker. A supplied air respirator has a hose that limits the worker's mobility.

The key advantage of a belt mounted PAPR is better weight distribution: The blower is located on the belt rather than the facepiece, so the weight is distributed where it is easier to carry, rather than pulling on a worker's neck.

To swap your old, tired and non-North respirator for a brand-new North unit, contact your IBT Safety Rep. Then, ask about the new North PAPR and how it will work with your new respirator. Or, contact IBT Safety for more information.