Gas masks are used primarily in government services, such as in the army or fire department, but they also prove useful in industries where there is a need to protect the respiratory tract of workers from dusts, irritants or corrosive substances. They can even be found on farms and in horticulture - there they are needed when performing necessary crop spraying. In addition, in Poland there are strict regulations that specify under what conditions the use of gas masks is mandatory. And how do such masks work and what can be purchased in our store?
When are we legally obliged to use a gas mask?
According to the rules of occupational safety and health (the so-called OSH) in Poland, the necessity to work in a gas mask occurs in three cases. Firstly, when the oxygen content of the inhaled air is less than 17%, secondly in high temperatures, and thirdly when there is an amount of dust or dangerous substances in the inhaled air that exceeds the relevant standards in this regard.
Construction of gas masks
We can distinguish two groups of masks depending on their construction, the so-called full masks, which cover the entire face, that is, the mouth, nose and eyes, and half masks, which reach only to the nose, not protecting the eyes. As you can easily guess, for protection against more corrosive substances, a full mask is necessary, which provides air from the outside, for example, from a cylinder, because when using a half-mask, we breathe air that has previously penetrated its material. Half-masks will work well for short-term use, if we need the equipment often and for several hours, it is better to bet on full protection.
Types of gas masks
Gas masks are generally divided into two types. In terms of mode of operation, we distinguish between filter masks and isolation masks. In the case of filter masks, we breathe such air as we would without a gas mask under normal conditions, because the mask with the use of installed filters cleans the air of dangerous substances. On the other hand, the essence of isolation masks, as the name suggests, means that no outside air enters our respiratory tract at all, and we breathe oxygen provided by an external device connected to the mask. In an emergency, we can use a third type of mask, adapted for single use to quickly leave the zone where there is an excessive amount of harmful substances.
How filter masks work
In industry, filter masks are often used, which are specially designed to eliminate certain types of substances from the air. These masks are equipped with special filters and absorbers that purify the air, allowing you to breathe it. The filter is either a type of metal can, which, thanks to the holes used, captures unwanted substances, or material elements that are attached to the mask to absorb harmful fumes or dust. Both one type and the other can be found in our store. We have a filter that makes the air 33,000 times cleaner, thus eliminating as much as 99.97% of pollutants. It protects against smoke, dust, micro-organisms or bacteria, and costs only less than 25 zlotys. It is worth mentioning that the crevices in the filters have a certain size adapted to capture certain substances dangerous to our respiratory system. Often activated carbon is used to absorb certain chemicals, which absorbs particles of harmful gases.
How isolation masks work
An isolation mask generally does not filter the air, but allows its wearer to breathe oxygen extracted from the air exhaled by the worker. Namely, it converts exhaled carbon dioxide and water vapor into oxygen due to the use of a so-called regenerative absorber and the substances it contains, which cause certain chemical reactions with carbon dioxide and water vapor.
Our range of gas masks and components
In our store you can find both masks, respirators and advanced oxygen apparatuses, for example, HERE. We include the necessary filters for respirators, which can be purchased separately in the future. With us you can also get canisters for isolation masks without having to purchase new equipment. We offer high-quality masks from the reputable brand 3M - a full mask from this manufacturer can be found, among others, at: https://www.bhp-gabi.com/p28798,3m-6300-polmaska-wielokrotnego-uzytku-rozmiar-l.html. The full offer is waiting for our customers, and our experts are happy to share their knowledge.
