Respirators can be categorized into two groups. What are they?

Respirators can be categorized into two groups. What are they?

• A. Air purifying and air supplying
• B. Gas masks and air filters
• C. Reusable and disposable
• D. Full-face and half-face

Answer: (A)

Respirators are categorized by how they provide breathing air: either they purify the air you breathe from the surrounding environment, or they supply you with air from a clean source. Air-purifying respirators remove contaminants from the ambient air using filters or cartridges. They rely on clean enough air in the environment and must match the specific contaminant and its concentration. They also require a proper seal to be effective and aren’t suitable in oxygen-deficient atmospheres. Air-supplying respirators, on the other hand, deliver breathing air from a separate source. This includes supplied-air systems and self-contained breathing apparatus. They are used when the surrounding air isn’t safe to breathe—due to low oxygen levels or high contaminant levels—because the air you breathe is coming from a clean, external source rather than being purified in place.

Respirators are categorized by how they provide breathing air: either they purify the air you breathe from the surrounding environment, or they supply you with air from a clean source.

Air-purifying respirators remove contaminants from the ambient air using filters or cartridges. They rely on clean enough air in the environment and must match the specific contaminant and its concentration. They also require a proper seal to be effective and aren’t suitable in oxygen-deficient atmospheres.

Air-supplying respirators, on the other hand, deliver breathing air from a separate source. This includes supplied-air systems and self-contained breathing apparatus. They are used when the surrounding air isn’t safe to breathe—due to low oxygen levels or high contaminant levels—because the air you breathe is coming from a clean, external source rather than being purified in place.