Choosing a respirator for car painting

If you work with paints and solvents, harmful organic gases and vapors surround you all the time. With regular exposure to such an environment, you damage your health. As a rule, negative consequences affect after a certain period. 

One working shift (8 hours)

1 year

5 years

To minimize the negative impact, it is recommended to use respiratory protective equipment (hereinafter referred to as RPE). There are a lot of them, they are all different. Therefore, we will explain which RPE to use when painting.
Using particle filters when painting.

Particle filters are designed ONLY to filter harmful particles (dust, smoke, mist). Complete with a half mask, such filters can be used while polishing or other work, when small particles appear in the air. 

Thus, the use of particle filters when working with paints will not protect you from organic gases and vapors.

Concentration of harmful substances is up to 50 PEL*:
*permissible exposure limit 

At this concentration level, it is recommended to use a half mask with gas and particle filters.
1. Paints and solvents emit organic gases and vapors. To protect against them, gas filters A1, A2, A3 are used. The number after "A" indicates the efficiency class. The higher the grade, the longer the filter will protect.
2. Since a paint sprayer turns paint into particles, we also need particle protection. These filters are labeled as follows: P1, P2, and P3. 

The combination of gas and particle filters gives the maximum protection. 

Up to 50 PEL:


Concentration of harmful substances is more than 50 PEL: 

At high concentrations, the use of a half face respirator for car painting is prohibited. 

This is due to the fact that the inward leakage coefficient* of UNIX half masks is not more than 2%. And at high concentrations, you will inhale harmful substances in dangerous concentrations.
*This coefficient reflects how much air from the external environment can penetrate under the mask not through the filters, but along the seal line. 

Therefore, full face masks must be used when the concentration of harmful substances is more than 50 PEL. 

For example, UNIX and MAG full face masks have an inward leakage coefficient of not more than 0.05%. They can be safely used in combination with “A” gas filters and “P” particle filters. 

More than 50 PEL:

When do you need to change filters? 

Gas filters are replaced when foreign odor appears in the inner mask space. 

The particle filters are replaced when you feel difficulty in breathing. 

Need help to choose RPE? Write to us: export@zelinskygroup.com. Our experts will select the best options for you in terms of protective characteristics and price.

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