Basic Test Methods of Respiratory Protective Devices

Abstract

This chapter provides basic information on the new international standards of the ISO series for respiratory protective devices. A new classification of respiratory protective devices related to the severity of work is presented. The next part of this chapter discusses the methodology of research of the most important parameters determining the protection class of the above-mentioned devices. These parameters include the penetration rates for solid and liquid test aerosols that indicate how much of the aerosol has been retained by the filtering material during the filtration process and the total inward leakage (TIL), which consists of a leakage through a face sealing, exhalation valve leakage (if a valve is fitted) and penetration through the filtering material, giving an overall picture of the efficiency of the complete respiratory protective device. A proposal for a new research methodology was also presented for both of the above-mentioned methods for nanoaerosols using a robotic head and torso model for TIL ensuring full repeatability and reproducibility of the above-mentioned method by eliminating the human factor. * * *