Powered Air Respirators
Powered Air Respirator Masks: Consistent Protection. All‑Day Performance.
Powered Air Respirators (PAR / PAPR) and Air Supplied Respirators provide high‑level respiratory protection in environments where dust, fumes, fibres, vapours or hazardous particulates are present. These systems deliver a continuous flow of clean air to the wearer, offering a safer, higher APF and more comfortable alternative to tight‑fitting masks across construction, manufacturing, welding, woodworking, laboratories and healthcare.
Powered Air Respirators (PAPR)
PAPR systems use a motorised power unit and high‑efficiency filters to supply positive‑pressure air into a compatible headtop. This reduces breathing resistance, improves comfort and minimises inward leakage. Ideal for dust, fumes, particulate hazards and long‑duration tasks.
Air Supplied Respirators
Air supplied systems use an external clean air source, such as a compressor or airline, for environments where filtration alone is not sufficient. Suitable for oxygen‑deficient areas, high vapour concentrations, spray finishing, confined spaces and chemical processing.
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Our range of PAPR Units are all HSE compliant including powered air respirators (PAR), powered air purifying respirators (PAPR), battery powered air‑fed respirators, complete PAPR kits, and air supplied respirators. These units are also compatible with facial hair, please see our beard specific solutions Dust Masks for Beards | PPE | Protective Masks Direct. No face fitting is required
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PureFlo Purelite XStream PAPR -Incl Filters£375.00Lightweight all-in-one PAPR providing an 8 hr run time and TH2 (APF 20) protection level. No face fitting is required. Suitable for facial hair/beards.
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Pureflow Purelite XStream Agricultural Pack£405.00The agricultural PAPR pack provies a highly cost effective solution to disposable FFP3 masks and is suitavle for people with beards or prescription glasses. no face fitting is required. All in one head top and fan.
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PowerCap Infinity PAPR (Incl TH3 filters)£675.00The Power Cap Infinity is at fully integrated TH3 head-mounted unit using the latest advances in powered air technology. The head-mounted unit provides complete above-the-neck 4-in-1 protection for total respiratory, head, eye, and face protection. White and black options are available.
CARRY BAG & TH3 FILTERS INCLUDED.
SUITABLE FOR PERSONNEL WITH BEARDS. NO FACE FIT REQUIRED
FREE NEXT-DAY PRE-12 DELIVERY IF ORDERED BEFORE MIDDAY
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Jetstream Dust Constructor Kit£552.00The powered air unit is fully approved to EN12941:1999 delivering air at 180 Litres per minute, twice the current standard.
APF of 20x Work Exposure limit for use with very fine dust, fibres fumes, and aqueous mists.
No face fitting required. Suitable for gents with small beards. VAT Free for non business sales.
FREE PRE-12 NEXT DAY DELIVERY WHEN ORDERED BEFORE MIDDAY
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Jet Stream Switch & Go Unit (8Hour) (EN12941:1999 TH2PSL) Dust£429.17The Jetstream® Switch & Go is the first affordable fully approved unit to EN12941, which features ALL the equipment needed in one complete pack. Jetstream® is a belt-mounted rechargeable respirator with a large capacity disposable dust filter. Waist belt and power unit weighs just 765g. Jetstream® delivers 180 lt/min of air through the filter via a highly flexible hose to the desired headtop. The Switch and Go unit comes complete with a white nylon head top. Jetstream® Switch & Go pack Contains: PSL Filter, Hose, Charger, Carry Case, Battery, White Nylon Headtop, Flow Meter & UK Plug. Filter Performance: Offers an assigned protection factor (APF) of 20 x Work place Exposure Limit (WEL) for very fine dusts, fibres, fumes and aqueous mists. Learn More -
Sundstrom PAPR SR 500/ SR 530 Powered Air Ready Pack£780.00Ready-to-go PAPR respirator kit complete providing TH3 (APF 40) protection level.
SUITABLE FOR PERSONNEL WITH BEARDS.
FREE NEXT-DAY PRE-12 DELIVERY WHEN ORDERED BEFORE MIDDAY
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Sundstrom PAPR SR 500/ SR 570 Powered Air Ready Pack£905.83Ready to use powered respirator kit providing TH3 protection with a chemical & scratch resistant head top. SUITABLE FOR PERSONNEL WITH BEARDS.
FREE NEXT DAY PRE 12 DELIVERY WHEN ORDERED BEFORE MIDDAY
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Sundstrom PAPR SR 500/ SR 580 Powered Air Ready Pack£915.83A great ready-to-use powered air unit for users requiring head protection providing an APF 40. Suitable for use with a range of filters and for bearded personnel.
FREE PRE 12 NEXT DAY DELIVERY WHEN ORDERED BEFORE MIDDAY
Learn More - Sundström PAPR SR 500 EX / SR 570 Powered Respirator (ATEX Approved)£1,575.00
ATEX-approved powered respirator ready pack providing APF 40 TH3 level protection.
Learn More - Sundström PAPR SR 500 / SR 520 Powered Respirator Ready Pack£755.00
The highest level APF 40 (TH3) protection available, with variable airflow for excellent comfort. can also be used with additional fume filters for protection against toxic fumes.
Learn More - Sundström SR 500/SR 575 PAPR Powered Air Purifying Respirator Kit£1,275.00
The latest SR 575 head top provides the APF 40 protection for the harshest environment.
Learn More - JSP Jetstream Constructor Kit A2PSL£688.33The Jetstream® fan with A2PSL filter protects against organic and inorganic fumes, fine dust and particulates. The fan is worn on the waistband and supplies the headpiece with 180 litres of filtered air per minute. The constructor kit contains all components for use and is fully approved to the EN12941:1999 standard. Learn More
- Sundström Asbestos Kit PAPR£655.00
A complete, HSE‑aligned powered respirator kit designed specifically for asbestos removal, surveying, encapsulation, and licensed/non‑licensed work. This bundle combines the lightweight SR 700 powered respirator with the robust SR 200 full‑face mask, plus all required filters, hoses, batteries, and accessories — giving you a ready‑to‑use solution straight out of the box.
Learn More - Sundström PAPR SR 500 / SR 561 Powered Respirator Ready Pack£765.00
The highest level APF 40 (TH3) Power Respirator Protection with lightweight Tyvek hood with PETG visor protecting head, face and shoulders.
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Featured
Frequently Asked Questions
01: What are the different Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPR)?
There are 2 types of powered air respirators (PAPR), these can either be as:
1) Battery Powered Air Respirator where a battery-powered filter (either waist or head-mounted) draws air through the filter and pumps clean air to the user.
2) A supplied Air Respirator where a clean air supply is gently regulated to the user via a breathing tube from a compressor.
Battery powered masks are classified into three protective categories TH1, TH2, TH3 with TH1 equating to a protection factor APF 10, TH2 APF 20 & TH3 APF 40. Powered respirators must meet the European safety standard EN146 & EN12941 to be allowed to be used safely in the UK.
Air-supplied respirators must meet the European safety standards EN270 & EN1835 incorporating the hood top & helmet supplied with air from a compressor. The adjustable continuous flow regulator must also have a low warning device enabled.
02: Which is the Best Powered Respirator?
The main manufacturers are 3M, Sundstrom & JSP who produce a range of hooded & helmet topped powered respirators. The fan units are mainly waist-mounted however the new powered respirator, the Kite Airhood contains the fan in the head unit so there are no external breathing tubes. If there is a concern that tubes could be snagged, the Kite Airhood would be the power respirator mask to select.
03: What are Battery Powered Respirators?
Powered air respirators are battery-powered with a fan unit that can either be waist-mounted or head-mounted. The filtered air is then delivered to the chosen headpiece which can be either a hood or hard head top. The main manufacturers of powered air respirators are JSP PAPR with the switch & go system all in one pack, the 3M PAPR such as the 3M Versaflo TR315 starter unit with a selected head top which can be either hood or hard helmets such as the 3M 306 & the Sundstrom PAPR comprising of the Sundstrom SR 500 Power unit with either the SR 530 head top or the SR 570 helmet.
The benefits of a battery-powered respirator are the flexibility of movement with the whole unit attached to the user allowing the user to walk freely without trailing breathing tubes. Battery-powered units cannot however be used to protect against poor warning materials (Where the hazard cannot be smelt or tasted).
If protection is required against materials that cannot be tasted or smelt a supplied-air regulator is required whereby breathable air is supplied from a compressor via a breathing tube.
Recommended Battery Powered Air Respirators:
Recommended Waist Mounted Powered Air Masks:
JSP PAPR Switch & Go Respirator (hood) (Ready to use)
Protection Level: APF 20 TH2
JSP PAPR Constructor Kit (Helmet) (Ready to use)
Protection Level: APF 20 TH2
3m PAPR TR 315 Starter Unit & M306 Helmet
Protection Level: APF 40 (TH3)
3m PAPR TR 315 Start Unit & 3M Versaflo Head Top S-433L
Protection Level: APF 40 (TH3)
Sundstrom SR 500 Power unit & SR 570 Helmet Head Top
Protection Level: APF 200 (TH3)
Sundstrom SR 500 & SR 530 Hood Top
Protection Level: APF 200 (TH3)
Recommended Head-Mounted Powered Air masks:
Pureflo XStream (Ready to Use) (No Breathing Tubes)
Protection Level: APF 20 (TH2)
04: Can Powered Air Purifying Respirators be used for people with beards?
Powered air masks are the only masks that can be used for personnel with beards. Depending on the size of the beard, either a hood head top or a helmet head unit can be selected.
05: Can Supplied Air Respirators be used for people with beards?
Supplied air masks/ head tops are the only masks that can be used for personnel with beards. Depending on the size of the beard, either a supplied-air hood unit or a helmet head unit can be selected.
06: Do Powered Respirators need to be face fitted?
Powered respirator masks are an enclosed system where air is pumped around the mask unit vi a powered fan. PAPR masks do not require face fitting.
07: Are there Dual Purpose Powered Air & Supplied Air Head tops?
The following head tops whether hood or hard helmet can be used with both the battery unit or air valve regulator with a compressed air unit.
This allows complete flexibility to use the head top either with supplied air from a compressor and also with a powered air waist-mounted battery fan unit if more freedom of movement is required.
Recommended Dual Purpose Powered Air & Supplied Air Head tops:
3m M306 Helmet
Protection Level: APF 40 (TH3)
3M Versaflo Head Top S-433L
Protection Level: APF 40 (TH3)
Sundstrom SR 570 Helmet Head Top
Protection Level: APF 200 (TH3)
Sundstrom SR 530 Hood Top
Protection Level: APF 200 (TH3)
08: What is required to use a dual-purpose head unit with a supplied-air compressor?
The head tops should already include a breathing tube and so only an air valve regulator would be required to regulate air supplied from a compressor. A 3M head top would require the 3M Versaflo valve and the Sundstrom head tops would require the Sundstrom valve regulator unit.
09: My head top needs a breathing tube to connect to the Air compressor, which one do I require?
If the dual-purpose head top requires a breathing tube to connect to the compressor & regulator valve the 3m masks would require the 3m BT40 Breathing tube and the Sundstrom masks would require the Sundstrom breathing tubes.
The European safety standard incorporating breathing tubes is the EN1835 standard & covers three classes LDH1, LDH2 & LDH3 (LDH= Light Duty Hose) (HDH = Heavy Duty Hose)
10: What are the key benefits of a Powered Respirator?
- Continuous airflow for reduced fatigue and improved comfort
- Positive‑pressure protection to minimise inward leakage
- High‑efficiency filtration for hazardous particulates and fumes
- Airline‑fed options for demanding or oxygen‑deficient environments
- Compatible headtops including hoods, visors, helmets and bump caps
- Long‑life batteries for full‑shift powered operation
11: Powered Air vs Air Supplied: Which Do You Need?
Powered Air (PAPR): Best for dust, fumes, particulates and maximum mobility. Not suitable for low‑oxygen environments.
Air Supplied: Best for oxygen‑deficient areas, high vapour concentrations and tasks requiring an external clean air source.
12: Do powered air respirators protect against low oxygen?
No. Powered air systems filter ambient air and cannot be used where oxygen levels are low. Air supplied respirators are required for those environments.
13: Are powered respirators more comfortable than tight‑fitting masks?
Yes. Continuous airflow reduces breathing resistance and heat build‑up, making them suitable for long shifts.
14: Can I use the same headtop for both powered air and air supplied systems?
Some brands offer compatible headtops across both systems, but compatibility varies. Always check product specifications.
15: What industries use powered air and air supplied respirators?
Common sectors include construction, welding, pharmaceuticals, woodworking, agriculture, spray finishing, laboratories, healthcare and chemical processing.
16: Are powered respirators suitable for dust and fumes?
Yes. With the correct filters, powered respirators provide effective protection against dust, wood particles, welding fumes, chemical vapours and other airborne hazards. The all in one head units will be dust only
17: Are these systems suitable for use on construction sites and in hospitals?
Yes. Hard‑hat and bump‑cap powered units are ideal for construction and industrial sites, while lightweight hoods and air supplied systems are widely used in hospitals, laboratories and cleanroom environments.
18: How long does a powered respirator battery last?
Most systems provide 4–10 hours of runtime depending on the model, airflow setting and filter type. Spare batteries are available for extended shifts.