CDPH Lead Inspector/Assessor California State Practice Exam

The protection factor of a Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) is generally recognized as?

1. 10

2. 50

3. 1,000

4. 2,000

The correct answer is: 1,000

A Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) is designed to provide respiratory protection by pulling air through filters before supplying it to the user, thereby enhancing the protection level compared to standard respirators. The protection factor of PAPR is generally acknowledged to be around 1,000. This means that, under controlled conditions, a PAPR can provide approximately 1,000 times the ambient concentration of hazardous substances, which is significantly high and indicative of its effectiveness. This high protection level is due to the motorized fan that helps deliver filtered air to the wearer, making it easier to breathe and providing a higher degree of protection in environments where airborne contaminants are present. In contrast, lower protection factors like 10 or 50 might be indicative of common filtering facepieces or traditional respirators which don't offer as substantial a level of airborne contaminant reduction. The key is recognizing that PAPR's endorsed protection factor reflects its robust design and functionality in protecting users in hazardous environments.