| Respirator | |
|---|---|
 White, disposable cup N95 filtering facepiece respirator | |
| Other name(s) | mask |
| Regulated by | National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, National Fire Protection Association, American National Standards Institute, Food and Drug Administration |
| Regulation | 42 CFR 84, NFPA 1981, ANSI Z88.7-2001, 21 CFR 878.4040, EN 143, EN 149, EN 137, EN 14387 |
A respirator is a device designed to protect the wearer from inhaling hazardous atmospheres including lead fumes, vapors, gases and particulate matter such as dusts and airborne pathogens such as viruses. There are two main categories of respirators: the air-purifying respirator, in which respirable air is obtained by filtering a contaminated atmosphere, and the air-supplied respirator, in which an alternate supply of breathable air is delivered. Within each category, different techniques are employed to reduce or eliminate noxious airborne contaminants.
Air-purifying respirators range from relatively inexpensive, single-use, disposable face masks, known as filtering facepiece respirators, reusable models with replaceable cartridges called elastomeric respirators, to powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR), which use a pump or fan to constantly move air through a filter and supply purified air into a mask, helmet or hood.