What’s the real cost?
February 1st 2005

The need to reduce overheads and costs is essential to good business practice, however, when it comes to choosing disposable respirators, what appears to be the cheapest option at the point of purchase, may not, longer term be the most cost effective option. There are other factors that should be taken into account when considering which product to purchase that can directly affect the true cost, and will probably affect the company bottom line, such as breathing resistance and fit.

Breathing Resistance The ease of breathing through a respirator is often ignored in respirator cost evaluations.

However, the more difficult it is to breathe through a physical barrier such as the filter medium of a disposable respirator, the more effort has to be exerted by the user to inspire sufficient air to meet their physical needs.

The increased breathing effort required by the user directly affects and reduces the users physical performance, endurance, work efficiency (output) and of course comfort during their working day. It goes without saying that the higher the breathing resistance of the filter medium the more difficult it is to breathe, so increasing these problems.

Increased breathing resistance can also lead to an increased CO2 build up and possibly heat stress.

Reduced user efficiency and output will almost certainly have a direct effect on the company productivity and therefore profitability.

There are several published studies that have shown a direct link between breathing resistance and physical performance. A study in the Netherlands by Heus R et al, published in Applied Ergonomics in 2004, on a graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer testing three levels of respiratory resistance, concluded that ‘overall workload increases due to an increase in inspiratory resistance by wearing respiratory protective devices.’

The Respiratory Solution Having established the need for disposable respirators, the user’s acceptance, endurance and comfort can be maximised by providing a product with the lowest possible breathing resistance while providing the correct amount of protection.

There is a choice in the ranges of disposable respirators available, but because they meet the same European Standard doesn’t mean that they are the same in terms of breathing resistance.

By using the Protex respirator by Cuxson Gerrard, which has a technologically advanced electrostatic filtration system, the user will experience a low level of breathing resistance. The Protex respirator is also available with exhalation valves to reduce the build up of heat, humidity and exhaled CO2.

Recent tests on breathing resistance, comparing the Protex disposable respirator with the market leader and several other mainstream products, concluded that although all products were within the required standard the Protex respirator had a lower breathing resistance than the market leader and two thirds lower breathing resistance than the poorest performer.

The extremely low breathing resistance of the Protex respirator reinforces claims that not only is the Protex extremely comfortable, but should also give cost savings in the real world.

Less Resistance, Better Fit The importance of a correctly fitting respirator cannot be over emphasised, as any inward leakage will substantially reduce the protection afforded by the respirator.

Lower breathing resistance can greatly assist with obtaining a correct fit as any increased resistance makes it substantially more difficult to create a leakfree face seal due to the higher potential for contaminants to ingress through gaps in the seal.

Essentially contaminants will follow the path of least resistance.

Again, the lower breathing resistance this time combined with the soft and pliant face seal made from pure cotton assists the Protex respirator to provide excellent fit characteristics.

If there is one thing this article should illustrate, it is that an attempt to save a small amount of money at the time of purchasing a disposable respirator is a false economy. Breathing resistance, product fit and comfort have a huge impact on the real cost of respirators, and these factors should always be taken into account when making a purchase decision.

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