From personal protection and weatherization to packaging and transportation, Tyvek^® meets your most essential needs — keeping the elements out while letting in the most important thing – clean, breathable air. Tyvek^® personal protection equipment delivers performance that meets or exceeds industry standards for protection against a range of chemical threats and hazards.

If you’re in industries such as Agriculture, Asbestos Removal, Automotive, Construction, Maintenance, Decontamination, Electrical, Utility, and Food Processing, Tyvek^® may be your best personal protection apparel!

What is Tyvek^®?

Tyvek^® is a 100% synthetic material made from high-density spun-bound polyethylene fibers. Lightweight, durable, and breathable, yet resistant to water, abrasion, bacterial penetration, and aging, Tyvek^® is an amazing material used to improve a variety of applications across multiple industries.

Water-Repellent

When the fibers in Tyvek^® are spun and bonded under high heat and pressure, Tyvek^® acts as a thermoplastic — returning to a high-density, semi-solid state that prevents liquids from breaking the surface.

Breathability

Because no binders are used to hold Tyvek^® together, tiny perforations remain, which allow water vapor to permeate the material while preventing water and other liquids from entering, making Tyvek^® highly breathable.

Barrier Protection

Recyclability

How Allegro Can Help You Stay Safe

We offer several Respirator Hoods made from Tyvek^® that are perfect for any of your application or industry needs! From disposable to reusable or supplied air to powered air, we have something for everyone!

PAPRs

PAPR Hood

SARs

Single-Bib Hood

Maintenance Free Hood

Double-Bib Pharmaceutical Maintenance-Free Hood

Double-Bib Maintenance-Free Hood

Deluxe Double-Bib Hard Hat

SAR Systems

Supplied Air Hood Low Pressure

Single-Bib Breathing Air Blower 

Double-Bib Breathing Air Blower

Single-Bib Cold Air

Double-Bib Cold Air

Don’t let hazardous environments jeopardize the safety of your workers! Allegro can help you protect them with our comprehensive line of Tyvek^® respirators and other safety products and personal protective equipment!

Contact us today to create a safe and healthy work environment for your team!

Selecting the Proper Control Method

Use of engineering controls, such as local exhaust ventilation, is always the preferred method of controlling worker exposure to hazardous materials. When this is not feasible, respirators may be used to help protect the workers. All occupational respirator use must follow the OSHA respiratory protection standard, 29 CFR 1910.134, which includes provisions for selection, training, medical clearance, breathable air, etc. Selection of respirators must be conducted carefully to ensure the respirator selected provides the requisite level of filtration.

The first step in proper respirator selection is knowing which chemicals the worker must be protected against and the airborne concentration of those chemicals. The selected respirator must be able to protect against those chemicals and have an adequate Assigned Protection Factor (APF) for the concentrations noted. Per 29 CFR 1910.134(b),

“APF means the workplace level of respiratory protection that a respirator or class of respirators is expected to provide to employees when the employer implements a continuing, effective respiratory protection program as specified by this section.”

The airborne concentration of the chemical divided by the APF must be lower than its OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL). Respirators always must be used within their APFs and the regulatory requirements of 1910.134. PAPRs and SARs with hoods, helmets, or full facepieces may have APFs up to 1,000. PAPRs and SARs utilizing loose-fitting facepieces or headcovers (where the respirator is loose and connects with the user’s face along the jaw line) have APRs of 25.

Benefits include:

• Increased comfort. With a PAPR or a SAR, the worker is relieved of the burden of having to be the power source for the respirator. The respirator itself does the work of supplying clean, filtered air to the wearer. The movement of the air supplied by the respirator across the worker’s head and face also may provide a cooling feeling to the worker. SAR units can even be equipped with vortex cooling assemblies that can reduce the temperature of the air supplied to the respirator system by as much as 50 degrees Fahrenheit. If a hood with an inner shroud is used, this air can be funneled into the worker’s clothing to provide additional cooling, which can be a significant advantage when impermeable worker protective clothing is worn. Similarly, air heating options are also available.
• Elimination of fit testing. Loose-fitting respirators do not require fit testing per the OSHA respiratory protection standard (134(f)). Dispensing with fit testing saves the money of conducting the actual fit test, as well as minimizing worker time away from the job. Note: PAPRs and SARs with tight-fitting face pieces still require annual fit testing. See Allegro Fit Testing Kits here
• Accommodating facial hair. Respirators utilizing tight-fitting facepieces have strict limitations on facial hair. With loose-fitting PAPR and SAR systems, provided the facial hair does not interfere with the headgear sealing area, a person can have limited facial hair, comply with OSHA regulations, and maintain the protection provided by the respirator.
• Reduced fogging. In some work areas where safety glasses and a faceshield are required, fogging can be both an annoyance and a potential safety issue. PAPR and SAR systems can generate a constant airflow across the headgear visor, which may reduce or eliminate fogging.

Improved Product Design

Allegro has recognized the need to incorporate design elements that help make systems easier to use and enhance the overall appeal of our products. Some of these enhancements include:

• Design, weight, and environmental considerations. A well-designed/-styled system can help promote worker acceptance, which is an important factor in increasing usage. Some recently introduced PAPRs incorporate a sleeker, lighter, more ergonomic design. Some current PAPR designs shield the air inlet, which allows the worker to sit in a chair without blocking off airflow, or allow the PAPR to be worn in a decontamination shower without exposing the filter to direct water spray. Changing to lithium-ion batteries from older nickel cadmium or nickel metal hydride batteries can significantly reduce both the size and weight of powered air respirators. In addition, replacement of nickel cadmium batteries also has the environmental advantage of eliminating a toxic, heavy metal (cadmium) from the waste stream.
• User interface systems. Some modern PAPRs can communicate to the worker to warn when the battery pack charge is running low, the particulate filter is clogging, or other malfunction is occurring that may cause the PAPR system to yield insufficient airflow. Some battery packs now come equipped with a charge indicator, where the worker presses a button on the battery to determine the current charge status of the battery pack. This helps ensure the battery pack has sufficient capacity for the duration of the task.
• Adjustable airflow distribution. Worker preference is always an important consideration. A PAPR or SAR system incorporating a hood or helmet that allows the worker to adjust where the air is being distributed within the headgear can help minimize complaints related to issues such as eye irritation, fogging, or a sense there is an insufficient supply of air.

Providing the best safety products for your industry is our priority at Allegro! Contact us to receive more information about our SARs, PAPRs, and similar products that will maximize your workplace safety!

Two Types of Respirators

There are two basic types of respirators:

1. Supplied-Air Respirators (SAR), and
2. Air-Purifying Respirators (APR)

The type of respirator a worker needs depends on the hazards they face on the job site. Please note that respirators should only be used when these hazards cannot be mitigated through elimination, substitution, or engineering contaminants out of the workplace.

Supplied Air Respirators

Supplied air respirators provide air either through an airline hose fed from an uncontaminated air source located away from the hazards; or through a compressed air tank (i.e., Self Contained Breathing Apparatus or SCBA).

SAR systems either come as tight-fitting full- or half-face respirators. If you are working in a confined space with a lack of oxygen or hazardous contaminants (Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH)), you will need a tight-fitting sealed full-face supplied air respirator designed with an emergency escape cylinder. An SCBA is another acceptable means of protection in IDLH environments. However, if you’re working in a non-IDLH environment, you can use a loose-fitting hood that covers the head and neck and provides a constant supply of positive pressure air to keep contaminants out of your breathing zone.

Air Purifying Respirators

Air-purifying respirators don’t supply air; instead, they remove contaminants like dust, mists, and organic vapors by filtering out particulates through an appropriate filtration or absorbent cartridge or filter. Because of that, these types of respirators CAN NOT be used in atmospheres where there is a lack of oxygen or classified as IDLH.

APRs are available in non-powered and powered configurations. In addition, Allegro offers a variety of Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) as standalone headtops or complete particulate systems intended for both the industrial and healthcare markets.

Industrial

• PN 9935 EZ Air Economy PAPR
• PN 9935-DLX EZ Air Deluxe PAPR
• PN 9936 EZ Air Max PAPR
• PN 9937-G EZ Air Flex Shield PAPR

Healthcare

• PN 9933 EZ Air Tyvek PAPR Hood
• PN 9933-S EZ Air Saran PAPR Hood

Selecting the Right Type of Respirator for Your Workplace

Asses the Types of Hazard Workers May Be Exposed To

In environments that have a lack of oxygen, a supplied air system will be required. In situations where there are particulate hazards, such as dust, you will likely use a filter air-purifying respirator or powered air-purifying respirator.

An exposure assessment conducted by an industrial hygienist or an experienced and trained safety professional will determine exposure levels for the types of contaminants you’re testing for and select the proper respirator based on OSHA regulations that are right for your application.

Elements of Respiratory Protection in the Workplace

Of course, selecting the right PPE is just one part of ensuring workers’ respiratory safety. Other things employers and safety professionals need to do include:

• Assess the hazards and evaluating other methods of controlling them
• Conduct an exposure assessment
• Develop a written respiratory protection program
• Conduct medical evaluations
• Perform qualitative or quantitative fit tests
• Provide the appropriate level of training to workers who will use respirators

Respirator Maintenance

To ensure optimal functionality, respirators must be used and maintained properly.

• Ensure that all employees who wear respirators are cleanly shaved
• Encourage employees to perform seal checks whenever they wear a respirator
• Store respirators away from dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, damaging chemicals, and excessive moisture using proper respirator storage products
• Clean and disinfect the respirator according to the manufacturer’s specifications
• Inspect respirators for function, fit, the pliability of elastomeric part, and the overall condition of the facepiece

Respirator Storage

In accordance with OSHA regulation 1910.134(h)(2)(i) “All respirators shall be stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals, and they shall be packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve,” we offer numerous storage products that ensure the safety of your respirators.

Storage Bags

• PN 2000 Respirator Storage Bag
• PN 2010 Half Mask Respirator Carry Bag
• PN 2020 Full Mask Respirator Carry Bag
• PN 2025 Full Mask Storage Bag
• PN 2025-01 Deluxe Full Mask Storage Bag
• PN 4001-05 Large Disposable Respirator Storage Bag
• PN 4001-06 Extra Large Disposable Respirator Storage Bag

Wall Cases

• PN 4100-P PAPR Wall Case
• PN 4200 One-Door Storage Cabinet
• PN 4205 Two-Door Storage Cabinet
• PN 4400 Respirator Storage Wall Case
• PN 4500 Emergency Respirator Wall Case
• PN 4550 Hi-Viz Heavy Duty Emergency Respirator Wall Case

Allegro’s products are designed with safety in mind. Contact us for your all of your respiratory product needs!