Airline respirators, also known as supplied air respirators (SAR), are used when air purifying respirators (APR) cannot provide sufficient protection from airborne concentrations of the chemical (or a combination of the chemicals) being used. Airline respirators may also be used when unknown chemicals or chemical concentrations are present, when chemicals that absorb poorly in the chemical cartridges of APR’s are present, in oxygen deficient atmospheres or in Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) situations.
The OSHA Respiratory Standard 29 CFR 1910.134 covers both air purifying and airline respirators. Determining the type of respirator to use is dependent upon a workplace assessment. Once the assessment is completed and engineering controls have been ruled out, the appropriate airline respirator can be selected.