POWERED AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEMPOWERED AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

摘要

The present invention relates to a particular type of fan-forced positive pressure breathing apparatus, commonly known as Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs). In particular the invention concerns monitoring the operation of such equipment. In a first aspect, the invention provides a powered air-purifying respirator whic h includes data collection means to enable the volume of air drawn through the filter to be determined. In another aspect, the invention comprises a management system for monitorin g and analyzing operational data from at least one powered air-purifying respirato r. The management system includes data collection means associated with each respirator to enable the volume of air drawn through that respirator's filter to be determined, and electronic data processing apparatus into which the data collected by the da ta collection means is uploaded for analysis. The data processing apparatus may be partly situated on-board each respirator in order to enable alarms to be given to the wearer s at appropriate times. However, a remote computer system having data processing facilities will be able to store and subsequently display the data collected, as well a s enabling more sophisticated analysis.