PAPR (Powered Air-Purifying Respirator)
A PAPR is a battery-powered respirator delivering filtered air via a loose hood. Used when tight-fitting P2 masks cannot seal, including for workers with facial hair.
Ask Chalkline about this →A PAPR (Powered Air-Purifying Respirator) is a battery-powered respiratory protective equipment device that draws contaminated air through a filter and delivers filtered air to the wearer via a loose-fitting hood, helmet, or visor. Because it uses positive pressure to deliver filtered air rather than relying on a seal, a PAPR eliminates the need for fit testing and works for workers with facial hair where tight-fitting P2 masks cannot seal properly.
On a residential construction site, a PAPR is the standard solution when a worker needs respiratory protection for silica dust but cannot achieve a proper seal with a half-face or disposable P2 respirator, either due to facial hair, facial contours, or the extended duration of exposure. Under AS/NZS 1715:2009, fit testing is mandatory for tight-fitting facepieces; a PAPR sidesteps this requirement by using a loose-fitting hood.
PAPRs are heavier and more expensive than disposable P2 masks, but provide superior protection factors, are suitable for sustained high-dust work, and remove the common compliance gap of unfit-tested P2 masks on site.
Also known as: powered respirator, battery respirator, positive-pressure respirator
Category: WHS / RPE
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Last updated: 2026-05-10. Verified: 2026-05-10. Quarterly review for currency.