P1 v P2 Disposable Respirators. What's the Difference? Prochoice PC315 & PC321

At SafetyQuip, we're often asked to provide

P1 and P2 disposable respirators.

Those two terms come from Australian Standard 1716.

Both products are used for providing a level of protection

against particulates... Respirable particulates.

This is a P1 disposable valved respirator.

This is a P2 disposable valved respirator.

They both look much the same in appearance.

They're both made by the ProChoice brand of safety gear.

Now, a P1 would generally be used for, what we call

mechanically generated particles.

For example timber and wood cutting, sawing and sanding

would be a great use for a P1 disposable respirator.

Even though it looks fine, the particle that you get from

working with timber.

It's actually reasonably large.

A P1 would often be used as well for working with grain

and hay... the dust that comes off moving that product.

A P2 disposable respirator generally deals with a finer

particle, and often what we call thermally generated

particles. So, particles that are generated by heat,

from say welding or grinding, would be a

good use for a P2 disposable respirator.

So, the haze that you see coming off the process of

grinding or welding metal.

Now, a P2 can be used for all the purposes that you'd use

a P1 for. So it's the next level of protection.

There used to be a lot of cost difference between

a P1 and a P2 - a P1 was considerably cheaper years ago.

It's not the case now so often people just go for a P2.

But they each have their purpose.

P1 and P2 disposable respirators, speak with the team at

your local SafetyQuip branch for further information.

There's links to both these products on the

SafetyQuip website in the information below.