Dräger enhances PAPR range to support firefighter respiratory safety

Dräger, an international leader in medical and safety technology, has enhanced its range of compact, comfortable and easy to use Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) designed to help protect firefighters from harmful particulates, gases and vapours when working in contaminated atmospheres beyond active firefighting and Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) operations.

Unlike a conventional filtering half mask, a PAPR uses a battery-powered motorised blower to draw ambient air through the appropriate filter and deliver a continuous flow of filtered air to the wearer’s headpiece. This can help reduce breathing resistance and support the comfort of the wearer undertaking tasks involving particulates where respiratory protection is required, but full SCBA is not necessary.

The Dräger X-plore 8000 is a versatile and customisable PAPR system that combines a choice of blower units with a range of headpieces, including hoods, face shields and helmets, alongside a comprehensive selection of filters, charging options, carrying solutions and accessories.

The lightest and most compact PAPR in its class, the Dräger X-plore 8300 combines reliable protection against particle exposure with a high level of wearer comfort. In the demanding environments requiring respiratory protection, firefighters wearing a PAPR benefit greatly from its reduced weight and unrestricted freedom of movement. The system can be paired with various waist belts and backpack options to support ergonomics and optimised weight distribution.

Dräger’s X-plore 8500 is designed to provide reliable respiratory protection and user comfort in demanding post-incident environments, including both fire investigation and the cleaning, decontamination or handling of equipment where exposure to residual airborne contaminants has been identified. It draws ambient air through air-purifying elements in a durable, easy-to-use system that supports safe and effective working conditions when respiratory protection is essential.

“Firefighters need respiratory protection they can rely on throughout the incident lifecycle, from using SCBA during active firefighting to working outside the immediate fireground, including during fire investigation, contaminated equipment handling and certain hazardous material incidents where the contaminants have been identified,” says Elizabeth Millward, Marketing Manager, Fire and Government at Dräger.

“Our PAPR range is designed to help protect users from harmful particulates, gases and vapours, while also supporting comfort and mobility, so they can remain focused on the task in hand.”