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The Basics : For emergency services use in “Hot Zone” (i.e. areas of contamination immediately dangerous to life) areas, we always recommend full S.C.B.A. (self contained breathing apparatus) equipment and HazMat suits. For lesser & low contaminated areas (“Warm” & “Cold” Zones) we recommend using only full face respirators with ABEK2 P3 filters or NATO equivalent N.B.C. filters. S.C.B.A. is available to emergency services by special order. We strongly recommend that respirators are not used before they are adjusted for correct fit and that appropriate information is given on correct use. Codrus Protection Technology supply a copy of “Respirator use and application” with every mask issued. To maintain a seal, the user must be clean-shaven : beards will break the seal. Consideration should be given if the user wears glasses and (if needed) whether the optional prescription lens holder should be used. How do I ensure a good fit ?. Once fitted correctly and adjusted (see manual), you can test the fit of the mask with the following routine. Close the exhalation opening with your hand. Exhale to create overpressure. If you fail to get overpressure (=potential leakage), tighten the head harness and filter. Repeat until satisfactory. We are often asked about beards : the manufacturer says :"It is unlikely that adequate protection can be guaranteed if the sealing area is obstructed by the user's beard, hair or spectacle frames. With the Promask one can use special spectacles (special order)." We also recommend the buddy system as used by scuba divers as good practise. Use team members to check each other's fitting. The correct way to put on a Promask is as follows. Put the facemask on by placing your chin in the recess at the base of the mask. With the harness loosened, pull up and over the top of your head. Check for positioning on face then adjust harness straps to ensure a tight fit. Carry out fit test (as above). Get buddy (if available) to double check your fit (unless you have a mirror, your buddy can see your mask better than you). The manual for the mask shows this sequence in diagrams for ease of use. We always recommend practising putting on and adjusting, so you know what to do without reading the instruction manual in the event of an emergency. The Promask is available in one size which when adjusted fits the vast majority of possible users. In the event that one of your team is exceptionally small, the manufacturer can offer a small size version (higher price). You should be aware however that for manufacturing purposes the small resembles the aggressive M95 military mask, which may be less suitable for your intended application. Click here to go back to top of page. RICIN : What's it all about?. There has been a lot about this biological toxin in the Press since the discovery of a terrorist manufacturing facility in North London, the arrests in London, Bournemouth and Manchester. For further details on Ricin, look at our Biological Weapons reference page. Can I get a mask for my small child ?. The main manufacturers do NOT make a gas mask for children, contrary to what you may read elsewhere. If the child is a teenager the standard size will probably fit, but smaller children have smaller faces (bad seal) and smaller lungs (the filter needs a certain amount of "pull"). Some web-sites are offering ex-civil defence Russian masks for children : these are old army surplus & do not meet the standards of our equipment. Any product that doesn't offer an airtight seal is not satisfactory. Click here to go back to top of page. What about Hazmat suits ?. Also known as "Nuke Suits", "N.B.C. Suits" or even "Noddy Suits", these are the suits that provide additional protection against chemical and biological weapons when worn with your mask. They improve your level of protection against weapons that can attack you through the skin (as well as being inhaled). These weapons include Anthrax Spores, Nerve Gas and Mustard Gas. CODRUS Protective Suits comply with CE Types 3,4,5 & 6. Our suits are made by DuPont of Grey Tyvek Protech F material, and have appeared a lot recently on the News. Like surplus gas masks, we advice against purchasing army surplus suits (British Army suits are impregnated with activated charcoal to give protection, but after some years they "go off" with exposure to the atmosphere in the same way the activated charcoal in opened filters do). You won't win any fashion awards wearing them, but style isn't why you put them on. It is important when wearing these suits to ensure a good seal where the suit meets the gloves, boots and mask. Use the "buddy system" and get someone else to check the seal for you.....and don't forget : the mask's straps go on the INSIDE of the hood. To learn more about CODRUS Protective Suits, click here. Click here to go back to top of page. What protection is available ?. Codrus Respirators give you an enhanced level of protection against the N.B.C. (nuclear, biological and chemical) war agents listed on this site, but for a limited time and limited exposure. In practise this means these respirators are suited to “warm” and “cold” zones and to allow escape from contaminated areas. Similarly, Respirators protect only the parts of the body at highest risk : the soft tissue of the eyes, nasal membranes and the respiratory organs. Certain war agents (Nerve Gases, Blistering Gases and Anthrax Spores) also require HazMat suits to provide better levels of protection. Codrus respirators will provide increased protection against a wide range of agents, but certain gases should be noted. Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen and oxygen depletion (as commonly occurs in the smoke from fires) cannot be protected against and Blistering Agents (Mustard Gas, etc.) will defeat any filter after a period of time. P3 level particulate filtration (as standard in Codrus Filters) provides 99.97% filtration of all airborne particulates. Click here to go back to top of page. How do I keep the unit in good condition ?. The mask manual will show you how to clean the unit correctly, how to disinfect it and how to replace worn or broken parts. The Promask is designed to be easy to clean with lukewarm water and mild detergent (neutral ph 6-8, like some washing up liquids). Do not attempt to use solvents. Remember to remove the filter before applying cleaning medium : water can block some elements in the filter and reduce the airflow. The mask should be properly stored out of direct sunlight, grease or oil. Ideally the store should be dry and cool. A properly stored, unused mask stays in good condition for a long storage period, but is designed for component lifespan of no more than 12 years. If bringing a Promask out of extended storage always do a function test to ensure everything is in working order (see "How do I ensure a good fit", above) and always check to see that the filter is still inside it's 5 year life span. How do you know when a filter is used up ? When breathing resistance increases this usually means the particulate filter is almost at an end. With some gases it may be possible to taste or smell something unusual when the gas filter is approaching it’s end. However, some agents have no taste or smell and therefore the best practise is to change the filter and clean the mask after every incident where it has been used “for real”. Filter shelf life is around 5 years (the date of manufacture is printed on each filter). The length of service of a filter depends on the amount of exposure it has undergone, so there are no exact periods that can be given. Once opened, and the seals are broken, a filter is good for around 6 months. Click here to go back to top of page. A warning about unsuitable “Gasmasks”: Dustmasks provide limited protection against particulates only. They provide no protection against gases and do not protect the eyes. Halfmasks present the same problem (even if fitted with a good filter). Smokehoods provide little protection against NBC agents because they are designed specifically for smoke and do not provide an air-tight seal. Army Surplus – there is nothing quite as dangerous as a used gasmask – Don’t buy these. We have seen Avon S-10 masks offered in army surplus stores claiming them to be new (Avon ONLY sell to the military, not army surplus stores) and some of the filters claimed to be new have already been on the shelf for a number of years. Never consider using a filter that is not still sealed. Never try to use a WW2 gasmask (they contain asbestos which by now has started to break down). There are enough reputable companies in the UK offering quality protective equipment that it is unnecessary and unwise to put your health in the hands of second hand / used / surplus equipment.O.K.. Now you have read all the warnings, what can a Codrus Respirator actually do?. All CODRUS Respirators are fitted with filters that are at least ABEK2P3 rated. In brief the rating means :
This shows that the ABEK2P3 filter provides a high level of protection against a wide range of potential Biological and Chemical war agents. Click here to go back to top of page. What war agents fall into these categories ?. To find out more about specific war agents, select from the following:
How do I know Codrus Respirators are up to the job ? Our mask is the Promask, manufactured under licence in the U.K. in an ISO 9000 approved factory. It is the law enforcement/emergency services version of the award winning M95 Military mask, commonly accepted to be the finest military gasmask in production. The manufacturer is the sole approved supplier of these products to British Nuclear Fuels at Sellafield and in use with law enforcement and emergency services around the world. The mask complies fully with the requirements of EN136 Class 3 and ce 0121. Because it is derived from a military background, it is a mask that you can rely on to do a good job when dealing with chemical and biological weapons : it even is threaded to take the NATO standard N.B.C. filter canister if you prefer to use this over the ABEK2P3 filter we supply. Our ABEK2P3 filter is the Pro2000 designed specifically for the Promask, and contains (in addition to the other filter elements) a healthy 120 grams of activated carbon, which gives an absorbent area of 144,000 m2 (equivalent to 18 football stadiums !). Click here to go back to top of page. Why should I choose CODRUS as my supplier ?. This website is not a standalone operation being run from someone's back bedroom!. We are an established, British Ltd. company that employs REAL staff in REAL offices. Unlike some websites that sell gasmasks, we actually hold stocks of any product we offer, available for prompt despatch (beware sites claiming they can offer you items, but are currently "out of stock"). We ONLY sell products that comply with EN136 Class 3, CE 0121, and that have a good reputation in the industry.
Visit our ordering page to see our current special offers. Delivery by Initial Citylink is £10. Call free on 0800 169 4773. You can buy with credit card, debit card, cheque or postal order and the goods will be despatched by courier in 5 working days. Each respirator is sold new, with an ABEK2P3 filter canister and operating manuals. Click here to go to ordering. |
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