In February 2019 an H&S Safety Alert was released after more scientific evidence that welding steel is now a known carcinogen and as such welders and the surrounding people must be protected from welding fumes in there breathing zone.

We list some features for you so that you can be informed when purchasing.  

The stipulation is that over 95% of welding fume protection must be offered.

So if over 95% of welding fume is captured at source then you don't need a PARP Helmet,  if not,  then you do.

Here we list some features and specifications we would recommend before you purchase so that you make the right choice for you!

Under normal working conditions, the respiratory rate is about 20 litres of air per minute. Over a working year (full-time welding), a welder breathes in about 2300 m3 of air.

For example the Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) for zinc oxide, which is 5 mg/m3. Even if you’re within this OEL, you inhale up to 11 grams of zinc oxide every year when not using personal respiratory protection.*

Scary isn't it!  Welders have always known about eye protection but maybe not so much about fume and fume protection.

Welding fume or PARP systems have been around for many years and consist of a battery-operated filter unit worn on a belt around your waist and attached to this is a flexible tube that runs up your back into the top of the welding helmet.

Air is sucked in from behind the welder ( the cleanest place away from heavy fume),  sent through filters and blown out into the top of your helmet giving you a nice cool stream of clean filtered air.  The positive pressure of this airstream means the outside fumed air cannot pervade into the helmet. To help in this a bottom cloth cover goes under your chin to for a loose seal.

I must admit the blowing of the air is a nice bonus as it cools you, some of these helmets can be heavy and cumbersome and welding can be a sweaty and hot job.