2 General Description
2.1 Description
The OptimAir TL Respirator is a blower-assisted, air-purifying respirator referred to as a Powered Air-Purifying Respirator or a
PAPR.
The filtering system consists of a waist-mounted batterydriven blower assembly device and two (2) cartridges. The blower
assembly contains an electric motor driving an air fan. A rechargeable 12 volt (nominal) nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) or 14.4
volt (nominal) lithium ion (Li-Ion) battery pack is inserted onto the bottom of the blower assembly. The user of the respirator
breathes ambient air after the air has passed through the cartridges. The cartridges include a mechanical filter to trap airborne
particles and may also include a sorbent bed of activated carbon to adsorb various gases and vapors. The chemical cartridges
are approved for specific gases/vapors as noted in this user’s instruction manual.
The blower assembly assists breathing by drawing air through the cartridges and delivering the purified air through a breathing
tube to the respirator inlet covering (i.e. facepiece, hood, etc).
The OptimAir TL PAPR is NIOSH approved for use with MSA hoods and tight fitting facepieces noted in this user’s instruction
manual. Refer to the separate NIOSH Approval Label (P/N 10078677) for a complete list of approved part numbers and
limitations.
Contact MSACustomer Service for additional technical specifications (ie weights, materials of construction, etc).
2.2 Respirator Use Limitations
The respirator must not be worn in atmospheres which exceed any of the following limitations:
• Maximum use concentrations (whichever is lower):
– Contaminant IDLH
– 1000 times the exposure limit for the contaminants present. (Low Profile Hood 25 times)
– 1000 ppm (parts per million) organic vapors (for organic vapor cartridges).
• The limitations outlined in the applicable NIOSH approval.
• Any applicable limitation contained in a standard established by a regulatory agency (such as OSHA) with jurisdiction over
the wearer.
• This respirator can be used for protection against a mixture of contaminants that are present simultaneously or alternately
against one contaminant then another (using the same cartridges or filters) if the mixture meets the following conditions:
– The cartridge/canister/filter must be approved for all contaminants present.
– Particulates (dusts, mists, fumes, asbestos, and radionuclides) can be mixed with any other particulate or any gas or
vapor for which the cartridge/canister is approved.
– Contaminants present simultaneously must be below IDLH levels for the specific contaminants. If any one
contaminant in the mixture exceeds the IDLH concentration then the entire mixture must be treated as IDLH and the
respirator cannot be used (except for escape from particulates with appropriate filter).
OptimAir TL PAPR 9
US 2 General Description
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