Respiratory Protection

Respiratory Protection for Australian Industrial and Trade Workplaces

Respiratory protection is the PPE that keeps Australian workers breathing clean air on jobs where dust, fumes, gases, or vapours are part of the work — welding, grinding, paint spraying, demolition, chemical handling, and many maintenance tasks. AIMS Industrial supplies respirators, dust masks, and breathing protection compliant with AS/NZS 1716 (the Australian respiratory protective devices standard), with selection and fitting matched to the airborne hazards on each job.

The respiratory protection categories we stock

• Disposable dust masks — P1, P2, and P3 filtration grades for general dust and particulate exposure
• Half-face respirators — reusable masks with replaceable filter cartridges for higher-protection applications
• Full-face respirators — combined respirator and eye protection for spray painting, chemical handling, and high-exposure work
• Powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR) — battery-powered systems for sustained heavy-duty work
• Replacement filters and cartridges — particulate, organic vapour, gas, and combination cartridges
• Welding respirators — purpose-formulated for welding fume protection

Choosing the right protection — match to the hazard

• P1 — large-particle dust, mechanical dusts (low-toxicity)
• P2 — fine dusts, mists, and thermal-decomposition particles (typical workshop level)
• P3 — highly toxic dusts, asbestos, and very fine particulates
• Organic vapour (A1-class) cartridges — solvents, paint fumes, and organic chemicals
• Acid gas (E1-class) cartridges — sulphur dioxide, hydrogen chloride and similar acid gases
• Ammonia (K1-class) cartridges — ammonia and amine vapours
• Multi-gas (ABEK) cartridges — combination protection across multiple gas types

The wrong filter against the wrong hazard provides no protection — match the cartridge to the SDS of the chemical or process being protected against.

Fit testing and training

Half-face and full-face respirators provide their rated protection only when correctly fitted. Workplaces where respirators are required should run fit testing (qualitative or quantitative) and provide user training on donning, doffing, and seal-checking the respirator at each use. Beards and stubble break the seal — clean-shaven faces or alternative respirators (PAPR, hood-style) are required for genuine protection.

Compliance — AS/NZS 1716 and 1715

Australian respirators must be certified to AS/NZS 1716 (the manufacturing and performance standard). The selection, use, and maintenance of respirators is governed by AS/NZS 1715. Respirators carry the standard reference and the protection class on the device or packaging — check before relying on the equipment.

Brands stocked at AIMS

Frontier covers the disposable mask, half-face, and full-face respirator range. BossSafe stocks complementary respirator and PPE products. Replacement filters and cartridges from the same manufacturers ensure correct fit and certification.

Companion ranges at AIMS

Respiratory protection sits alongside our broader PPE range — see safety glasses, welding helmets, hi-vis vests, and PPE kit bags for the broader range.

Need help matching respiratory protection to a specific hazard or workplace requirement? contact our team — we'll work through the SDS, exposure level, and fit options.