General FAQ's

MAXAIR CAPR Systems are uniquely designed, NIOSH Approved, Loose Fitting, Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) that are setting standards for today and the future of respiratory and contact protection.

CAPR Systems provide workers an unprecedented level of safety, comfort, convenience, and cost effectiveness while protecting them against harmful aerosolized particulates.

Depending on the Complete System selected, i.e. Cuff, Shroud, Hood, Hard Hat, MAXAIR CAPR Systems can provide respiratory, contact, fluid, head and/or Eye impact protection.

MAXAIR is a leader of the NO-Hose, integrated Helmet design, and our CAPR Systems are often referred to as The NO HOSE PAPRs.

The integrated MAXAIR Helmet eliminates the need for a cumbersome hose (breath tube) and bulky waist/back-mounted blower unit. Combined with its light weight, i.e. typical system weighs 2.26 pounds, 1.76 pounds for the Helmet and Face/Head Cover, MAXAIR CAPR is more mobile and comfortable for you to be able to work in any workplace setting.

The many different complete systems available fall within three primary groups –

• Cuff* Systems - most cost effective, easiest to don/doff
• Shroud* Systems - full 360 o Head and Neck protection
• Hood Systems - full 360 o Head and Neck protection, high fluid resistance (ASTM 1671)

*relief from N-OV, nuisance levels of organic vapors, optionally available

es, there are now two NIOSH PAPR Classes that MAXAIR Systems are categorized into, PAPR HE and PAPR100. These classes came about in April 2020 due to “Approval Tests and Standards for Air-Purifying Particulate Respirators”, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/04/14/2020-07804/approval-tests-and-standards-for-air-purifying-particulate-respirators.

Which Class a PAPR is approved for by NIOSH is primarily determined by its filtering characteristics. See the FAQs section Filter Media, “What are the CAPR Filter Configurations?”, for more information on MAXAIR PAPR Classifications.

Currently there are four MAXAIR Base Systems to choose from that are the basis for the many different MAXAIR CAPR Complete Systems. (Refer to PB-CAPR-Base Systems.pdf in the Product Brochures section at https://maxair-systems.com/product-literatures

Each Base System consists of a Helmet, a Battery, a Battery Belt, and a Charger.

• The Helmet choices include –
  • 2081-03 for non-Hard Hat Complete Systems
  • 2084-03 for use with PR Hoods
  • 2083-03 for all Hard Hat Complete Systems
• The Battery choices include –
  • 2500-36TSC, typically 8-10 hours/full charge
  • 2500-37TSC, typically 12-15 hours/full charge
• The Belt is the 2000-76
• The charger is the 2600-02.

To configure a MAXAIR Complete System, a choice of Head and Face Cover and NOTED base system peripherals must be included with the chosen Base System. (More graphical descriptions of the many different Complete System options are provided on the MAXAIR website, maxair-systems.com.

Yes, the up-to-date NIOSH approval numbers for MAXAIR systems are all available on the NIOSH website – https://www2a.cdc.gov/drds/cel/cel_results.asp?startrecord=1&Search=cel_form&maxrecords=50&manufacturer=BMD&appdatefrom=&appdateto=&powered=&scbatype=&scbause=&privatelabel=

MAXAIR PAPR Systems can be configured with appropriate face/head covers to provide protection against airborne particulates and varying degrees of contact/splash, fluid, and impact in a broad range of markets, including but not limited to the following.

• Hospitals/Medical
• EMS
• Laboratory Research
• Pharma/Bio-Technology
• Dental
• Restoration
• Nuclear

For general cleaning of MAXAIR Helmets, Batteries, Chargers, Liners, Helmet Covers, and Power Cords, recommendations include a clean damp cloth and a mild application of a skin friendly soap. 

For high level cleaning, MAXAIR recommends two alternatives –

• PDI Super Sani-cloth Germicidal Disposable Wipe, Q55172
• Clorox Healthcare Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner Disinfectant, CLO30825

All MAXAIR Face/Head Covers are single use items and are not designed for cleaning and reuse.

MAXAIR Filters should be discarded as contaminated waste if they cause the Helmet Yellow LED to be lighted when the Helmet is powered on for more than about 10 seconds, as well as whenever soiled or otherwise contaminated with body fluids or visibly damaged.

MAXAIR Helmets provide effective universal fit as they include both circumferential size adjustment as well as height adjustment in the Headband of the Helmet Liner.

The helmets are equipped with a universal Liner/Headband with a ratchet knob to adjust for different head sizes. The headband ratchet knob adjusts for proper circumferential fit. The headband side straps have height adjustments to allow proper vertical size adjustment, and proper tilt of the helmet to ensure easy visualization of the safety LEDs in the upper peripheral vision.

Assembly, Disassembly, Donning, and Doffing instructions for all MAXAIR System configurations may be found in the MAXAIR UIMs (User Instructions Manuals) supplied with each MAXAIR Helmet, in Item UIMs which are included one in each box of face/head covers.

Viewable and downloadable versions are available on maxair-systems.com

The integrated Motor-Fan (located in the top rear of the helmet) draws in ambient air through the filter. The filtered air is channeled inside the helmet, and flows downward between the lens and the user. This provides resistance free breathing, automatically defogs the lens and exhausts exhaled CO 2 while providing a cooling effect for greater user comfort.

The user can adjust the airflow switch, located at the posterior underside of the helmet, between Low (6-7 cfm, 190 lpm), Medium (7-8 cfm, 215 lpm), and High (8-9 cfm, 240 lpm). This adjustment allows the user to match the air flow for widely varying work environments and activity levels.

The MAXAIR Air Flow Controller maintains each settings airflow at a constant level even during filter loading.

(NOTE: All numbers for airflow are approximate.)

The Safety LEDs are uniquely always on and visible in the upper peripheral vision of the user. They allow the user to maintain complete focus on work activity, patient care, etc., without distraction. They automatically alert the user when it is time to exit the environment and re-charge or change out the battery, and/or check the status of the filter.

When lighted, the yellow LED indicates a low airflow condition. If it becomes lighted during use it indicates that the system is nearing a point when it won’t be able to maintain desired air flow and it is time to check the filter to see if replacement is necessary.

The three green LEDs together with the red LED provide the user general progress status of the battery charge level. Three green lit LEDs indicate approximately 75%-100% charge remaining, two green lit LEDs indicate approximately 50%-75% charge remaining, one green lit LED indicates approximately 25%-50% charge remaining – if not before, at this condition the user should be planning on recharging the battery or replacing it at the next opportunity. No green lighted LEDs and a red lighted LED indicates 0%-25% charge remaining and that it is urgent that the user replace or recharge the battery as soon as possible.

If both red and yellow LED’s are lit, both battery and filter need to be checked for change out.

In the typical healthcare environment, the yellow LED should rarely illuminate because it is not a “heavy particulate loading” environment as compared to industrial applications.

Yes, all MAXAIR System configurations have a filter cover that protects the filter/filter cartridge.

For Cuff and Shroud Systems, the Filter/Filter Cartridge is covered by the 2061-08 Filter Cover Cap (FCC) or the 2061-04A Hard Hat when head impact protection is needed. For Hood Systems the Hood Filter may be protected with the 2061-05 High Fluid Resistant Filter Cover Cap (HFR FCC).