PROTECTION
required APRs to be manufactured from more than just poorly fi tting thin rubberised material – and forced nations to development new APRs in an attempt to counter the eff ects from the huge stockpiles of potent CBRN weapons. Indeed the Cold Warrior was expected to survive and continue fi ghting in a CBRN-contaminated environment for days on end. Many APRs included protection from
both types. Typical advanced features from an early post-war respirator such as the British S6 from 1950 onwards featured an innovative air seal around the inside of the face piece to improve the fi t and comfort of the mask. The pressure inside the seal could also be adjusted by means of a tap inside the nose cup. For use with radios, a special microphone attached to the front of the mask was also developed. S6-era masks also provided better mission integration – they could also be made to benefi t leſt -handed people, where the fi lter canister is positioned on the right of the face mask instead of the leſt . Designed for prolonged usage and
providing improved levels of protection against the new generation of CBRN agents, the S6 and similarly designed APRs still had inherent drawbacks. For example the S6 respirator still had to be removed (doffi ng) to allow the user to drink or eat in a contaminated environment, placing the operative at increased risk if the activity was conducted during an actual CBRN attack. NATO’s Cold War doctrine aligned itself towards a mobile defensive posture and, as such, minimising the physiological and psychological burden of APRs became as much a key driver as protection levels. Indeed the next generation of APR following the S6 took more into consideration the operational environment in which the mask was to be used. User comfort, with sustained operational tempo in mind, was of paramount concern. Drinking systems which could be integrated with canteens and back-worn hydration systems became the norm along with other features such as integrated communications systems.
Early Cold-War-vintage S6 Respirator
Enter the S10 The S10 respirator is a typical example incorporating these new features, including a CBRN-hardened butyl rubber face piece, with two round scratch- resistant eyepieces, and an adjustable rubber head-harness. The Speech Module provides direct speech and microphone communications and the latter could easily be interchanged with the 40-mm thread fi lter fi tting to accommodate both leſt - and right-handed users without the need for two diff erent face pieces. Filter technology was now fully
established with a range of impregnated carbon adsorbents and particulate membranes to aff ord good protection against all CBRN agents. Similarly, the S10’s special fl at lenses allow the user’s spectacles to be worn while wearing the mask, and can be quickly substituted for the regular issue type. The fl at lenses also allow the use of external optical devices such as binoculars. The drinking straw and valve tap allow the wearer to safely drink from the canteen in contaminated environments. Yet, as with previous APRs, the S10 is not without limitations. A major drawback is contained within its fi lter inhalation structure. Once the fi lter canister has been removed, the open inlet membrane requires the user to hold their breath, close their eyes or require the direct aid of a buddy to complete the replacement of a new fi lter canister. As with the S6 APR, this procedure placed the operative at increased risk if conducted during an actual CBRN attack or in a highly contaminated environment.
21st-century GSR Although the above APRs evolved to meet the exacting threats generated by the Cold War, the 21st-century warfi ghter is now faced with an ever-changing CBRN threat spectrum. Terrorist-based threats now include radiological dispersal devices (RDDs) or agriculturally derived biological agents such as B. anthracis or tularemia, which have the potential for greater potency. Indeed, today’s concern is not limited to classical CBRN warfare or terrorism. The sources of CBRN are not only the misuse of military means or the production of one’s own CBRN weapons, but also the deliberate or unintentional release of toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) and civilian radiological sources, which have great potential of hazard and even mass destruction capability. The new General Service Respirator (GSR) recently introduced into service
WW1 Hypo Helmet.
Small Box Respirator (SBR).
with the UK armed forces is far better suited to meet this new asymmetric threat burden. Indeed the GSR off ers a higher level of protection than any other negative pressure respirator, meeting the highest standards of the NATO Triptych for respiratory protection. Its secondary fi ltration system off ers highest levels of particle protection (biological and radiological) and automatically removes sweat from the mask. Its twin fi lters off er signifi cantly higher TIC protection and the shut-off valves enable fi lters to be changed without the user holding their breath, thereby preventing contamination ingress. Low-breath resistance ensures wearer comfort and diff ering size masks and oronasal inserts allow the GSR to be face-fi tted to approximately 99.9% of the face shapes. Based on a single platform reducing
training and maintenance costs, the GSR introduces a number of features to improve wearer comfort which is particularly important when the mask is worn for long periods of time – more than 48 hours. These include self- regulating, twin primary face seals that provide increased protection and a range of harness options and a high-effi ciency drinking system that delivers in excess of 0.5 litres per minute as required. The fl exible, hard-coated lens provides a wide fi eld of view and impact protection, and can be adapted for visual impairments including progressive (varifocal) lenses. In general the GSR’s superior performance allows the global CBRN operative to react eff ectively to the ever-changing threat spectrum of the 21st century. ❚❙
Dr David Crouch is Product Manager, Military & Civil Defence, Scott Health. 36 CBNW 2013/02
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