Why should you switch to a GVS-RPB blasting respirator?

Using a supplied air respirator (SAR) is mandatory for abrasive blasting, so this is nothing new to you. However, there are some key differences between brands which make some products stand above the rest. In this article, we’re going to show you what you should be looking for in a blasting respirator and why, and why we’ve been the manufacturer of the world’s best abrasive blasting headtops for over four decades.

One of the key questions you need to ask yourself when you’re using your current PPE is, "Am I comfortable? As comfortable as I can be, as comfortable as I should be?"

Our guess is you aren’t, and chances are this is something that lead you to this article in the first place. When we started back in the 1970s, comfort was (and still is) our key driver when designing a product. At the time, there wasn’t anything comfortable, and to this day, there still isn’t anything that even comes close to the level of comfort that we’re able to offer. We create our products from the end user’s perspective, because once upon a time we were blasters too. We know what it’s like to work in the industry, how you move, how hot it gets, where your weight is balanced and what hurts. So, we create PPE that we would want to wear.

Take a look at the Nova 3 respirator, our number 1 selling abrasive blasting headtop. With our motorcycle helmet style fit, this seemingly simple design does a whole lot of work for you, helping to evenly distribute the weight of the respirator, and reducing pressure points to help make the Nova 3 feel even more comfortable. This also provides soft pillow padding around the head helping to keep the headtop securely in place.

Performance & Productivity

When choosing a respirator, you need to factor in how it will impact your performance and productivity. Think to yourself, what’s my field of vison like? Is there enough light? Does my work get hot (or cold)? Answering these sorts of questions will guide you to the right respirator for you and your application.

The Nova 3 has been designed to answer these questions through intuitive design solutions. We want your field of view to be as close to that of which you experience in your day-to-day life outside of wearing a respirator. To do this, we’ve incorporated a large clear panoramic lens which enables you to operate without compromising your vision. This lets you work with greater precision and accuracy, reducing the need for rework.

From our experience in abrasive blasting, we know how easily lenses can be damaged from abrasive rebound. To combat this, we’ve developed a tear-off lens system which refreshes your view in seconds. From our case studies, we’ve been able to determine that productivity is improved by saving up to 45 minutes per day, per operator.

If you’re working in a confined space, then lighting can be troublesome, even a light on the end of your blast nozzle isn’t always helpful. Where you’re looking is where the light needs to be concentrated. Our solution is pretty simple – a light that attaches to the top of the Nova 3. The L4 Light illuminates your line of sight, following your every move.

Perhaps one of the most important considerations when it comes to comfort, performance, and productivity is the climate. When you’re too hot, work is hard, and can become dangerous. Especially when you’re blasting and factor in the hours of work you’re doing. If it’s too cold, then this can make you miserable and slow, and even more so when it’s cold ambient air that’s being fed into your headtop making it painful to breathe. We’ve created a way to control the climate, by either cooling incoming air by up to 52˚F, or heating it by up to 33˚F. This helps to reduce the impact of extreme climates, keeping you at your optimal body temperature so you can perform at your best, for longer.

Care & Maintenance

Our products are designed and manufactured to withstand the harsh conditions of the abrasive blasting industry. There are some parts and consumables however, which are designed to be replaced from time to time, such as lenses, padding, bellow seals, capes etc, to ensure your investment lasts the distance and so you only have to replace the parts you need, unlike some other systems in the market. We also like to make sure that changing out parts is not a hassle, that’s why anything that needs replacing on the Nova 3 can be done with a single hex key, which is stored inside the headtop.