Powered Air Purifying Respirator Market

Market Overview

The global powered air purifying respirator market size was valued at USD 2,278 million in 2021 and is expected to reach a valuation of USD 4,867 million by 2030 growing at a CAGR of 9% during the forecast period (2022–2030).

A PAPR (powered air-purifying respirator) is a type of respirator that protects workers from contaminated air. PAPRs are made up of headgear and fan assembly that takes ambient air that has been infected with one or more types of pollutant or pathogen, actively eliminates (filters) a sufficient proportion of these dangers, and then provides the clean air to the user's face, mouth, and nose. Filtering facepiece respirators, like N95 masks, have a lower assigned protection factor. Positive-pressure masks, blower units, and simply blowers are used to describe PAPRs.

PAPRs are recommended for concentrations of hazardous particulates or gases that are greater than the applicable occupational exposure limit. Still, less than the immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) level and the manufacturer's maximum-use concentration, provided the respirator has a sufficient assigned protection factor, according to the NIOSH Respirator Selection Logic.

The advent of numerous infectious biohazards and the most recent COVID-19 pandemic epidemic were the main drivers of business growth. Due to the pandemic, more doctors and healthcare professionals are using these items because they provide the highest level of coronavirus protection compared to N95 FFRs and reusable elastomeric half-facepiece respirators. All businesses began operating correctly at the beginning of 2021, which led to a surge in demand for powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR) from various industries, including oil & gas, petrochemical, industrial, and others.

Market Dynamics

Powered Air Purifying Respirator Market Drivers

• Favorable Occupational Safety Regulations

Occupational safety laws mainly drive the PAPR market. The demand for powered air purifying respirators is likely caused by regulatory rules requiring organizations to ensure worker safety in industries. The sort of powered air purifying respirator necessary for protection during various industrial or commercial procedures is specified in these standards. Companies must supply PAPR to employees who may be exposed to health or safety concerns at work, as per the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (1992) in the United Kingdom.

Under Directive 89/686/EEC, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) controls PPE standardization throughout Europe. The directive ensures that personal protective equipment (PPE) meets quality and safety standards by establishing safety requirements and conditions for its sale and unrestricted movement throughout the European market. The directive applies to any piece of device, equipment, or appliance intended to be held or worn by a person to secure them from health and safety risks.

Governments are actively involved in legislating worker health and safety laws and the rules above and standards. The European Commission, acting through the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), has passed the European Safety and Health Legislation, which aims to improve the safety of workers in the industry. 

The directive defined minimum requirements and essential principles such as risk assessment, employer and employee obligations, safety measures, personal protective equipment, and industrial accident prevention. These directives are legally obligatory, and EU members must incorporate them into their national legislation. Over the forecast period, such favorable laws are expected to drive the PAPR market.

• The Emergence of Infectious Biological Hazards

The COVID-19 virus, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is a highly contagious pathogen that causes deadly respiratory diseases, making it a severe public health problem. Since there was no vaccination available for this virus, countermeasures rely on slowing or blocking transmission from person to person. 

Also, there is a growing attempt to restrict or prevent transmission to healthcare workers and first responders actively dealing with the pandemic. As a result, various regulatory and government bodies worldwide have advocated the use of adequate PPE to prevent the virus from spreading. As a result, the need for PAPR in the healthcare industry is likely to rise.

The deployment of military and healthcare professionals and the establishment of new treatment and isolation facilities in the afflicted areas demanded the supply of protective gear. PAPR acquired prominence during this period due to punctual adherence to legal criteria. Several initiatives were taken to test PAPR's potential to tolerate EVD and other biological viruses and its shelf life.

Over the forecast period, the advent of biological viruses such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Zika, and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the past and a move in the pharmaceutical sector toward proactive measures are set to increase product demand. The demand for multi-purpose PAPR, such as respirators with built-in gas detectors, is likely to stimulate R&D for efficient and long-lasting PAPR to limit the spread of biological threats. Over the next few years, the reasons above are anticipated to augment the PAPR market.

Powered Air Purifying Respirator Market Restraints

• Lack of Consumer Awareness

The healthcare industry faces several fundamental issues, including a failure to recognize clinical urgency, a lack of information, and a lack of oversight. Due to their constant interaction with patients in hospitals and healthcare facilities, healthcare workers are more likely to become infected. Poor infection control methods and low levels of compliance with standard precautions provided by health and safety regulatory organizations exacerbate the danger of infectious disease transmission.

The dominance of N95 respirators over PAPR in hospitals and other healthcare settings has been maintained due to a lack of training and skill in using PAPR. Aside from the healthcare business, other high-risk industries such as fire services, construction, industrial, and oil & gas require PAPR to reduce the incidence of workplace-related illnesses. Between 2007 and 2014, an outbreak of occupational coccidioidomycosis in California caused a massive economic loss in the construction and agricultural industries. 

The leading cause of this tragedy was a lack of information about the safety characteristics connected with various respiratory protection equipment. Although health safety rules mandate PAPR in potentially high-risk locations, a lack of awareness and stringent guidelines at the company level leads to an increase in disease cases in numerous industries. Other causes, such as the lack of strict standards on exposure limits for certain minerals like silica and asbestos, have led to growing exploration and consumption throughout the Asia Pacific and Europe.

Thus, a lack of consumer awareness regarding the use of PAPR is likely to impede market growth over the forecast period.

Segmental Analysis

The global powered air-purifying respirator market share has been classified based on the product, application, and region.

The powered air purifying respirator market has been segmented into half masks, full face masks, helmets, hoods & visors based on product. The full face mask product segment is expected to dominate the global market, and it is projected to reach USD 2,528 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 9% during the forecast period. Product demand is predicted to rise as respiratory protective equipment grows in industrial applications such as manufacturing, construction, and safety applications such as fire prevention and law enforcement.

The PAPR full-face mask is made from an elastomeric facepiece made of silicone or rubber. The masks that cover the entire face are called full-face masks. PAPRs are equipped with vapor, gas, and particle filters, or a combination of the three. These respirators are worn to protect while doing medium and light activities, such as sustained arm and hand movements or fast walking. Furthermore, these masks must be tested due to their tight fit. 

Based on application, the powered air purifying respirator market has been segmented into oil & gas, metal fabrication, agricultural, food & beverage, fire services, petrochemical/chemical, industrial, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, mining, and others. The industrial application segment is expected to dominate the global market, and it is projected to reach USD 832 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 9% during the forecast period.

Growing industries, such as metal forming, automotive, manufacturing, glass making, and paper & pulp, are expected to increase their demand for respiratory protective equipment, including PAPR, to protect their employees against inhalation of particulate matter, vapors, and gases, particularly in the Asia Pacific region.

Half masks

The half-mask segment is anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR during the projection period. Due to their P100 high-efficiency filters, half masks provide more excellent protection than N95 masks. The half masks demand is increased by their lightweight, compact design. These items are employed in applications involving the processing of biological materials, high-dust settings, mining, grain and food handling, metal manufacturing, and welding. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has developed standards for half-mask design, and the NIOSH labs have tested and certified them.

Healthcare

In 2022, the healthcare industry will account for a sizeable portion of the market. Health and safety risks that affect healthcare personnel include exposure to biological and blood-borne pathogens, waste anesthetic gas, and possible chemical and medication exposures. Because PAPR protects from these risks, the healthcare sector significantly demands these solutions. Numerous poisonous and carcinogenic substances that are produced as a result of combustion during a fire expose firefighters to these substances. Employers are being forced to pay more attention to employee safety because of the increased incidence of fire incidents and blowouts and strict safety regulations, notably in North America and Europe. The demand for products in the fire services segment is anticipated to increase.

Pharmaceuticals

Over the forecast period, the pharmaceutical application category is anticipated to expand at a sizable CAGR. Dust, UV radiation, and chemical exposure are potential risks in the pharmaceutical sector. Pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities may put their employees' health at risk. Due to its extensive use in preventing occupational diseases in workers and ensuring their safety, the pharmaceutical sector has a significant demand for the product. Surface mining entails significant dangers, and the airborne particles generated during the process are hazardous. Respiratory hazards are likely to cause severe and fatal illnesses. Because using these items saves employees from respiratory risks, product demand is anticipated to be high in mining applications over the forecast period.

Impact of covid-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has positively influenced the demand for PAPR in the healthcare industry. N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs), surgical N95 FFRs, and PAPRs are often utilized in the healthcare industry. When healthcare personnel is exposed to a higher risk of aerosolized microorganisms that might cause acute respiratory infections, PAPRs can be employed during procedures. However, among the respirator mentioned above types, healthcare workers are least familiar with PAPRs.

As of October 26, 2020, there were almost 42,512,186 coronavirus cases worldwide. Shortages of N95 and other particle filtering respirator masks, surgical masks, and other essential PPE devices have been extensively reported in many hospitals as instances of COVID-19 disease have multiplied dramatically. Medical practitioners and customers have been hoarding and panic buying due to the shortage, resulting in higher costs.

Healthcare workers who are directly exposed to the COVID-19 virus should wear surgical N95 respirators or medical respirators. Alternatives to these respirators, such as surgical masks and other types of filtered facepiece respirators, such as PAPRs, full-facepieces, and elastomeric half-mask air-purifying respirators, must be used if they are not available. As a result, demand for PAPRs is expected to rise over the forecast period.

Because PAPRs are primarily used in industrial, oil and gas, and petrochemical applications, the government's lockdown restrictions had a negative impact on PAPR demand in these industries in 2020.

Market Recovery Timeline and its Challenges

The post-pandemic phase will be significant for the global powered air purifying respirator market growth. The recovery can be hindered by supply chain disruptions, which will affect the market dynamics and the prices of the product. Furthermore, distribution and transportation capabilities restrictions, unfavorable financial conditions, and ascended expenses will challenge the global market. Also, limited production, support operations, labor shortages, and constraints for other end-user sectors, suppliers, and vendors may fail to meet the consumer demand. The recovery will be challenging for the global powered air purifying respirator market.

Regional Analysis

The global powered air purifying respirator market share has been segregated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Central, and South America, the Middle East, and Africa. 

Which Region Accounts for Most Demand for Powered Air Purifying Respirators?

With a market value of USD 1,775 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 8%, North America is expected to be the largest PAPR market. Product demand is likely to increase due to the expansion of businesses such as oil and gas, chemicals, and manufacturing, particularly in Canada. 

Employers in the region are being forced to use respiratory protection equipment to secure the safety of their workers due to the strict regulations. Hefty penalties connected with non-compliance with these regulations are projected to boost product demand in the region. Over the forecast period, safety regulations are likely to be the primary drivers of the North American PAPR market.

With an expected market value of USD 1,047 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 9%, Europe is the second-largest market for powered air purifying respirators. The PPE Directive 89/686/EEC of the European Union establishes criteria for the certification and testing powered air purifying respirators. 

Over the projected period, strict workplace health and safety regulations are expected to increase product demand in the region. In the industrial, construction, and mining industries, rising concerns about fatalities due to respiratory diseases, combined with strict regulatory rules governing silica content and asbestos, are set to propel the demand for PAPR over the forecast period

Asia-pacific

Over the projected period, Asia Pacific is expected to experience the fastest growth in demand for these items. The region's emerging economies are predicted to experience increased industrial deaths due to poor employee safety awareness and inadequate protective gear.

Middle-East and Africa

Over the projection period, the demand for the product is anticipated to be driven by the Middle East's expanding oil and gas sector. Product demand is anticipated to be fueled by worries about respiratory ailments and strict industrial rules. One of the main drivers of product demand in the area was recent progress in treating Ebola in various parts of Africa.

Recent Developments

• In July 2022, The London Fire Brigade granted MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE: MSA) a $9 million contract to provide firefighters with MSA's new M1 Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and telemetry technology.
• In November 2022, The demand for patient safety and quality control oversight in outpatient settings is expanding, and the new 3M Ambulatory Potentially Preventable Complications software fulfills that requirement.
• In October 2022, The new custom matrix system from 3M Oral Care made restorative operations more inexpensive for patients and predictable for dentists.

Powered Air Purifying Respirator Market Segmentation

By Product

• Half Mask
• Full Face Mask
• Helmets
• Hoods & Visors

By Application

• Oil & Gas
• Metal Fabrication
• Agricultural
• Food & Beverage
• Fire Services
• Petrochemical/Chemical
• Industrial
• Pharmaceuticals
• Healthcare
• Mining
• Others

By Regions

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Central and South America
• The Middle East and Africa