Respiratory Protective Equipment Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Air Purifying Respirator, Supplied Air Respirator), By End-User (Oil and Gas, Industrial, Healthcare, Fire services, Pharmaceuticals, Mining, Petrochemical/chemical, Construction, Others) and By Region(North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, LATAM) Forecasts, 2024-2032

Market Overview

The global respiratory protective equipment market size was valued at USD 12.34 billion in 2023. It is expected to reach USD 25.29 billion in 2032, growing at a CAGR of 8.3% over the forecast period (2024-32). Stringent occupational safety regulations and standards mandating the use of respiratory protective equipment in hazardous work environments drive market demand. Regulations aim to protect workers from airborne contaminants, gases, vapors, and particulates.

Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) refers to a variety of personal protective apparatus intended to safeguard the user from inhaling harmful substances or airborne particulate. RPE is commonly used in industries where employees are exposed to dust, fumes, gases, chemicals, and infectious agents. RPE primarily safeguards workers from inhaling hazardous substances like dust, fumes, chemicals, infectious agents, and toxic gases. RPE aids in the prevention of respiratory illnesses, occupational diseases, and long-term lung injury. It is essential in industries where employees are exposed to respiratory hazards, such as manufacturing, construction, mining, healthcare, agriculture, and laboratories.

RPE filters out hazardous particles, gases, and chemicals from the air, decreasing the danger of respiratory illness and occupational diseases. RPE is available in numerous varieties and configurations to accommodate various work environments and hazards, allowing flexibility and customization. Respiratory Protective Equipment is essential for safeguarding employees against respiratory hazards. Masks, respirators, and powered air-purifying respirators with varying levels of protection are included. RPE ensures conformance with regulations, promotes worker safety, and offers multiple benefits, such as respiratory protection, increased productivity, and customization options.

Highlights

• Supplied Air Respirator dominates the product segment.
• Healthcare dominates the end-user segment.
• Asia-Pacific is the highest shareholder in the global market.

Market Dynamics

Global respiratory protective equipment market drivers

Favorable occupational safety regulations

Respiratory protective equipment's sales depend on workplace safety. Workplace safety regulations will boost product demand. These rules require industrial and commercial respiratory protection—Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations from 1992 mandate RPE for workers at risk of health or safety. RPE must be properly inspected for use, maintenance, and storage and should be provided by the employer and worn properly. The Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002 require employers to buy or manufacture "CE"-marked RPE and conform with PPE design regulations (OM 2009/03). RPE manufacturers must comply with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002 while operating in a lead environment under Regulation 6 of the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002.

In addition, the Ionizing Radiations Regulations 1999, Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 recommend RPE. The American Labor Department's Office of Occupational Safety and Health Standards standardizes North American RPE. Employers must store and train workers on safety gear, which is expected to drive market growth over the forecast period.

Rising incidences of mesothelioma disease

The lungs, heart, and abdomen's protective linings are all targets of malignant mesothelioma. Early on, dyspnea and discomfort are brought on by pleural effusion because of asbestos. This occurs in buildings, manufacturing, factories, textile mills, power plants, and shipyards. Despite the ban on new installations, asbestos is used for fire protection and insulation in commercial and residential structures. In addition, the demand for inexpensive building materials in the construction industry drives the usage of asbestos across Southeast Asia and Africa.

Mining and production of asbestos have been outlawed globally in several locations. Still, asbestos is used in Thailand, India, Mexico, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Long-term economic incentives in Kazakhstan and Russia are expected to increase demand for asbestos worldwide. The risk of exposure and long-term asbestos-related mortality is increased by asbestos in brake pads, insulation, decorative paints, floor tiles, ceiling tiles, and floor tiles. Such factors are expected to drive market growth over the forecast period.

Global respiratory protective equipment market restraint

Lack of awareness

Clinical urgency, knowledge, and monitoring are challenges for healthcare providers. The risk of infection for hospital staff arises from patient contact. The spread of infectious diseases is made more likely by inadequate infection control and low adherence to health and safety regulations. Long work hours, a lack of time, inadequate training, a lack of equipment, and a low-risk perception may lead to the neglect of infection control procedures. Direct or indirect touch, droplets, and aerial transfer are the three main types of transmission.

Additionally, acute care units' high influenza virus exposure makes healthcare workers more vulnerable to various diseases. Research facilities can now evaluate high-risk wards and safety compliance. Regulators advise wearing gloves, N95 respirators, sunglasses, coveralls, and other PPE for high-risk activities. In order to reduce worker fatalities, RPE is necessary for high-risk sectors like healthcare, mining, construction, industrial, and oil and gas. Such factors are expected to hinder market growth.

Global respiratory protective equipment market opportunities

Growing concern over airborne diseases

The risks of the COVID-19 epidemic and the importance of regular use of respiratory protection are becoming increasingly well-known. Also, people and organizations are much better informed about the spread of airborne infections. Both groups have benefited greatly from this because it has had a favorable effect on them. A direct association has been shown between the rise in awareness and the rise in demand for respiratory protective equipment, such as masks, respirators, and a wide range of other breathing devices. The growing concerns are expected to create opportunities for market growth over the forecast period.

Regional Analysis

Based on region, the global market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Central and South America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Asia-pacific dominates the global market

Asia-Pacific is the most significant global market shareholder and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 8.71% during the forecast period. Large-scale use of respiratory products like disposable and non-disposable respirators, self-contained breathing apparatus, powered air-purifying respirators, escape respirators, and airline respirators help prevent workplace fatalities in Asia Pacific's booming pharmaceutical, mining, and construction industries. This is projected to boost the market over the forecast period. In addition, the need for greater public infrastructure, such as roads, harbors, airports, and rail transit systems, has increased due to economic growth in Southeast Asian, Chinese, and Indian nations. Air travel has increased in Asia-Pacific due to rising income levels and a developing civil aviation sector. A sharp increase in mergers and acquisitions, integration activities, and site relocations also drives the demand for industrial development in the area. Additionally, international corporations are likely to set up their manufacturing facilities in Asia's developing nations because of the low cost of production. The region's respiratory protection equipment market is anticipated to increase due to these trends.

North America is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 7.8% over the forecast period. The North American economy is the largest and strongest in the world and is presently undergoing great expansion due to its countries' robust industrial dynamics and plentiful supply of commodities. The region's economy is complex and includes the significant economies of the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Rising oil and gas production activities in the United States and Canada are the primary driver of the region's demand for respiratory protection equipment. Furthermore, growing industries in North America, such as manufacturing, oil and gas, and chemicals, are expected to increase product demand due to expanding workforce capabilities. For instance, OSHA's strict standards compel employers to use respiratory protection equipment to protect their workers.

Europe is expected to expand substantially over the forecast period. Low mortgage rates are predicted to increase European building activity, driving up product demand for new construction and restoration projects. The market is estimated to be pushed by demographic variables such as economic activity and income distribution variations. Furthermore, high labor expenses are anticipated to restrain the region's construction industry, which could slow the RPE market's expansion over the forecast period.

In the Central and South America region, the demand for RPE in the oil and gas sector is anticipated to increase due to increased investment in projects to expand refining capacity and increase exploration and production. The demand for RPE is also anticipated to expand during the forecast period due to increasing investments by automotive businesses in the region for capacity development and expanding exports of various commodities. Additionally, it is anticipated that Panama's canal extensions and the construction of ports, luxury high-rise apartment complexes, and hotels needed to stimulate the country's tourism industry will continue to sustain the nation's construction spending, which will drive the growth of the RPE market.

The Middle East is one of the safest and most dependable sources of oil for the global market. OPEC member nations will likely invest in infrastructure projects and new capacity expansions. According to OPEC's World Oil Outlook, oil is expected to meet more than 25% of the world's energy needs by 2024. This pattern will likely result in a considerable increase in investment, not only in new barrels for raising production but also in fields to make up for existing fields' declining rates.

Segmental Analysis

The global market is bifurcated into product and end-user.

Based on the product, the global market is bifurcated into air-purifying respirators and supplied air respirators.

The supplied air respirator segment dominates the global market and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 8.4% over the forecast period. High-level respiratory protection and positive mask pressure are provided by supplied air respirators. Compared to self-contained breathing apparatuses, these respirators are smaller and last longer. Compressed air is delivered through hoses in these respirators to a half or full-facepiece mask. This respirator is used when negative pressure and powered air-purifying respirators are ineffective. In order to breathe out clean, dry compressed air, a hose joins a full facepiece mask to a self-contained breathing device.

In addition, workers use this respiratory protection when entering environments immediately harmful to life or health (IDLH) or when knowledge is insufficient to rule out IDLH. Demand for products will also be driven by Asia-Pacific's mining and oil and gas sectors over the projection period. Airplane masks provide long-term protection. They have an air supply tube and a full or half mask. Users use respirators to breathe. These may be used in non-IDLH or escapable environments with the approval of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Air Purifying Respirators (APR) protect against particles such as fumes and smoke. These respirators shield workers from gases and vapors in lower air concentrations than the norm. Negative pressure, positive pressure, and escape-only respirators are some of the different kinds of commercially available APRs. Throwaway cup masks, low-maintenance half-mask facepieces with cartridges and filters, and complex PAPRs with full-facepieces or hoods are all examples of air-purifying respirators (APRs).

In addition, particle APRs filter dust, mists, and vapors. Filters are inefficient against gases or vapors and become less effective when particles accumulate on them and obstruct the fiber gaps. Filtering APRs need to be replaced if they make breathing difficult. Vapor and gas APRs are cleaned of dangerous fumes and gases using chemical cartridges or canisters. They do not block particles but offer protection from certain gases or vapors if the cartridge's absorption capacity remains. Under OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard, 29 CFR 1910.134, respiratory protection is required. It is used by the construction, medical, mining, and fire services.

Based on end-users, the market is bifurcated into oil and gas, industrial, healthcare, fire services, pharmaceuticals, mining, petrochemical/chemical, construction, and others.

The healthcare segment owns the highest market share and is predicted to exhibit a CAGR of 13.5% over the forecast period. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and endoparasites are frequent in medicine. These undetectable chemicals cause allergies or spread diseases and might infect medical staff. The OSHA recommendations for safely using surgical masks and other protective gear are anticipated to drive the market. In addition, frontline employees exposed to biological hazards experience infections, allergies, and poisoning. The acute respiratory syndrome is brought on by viruses and bacteria that enter the body through the respiratory system. Worldwide viral outbreaks like influenza A (H1N1) and Ebola will also drive the use of protective respiratory equipment in the healthcare industry throughout the anticipated period.

Additionally, healthcare sector operators' ineffective control measures, such as effective ventilation or separating dangerous drug-exposed places, may boost market expansion. Healthcare workers use respirators more often because airborne contaminants are more likely to contaminate them. Asthma, TB, and other respiratory illnesses can be avoided among healthcare workers with the proper respiratory gear. The market will grow over the forecast period due to rising concerns about workers' health.

Pharmaceutical enterprises will use more air-purifying respirators to prevent inhaling dangerous medications. The workforce, pharmaceutical industry, and workforce knowledge of respiratory protection will all contribute to market expansion. Pharmaceutical processes include temporal distribution, milling, sieving, vessel charging/discharging, cleaning, and maintenance, which requires respiratory protection because engineering and administrative controls are insufficient. Toxic drugs can be splashed, touched, or inhaled. In addition, workers' upper bodies are exposed to Class II Biological Safety Cabinets while manufacturing sterile medications. Isolators also break down when loading and unloading cabinets. These elements encourage the usage of respirators, which could boost market expansion. Further, equipment for protecting the respiratory system improves airflow and reduces exposure. Using a surgical N-95 respirator is advised by NIOSH. Concerns about the health of pharmaceutical workers will increase demand for respiratory protection equipment.

Recent Developments

• April 2024 - As post-pandemic demand fades and the business realigns its product portfolio, Honeywell International Inc. is considering selling its personal protective equipment division. People with knowledge of the situation say that the conglomerate is collaborating with an adviser to investigate strategic options for the company, such as a potential USD 2 billion+ sale.
• December 2023 - The U.S. Air Force granted MSA Safety, Inc. a USD 35 million contract to supply its air base fire brigades with new respiratory protection equipment. The G1 Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) model from MSA, as well as associated facepieces, chemical warfare component (CWC) masks, and supplied-air respirator (SAR) kits—which allow the SCBA to be utilized as an extended-duration airplane device—are covered under the contract.