PPE
Respiratory Protection
Identifying opportunities to improve emergency stockpiling, reinforce surge manufacturing, and support successful use of respirators
Advancing Respiratory Protection Readiness
Effective respiratory protection is essential to safeguarding critical workers during an emergency. The organization works to strengthen respirator stockpiles, addresses barriers to effective use, and evaluates surge manufacturing strategies to ensure protection remains reliable when demand increases.
Value of Stockpiling Reusable Respirators
Reusable respirators can offer measurable cost, storage, and durability advantages over disposable alternatives.
Less costly to centrally stock reusable respirators over 20 years than disposables for a 150-day pandemic, accounting for storage and shelf life
Hundreds of disposable respirators can be replaced with one reusable respirator.
Typical shelf life of reusable respirators, compared to approximately 5 years for disposable alternatives.
Related Funded Projects
Below are projects examining key evidence gaps in respiratory protection, including durability, usability, and long-term performance in real-world conditions.
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National Strategic Research Institute and the University of Nebraska Medical Center Infectious Aerosol Research Group
$995,8222026Assess how specific models of FFR and EHMR filters degrade under routine workplace conditions and compare those findings with laboratory-controlled samples to identify factors that affect filtration performance over time.
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The Nonwovens Institute
$750,5442026Assess how specific models of FFR filters degrade under different simulated conditions in controlled laboratory environments.
Recent Updates
Explore recent publications, analysis, and updates related to respiratory protection and outbreak preparedness.