New C50 Mask Receives Full NIOSH Approval

Avon Protection, a division of Avon Rubber plc, has been awarded full NIOSH CBRN air purifying respirator certification for the new wide vision C50 respirator following CE certification in 2005. Derived from Avon’s acclaimed Joint Service General Purpose Mask ordered by the US Armed Forces, the C50 is generating worldwide orders amongst both the defence community and ‘first responders’ such as police, ambulance and fire services.

The C50’s wide visor dramatically improves peripheral vision and identification of personnel, as well as offering superb visor quality and improved integration with optical equipment.. The unique blend of silicon and butyl rubber has created a highly flexible mask unlike any in the market. This flexibility ensures a much better seal for increased protection and also makes it more comfortable to wear. A flatter brow and extended chin flap ensures integration with ancillary equipment, such as safety helmets and protective suits. It boasts a new face-seal with either a right or left handed filter mount, to give the best possible sighting position for shoulder-mounted weapons and the ability to cater for left handed and right handed users of firearms.

The certified product utilises the CBRNF12 canister, an advanced technology filter providing filtration capacity against the full range of NIOSH agents.

Jim Naylor, Sales and Marketing Manager, Avon Protection, said, “With NIOSH certification now in place, we are expecting an enthusiastic response to the C50 at IDEX. The C50 offers law enforcers, first responders and military users a highly featured mask, incorporating the latest technical advances which Avon has developed for the US Joint Service General Purpose Mask Program.”