S.E.A. - what is SE-shield?

Questions about the SE-shield system

This is a brief run-down on the SE-shield system of fan-supplied, positive-pressure, breath-responsive demand respirators and pressurized protective suits. If you want to find out what the system comprises, in which applications it is used and by whom, this is a good place to start.

is SE-shield?

The name denotes a system of personal protective equipment used in a wide range of demanding applications. SE-shield comprises two main parts: respirators and suits that together form an integrated protective system.

The protective suits in the SE-shield system are available in many materials, and are all completely integrated with the respirator unit. That is, all parts of the system have been designed to work as one.

The suits range from simple dust models to military-grade materials that have been tested for chemical and biological warfare agents such as sarin, nerve gas and anthrax.

All suits can be pressurized by the SE400 respirator. This generates an air flow inside the suit, not only increasing your sense of coolness and comfort, but also dramatically minimizing the risk of outside air leaking into the suit.

The SE400 respirator is an FPBR. This means:

Fan supplied. The respirator is powered by a fan unit that draws polluted air through a set of filters, and then delivers the clean air to you, the user.
Positive pressure. This means three things: firstly, there is no breathing resistance (you don't have to draw the air through the filters with your lungs), secondly, you can't 'out-breathe' the respirator when you work hard, and thirdly, the air pressure in the mask and suit is higher than the outside air pressure, so clean inside air leaks out but polluted outside air does not leak in.
Breath-responsive. Rather than keeping a relatively low, constant air supply like conventional fan respirators, the SE400 senses how much air you need and adjusts itself to your requirements.
Respirator. More fully, a micro-processor controlled demand respirator with a protection factor equal to a breathing apparatus.

is SE-shield used?

Industrial applications
Emergency response
Rescue
Evacuation
Decontamination
Transport
Crowd control
Handling of victims
Forensics
Site investigation
Clean-up operations

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to use the SE400 respirator?

Whenever the hazard is known, the air is filtrable, not oxygen deficient, and not IDLH (Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health).

TASK/HAZARD	POSSIBLE EQUIPMENT

Hazard unknown		–	–		–	–	–
Oxygen deficiency		–	–		–	–	–
Hazard known & filtrable		–		–	–	–
Rescue & evacuation		–		–	–	–
Decontamination		–		–	–	–
Hospital transport			–	–			–	–
Crowd control			–	–	–	–	–	–
Handling self-presenters		–		–	–	–		–
Forensics — high risk		–		–	–
Forensics — low risk			–	–	–		–	–
Site investigation				–				–

does the SE400 respirator compare with conventional fan-powered respirators (PAPR)?

Feature	SE400	Conventional PAPR
Interactive air supply	Senses the user’s breathing pattern and adjust itself dynamically.	Continuous flow or other unchanging supply.
True positive pressure	Keeps up with user’s breathing – true positive pressure up to and above 400 litres/min.	Pressure likely to periodically dip into negative, even at light work.
Interactive operation	Instant alert in the event of any problem, such as low battery or expired filters.	No indication in the case of a problem. No indication when filters need changing.
Self-diagnostics	Continuous checking of the unit’s functions. Immediate alarm if unit does not provide adequate protection.	No checking. No alarm.
Back-up	Positive pressure unit becomes an ordinary filter respirator if motor breaks down.	Loose-fitting respirators – Lethal oxygen deficiency and CO2 levels within 1 minute.
'Black-box' recording	Complete audit information on user ID, usage periods and function of the unit.	No idea how the device was used, when, for how long, or by whom.
Particle filter warning	User alert when particle filter needs changing.	No indication.
Gas cartridge warning	User alert when gas cartridge needs changing.	No indication.
Speech	Microphone in respirator. Loudspeaker or 2-way com-radio can be hooked up to system. The SE400 responds to increase airflow demand caused by changed breathing pattern.	Even if units are fitted with microphones or speech diaphragms, changed breathing pattern may easily cause negative pressure in mask.

uses the SE-shield system?

Some applications where SE-shield is used around the world:

Defence — pressure cleaning — police — industrial cleaning — domestic preparedness — decontamination — first response — health departments — radiation emergencies — scientific work — metal processing — refractory operations — concrete spraying — tunneling — sandstone cutting — hazmat analysis — fire services — dangerous goods transport — vehicle repair — paving manufacture — tank cleaning — asbestos removal — copper mining — spraying — silica protection — foam processing — mining rig operations — welding — crime scene clean-up — industrial cooking — floor polishing — electric motor repairs — spray painting — zinc & lead loading — maintenance work — lead smelting — metal processing — organo-phosphate analysis — chemical-biological-radiological operations — forensics — fire investigation — tank decontamination — port facilities — demolition — civil engineering — construction — sanding — dust control — horticulture — welding in tanks — arson investigation — bauxite operations — drug squad operations — ammonium nitrate cleaning — hatchery fumigation — grain mills — leachate furnaces — battery manufacture — decontamination of hospital equipment — battery recycling — beryllium operations — protection for ambulance personnel

Some users:

ASIA: Taiwan Department of Defence — Taiwan Center for Disease Control — AUSTRALIA: Alcoa-BP Refinery — Alpha One — ARPANSA —Australian Defence Forces — ANSTO — BHP — Walters Constructions — CBI Constructors — Chemtrans — Claypave — Collex — CSA Mines — Dept of Industrial Resources — Dolarac — Downer Construction — Dunlop — EIMCO — Emergency Management Australia — Enviro — Express Industrial — Floor Decor — G & D Donnelly — GRASP — International Ship Management — Macquarie Generation - Bayswater Power Station — Mount Isa Mines (MIM) — NSW Ambulance — NSW Health — NSW Police — NSW Rural Fire Services — Orica — Pasminco — Queensland Health — Queensland Nickel — Queensland Police — Rail Infrastructure Corp — Rosenlund Contractors — Royal Motor Yacht Club — South Australian Metropolitan Fire Services — South Coast Equipment — Steamit Group — Tanawha Palm Farm — Thiess Hochtief — Victorian Country Authority — Victorian Dept of Human Services — Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine — Victorian Metropolitan Ambulance Service — Victorian Police — Victorian Rural Ambulance — Vitalo Safety — Western Australia Police — Western Mining — Witwood Foods — WMC Kwinana Nickel Refinery — CANADA: Ministry of Health - Emergency Preparedness — Vancouver City Fire Rescue Services — Vancouver Urban Search and Rescue Team — EUROPE: PASS Defence — NEW ZEALAND: Institute of Environmental Science & Research — New Zealand Defence — New Zealand Police — Prime Explosives — St John Ambulance — Tegal Foods — Waste Management — USA: Aberdeen Proving Ground (US Army Biological-Chemical Command) —Alameda County Fire Dept — Bechtel (Dept of Energy) — California National Guard — Clark County Fire Dept — C & D Technology — Erie Medical Center — Exide — Lawrence Livermore Laboratories — Massachusetts Emergency Management — Middlesex County Hazmat — Nassau University Medical Center — New York State Dept — New York State Dept of Health — North Carolina Special Operations Response Team (SORT) — Rockland County EMS