Meeting the Demands of Low to Mid-Level Threat Respiratory Protection
Meeting the Demands of Low to Mid-Level Threat Respiratory Protection
Low to mid level threat environments present unique and often misunderstood respiratory risk for tactical operators. With our long-standing heritage in defense, safety, and innovation, Avon Protection’s, MITR™-M1 Half Mask has been developed to redefine the low to mid-level threat environment faced by tactical operators across law enforcement, first responders, and military.
The Capability Gap in Low to Mid-Level Protection
While more advanced protective equipment is in use by specialist personnel operating in high-threat CBRN environments, many military personnel, law enforcement and first responders are faced with a range of hazardous agents in their day-to-day operations which can be ingested through breathing.
At the very highest threat level, CBRN operators have a range of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and full facepiece respirators available to them, but options for the lower-level threat environment are often limited to either single or multi-use industrial masks. These masks are difficult to integrate with other equipment being worn or used in a tactical environment and often don’t provide sufficient protection. In some cases, no protection is provided for routine daily operations.
As a result, it is the low to mid-level threat environment that is the least well-served and understood. Oftentimes, operations at this level can involve a high level of interaction with the public where this can be an overlooked threat itself: from first responders needing to enter private premises where low-level, non-lethal agents may be present, to law enforcement officers needing to police civil events that have the potential to develop quickly into riot control operations.
Full-face respirators are not conducive in these situations. Not only are they unlikely to be carried around at all times, but they are also often not provided to operators in these scenarios. Additionally, full-face respirators can present a severe or militarized image to the public which can be counter-productive for operational outcomes and cause further disturbance.
The best solution for this operational envelope is a half-mask respirator that offers scalable, low to mid protection levels and a low-burden design for easy storage and transportation. Importantly, it must also provide a comfortable wearer experience to support longer operations and integrate seamlessly with communications and other tactical equipment. This is especially critical because existing half-mask solutions are typically designed for industrial use and not well suited for the challenging and evolving conditions tactical operators face.
Enter: Avon Protection’s MITR-M1™ Half Mask
Avon Protection’s MITR™-M1 half mask has been specifically developed to fill this critical low to mid-level threat environment capability gap, with a design built on six key principles:
Protection levels:
MITR™-M1 provides protection against a variety of respiratory hazards. The MITR™-PF Particulate Filter incorporates a low-profile, pleated element that provides 99.97% filtration efficiency against very fine dust, fumes, biological agents, and oil and water-based mists. The half mask also has compatible filters for protection against riot control agents. MITR™-M1 and MITR™-PF are NIOSH P100 certified as well as EN140 and EN143 P3R certified, catering to globally recognized standards. Also compatible with MITR™-M1, MITR™-RF Riot Filter provides protection against common riot control agents including CS, CN, CR, OC, and PAVA.
Lightweight:
MITR™-M1 with the MITR™-PF filter weighs in at 250 g/0.55 lbs. and is small enough to be carried in a cargo pocket or gear pouch. This ensures users can always have this respiratory protection capability on demand when a threat may rapidly develop, without adding to their burden.
Low profile:
MITR™-M1 has a smooth, flush-fitting curved profile with a unique side-mounted filter design. Unlike masks that use a front-mounted filter, MITR-M1’s offset, left or right configuration minimizes snag hazards and ensures compatibility with tactical gear, including maintaining weapons sighting ability. Its half-mask design also allows wearers to protect their health without presenting a overly militarized image to the public they interact with.
Comfort:
MITR™-M1 was developed with users in mind to ensure comfort and breathing efficiency is optimized during operations lasting multiple hours, significantly longer than other half-mask market options designed for industrial use. Using Avon Protection’s pedigree, and constructed from military-grade materials, the silicone-based half-mask has an ergonomic nose cup that accommodates a wide range of face shapes.
Helmet compatibility:
MITR™-M1 can be fitted with helmet attachments that can be clipped onto the wearer’s helmet rail in seconds, without the need to remove the helmet or existing eye protection. This swift deployment is ideal for evolving tactical scenarios and ensures that first responders don’t have to expose themselves to don additional PPE. In addition, MITR™-M1 seamlessly integrates with helmet chin straps ensuring comfort and sealing capability is maintained.
Scalable:
MITR™-M1 is a component of the MITR™ System, a tactical ensemble that allows users to scale their protection as required. Additional components in the system include the MITR™-RF Riot Filter, helmet attachments, and MITR™-PG1 Powered Goggle. A first-of-its-kind, MITR™-PG1 provides an air powered purge system, which has been engineered to redefine ocular protection providing advanced anti-fog capability as well as ballistic protection. MITR™-PG1 is designed to meet the requirement of ANSI Z87+, ISO 16321-1 and MIL-STD shock/vibration requirements ensuring the same ballistic protection as standard issue eyewear.
What Users Say About the MITR™-M1
Before launching commercially, the MITR™-M1 Half Mask and MITR™-PF Particulate Filter were subjected to testing and hard-use during military trials and experimentation events. The product has been tailored to meet the operational demands and environment which it will be used in as a result.
“Having the ability to pull a half-mask out of my cargo pocket and don quickly in fast escalating situations, knowing it will provide protection against things like explosive and gunfire residue – that's an exciting prospect. The current gear we would use in this scenario is a full-face mask carried on the hip in a bulky pouch, and in reality, bulk is a barrier to uptake. Every minute our personnel can wear a mask is reducing their risk against airborne irritants, so an option like the MITR™-M1 Half Mask with P100 filter is going to have more impact than full-face masks, even though the protection levels are lower, simply because it is more likely to actually be worn in the heat of the moment.”
- Law Enforcement Procurement Officer at Shot Show 2024.
To learn more about the MITR™-M1 and MITR™ System, contact our team.