Practice question

What is a supplied-air respirator (SAR)?

  1. respirator that uses the atmosphere to filter air
  2. self-contained breathing apparatus with built-in air supply
  3. respirator with an air-purifying filter, cartridge, or canister that removes specific air contaminants by passing ambient air through the air-purifying element
  4. atmosphere-supplying respirator for which the source of breathing air is not carried by the user (aka airline respirator)

Answer: D — atmosphere-supplying respirator for which the source of breathing air is not carried by the user (aka airline respirator)

The main idea is distinguishing how a respirator gets breathing air. A supplied-air respirator provides air from an external source, not carried by the wearer, typically delivered through a hose from a distant compressor or air bank. That external air supply classifies it as a supplied-air/airline type of atmosphere-supplying respirator. The other options describe respirators that filter ambient air (air-purifying respirators) or that carry their own air supply (self-contained breathing apparatus), which is why they don’t fit the definition of a supplied-air respirator.

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