AIRSHIELD™ Flip Front PAPR Head Top

AIRSHIELD™ Flip Front PAPR Head Top — Combined Respiratory, Eye, and Face Protection for Welding and Grinding

The ArcOne® AIRSHIELD™ Flip Front is a Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) head top designed for metalworkers and welders who require simultaneous respiratory, eye, and face protection. It features a 4500V auto-darkening welding lens with True Color Technology paired with a grind shield below, allowing the operator to flip up the welding lens and continue grinding or inspecting welds without removing the respirator. The unit is NIOSH approved for particulate respiratory protection and complies with ANSI Z87.1+ for face-shield and eye protection. Recommended applications include welding, stainless steel welding, grinding, assembly, facility maintenance, machine operations, painting, and sanding.

Technical Specifications

Available Items

AIRPLUS® System Components & Parts

AIRPLUS® System Numbered Components

AIRPLUS® Basic System Specifications (Blower Unit)

AIRPLUS® Filter Replacement Cadence

The AIRSHIELD™ Flip Front distinguishes itself from single-function respirators and standard welding helmets by integrating a flip-front auto-darkening lens with a dedicated grind shield, so workers never need to remove the respirator to transition between welding and grinding tasks. Compared to half-face respirators or disposable masks, the PAPR system delivers a higher level of respiratory protection with NIOSH-approved HEPA filtration. The 4500V lens with True Color Technology provides optical clarity that standard passive lenses cannot match, reducing eye strain during extended operations.

Key Features & Benefits

Flip-Front Design with Integrated Grind Shield

The welding lens flips up to reveal a grind shield below, maintaining full respiratory protection during grinding and weld inspection without requiring the worker to remove or swap any equipment. This eliminates downtime between tasks and reduces the risk of accidental respiratory exposure during transitions.

4500V Lens with True Color Technology

The auto-darkening 4500V lens offers variable shade settings from 5/7/9-13 with a light shade of 3, giving welders precise control over arc visibility across a wide range of welding processes. True Color Technology improves optical clarity so welders can see the weld pool and workpiece with greater accuracy.

NIOSH-Approved HEPA Particulate Filtration

The system uses a HEPA filter compatible with the AIRPLUS® blower, protecting against hazardous solid dust particles, metal fumes, and mists including hexavalent chromium (stainless steel), zinc oxide (galvanized steel), and lead fumes. NIOSH approval confirms the respiratory protection meets established regulatory standards.

ANSI Z87.1+ Eye and Face Protection Compliance

The face shield and lens assembly comply with ANSI Z87.1+ for eye and face protection, providing contractors with documentation needed for job site safety compliance. This dual compliance — respiratory and eye/face — reduces the need for layering separate PPE components.

Long-Duration Battery with 3-Phase Alarm

The AIRPLUS® blower battery provides up to 14 hours of runtime at minimum fan speed, supporting two full work shifts before recharging. A 3-phase alarm system alerts the user to changes in airflow status, increasing awareness and reducing the risk of undetected filter saturation.

Flexible Expandable Breathing Tube

The breathing tube expands from 31.5 in to 63 in, reducing torque on the neck and increasing worker mobility across a range of body positions and workstation configurations. The flame-retardant cover on the breathing tube adds durability in welding environments.

Common Applications

Welding

The auto-darkening 4500V lens with variable shade 5/7/9-13 and 4 arc sensors supports a broad range of welding processes, providing both arc protection and respiratory filtration in a single head top.

Stainless Steel Welding

Stainless steel welding generates hexavalent chromium fumes, a recognized respiratory hazard; the HEPA filtration system is specifically noted to protect against these fumes, making this unit appropriate for stainless steel work.

Grinding

The flip-front grind shield allows the worker to raise the welding lens and continue grinding while maintaining full respiratory protection, eliminating the need to switch between a welding helmet and a separate grinding face shield.

Assembly and Machine Operations

The combined respiratory and face protection system is recommended for assembly and machine operations where particulate exposure and eye hazards may be present simultaneously.

Painting and Sanding

The PAPR system's particulate filtration is suitable for painting and sanding environments where fine dust and mist particles present inhalation risks.

Facility Maintenance

Maintenance professionals working across multiple tasks — cutting, grinding, and welding — benefit from the flip-front design's ability to transition between modes without removing the respirator.

Compatible Materials

• Stainless steel (hexavalent chromium fumes)
• Galvanized steel (zinc oxide fumes)
• Steel/manganese alloys
• Cadmium fumes
• Lead fumes
• Hazardous solid dust particles
• Metal fumes and mists

Product Documents

• Linecard — PAPR Systems (Walter Surface Technologies)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What blower system is the AIRSHIELD™ Flip Front head top compatible with?
A: The AIRSHIELD™ Flip Front (AP-4500V-AIR) is compatible with the Walter AIRPLUS® blower system. The complete PAPR kit order number is AP1K-A-4500V.

Q: What type of filter does the AIRPLUS® blower use, and how often should it be replaced?
A: The AIRPLUS® blower uses a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) P3 filter. The pre-filter should be replaced once a week, the HEPA filter at least every month (or when the airflow indicator falls below the minimum flow line), and the spark arrestor as needed if it becomes deformed.

Q: What are the auto-darkening lens shade settings on the 4500V lens?
A: The 4500V lens has a light shade of 3 and a variable dark shade range of 5/7/9-13. It includes variable sensitivity, variable delay, and grind mode, with a TIG rating of 5 and 4 arc sensors.

Q: Is this head top compliant with NIOSH and ANSI standards?
A: Yes. The unit is NIOSH approved for respiratory protection and complies with ANSI Z87.1+ for face-shield and eye protection.

Q: How long does the AIRPLUS® battery last, and how long does it take to recharge?
A: The AIRPLUS® lithium-ion battery provides up to 14 hours of operating time at minimum fan speed and fully recharges in 6 hours. The battery is rated for 500 charging cycles.

Q: Can I use this head top for both welding and grinding without removing the respirator?
A: Yes. The flip-front design allows the welder to raise the 4500V welding lens to expose the grind shield below, maintaining continuous respiratory protection during grinding and weld inspection without removing the head top.