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CBRN Respiratory Protection: Powered Air Systems and Escape Respirators
Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats demand equipment rated for the specific agents involved, not general-purpose particulate protection. ILC Dover supplies CBRN respiratory protection across two tiers: Sentinel XL CBRN powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR), available as complete systems and as components, for personnel who need to work inside a controlled hazard zone, and SCapeâ„¢ escape respirators for anyone who needs to leave one. The Sentinel XL CBRN is the only NIOSH-approved Cap 2 loose-fitting CBRN PAPR.
What CBRN Protection Covers
CBRN is a threat class rather than a single hazard, and equipment is specified against all four parts of it:
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C
Chemical
Military warfare agents such as sarin and mustard gas, plus toxic industrial chemicals released by process upset, transport incident or deliberate act
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B
Biological
Pathogenic organisms and biological agents carried as aerosols or particulates
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RN
Radiological and nuclear
Radioactive particulates that must be kept out of the respiratory tract, distinct from the penetrating radiation that respiratory equipment cannot address
Filtration rated for one part of that set does not imply coverage of the others. That is why CBRN-rated cartridges and CBRN-approved escape respirators exist as separate product lines from standard particulate or organic vapor protection.
Two Tiers of CBRN Capability
Many CBRN programs need both, because they answer different questions. A powered air-purifying respirator supports people who are deliberately working in or near a hazard: decontamination lines, casualty handling, sampling, site control. An escape respirator supports everyone else, including the people who never expected to be exposed at all.
Sustained wear
Sentinel XL CBRN powered air
Complete Standard or Backpack systems, or components: a butyl hood, replaceable Cap 2 40mm cartridges and a rechargeable or alkaline battery supply, suited to planned operations of extended duration.
Emergency escape
SCape CBRN30 and CO/CBRN30
Air-purifying escape respirators, stored ready, deployed once, and sized for a 30-minute evacuation window.
Complete Sentinel XL CBRN Systems
Every complete system includes the butyl hood with breathing tube, the Sentinel XL blower, three Cap 2 CBRN cartridges, a flow meter and a Quick-Loc waist belt. What changes is how the unit is carried and stored, and how it is powered.
| Configuration | Carried and stored in | Alkaline version | NiMH version |
|---|---|---|---|
Standard System |
A Sentinel duffel bag |
||
Backpack System |
The NIOSH-approved Sentinel Backpack, which supports the blower and cartridges while the CBRN hood is worn |
Alkaline versions run on standard D-cells, up to 10 hours on one set, with no charging required. NiMH versions run up to 8 hours per charge and include the Smart Battery Charger. The Backpack Systems carry a 10,000 LRPL / Cap 2 rating, and their flat-fold hood takes up less storage space.
Sentinel XL CBRN Components and Upgrades
The same configuration is also sold as components, which lets a facility build a new capability, replace parts, or upgrade equipment it already owns.
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Sentinel XL CBRN Conversion Kit
SKU S-5000-05
Converts a Sentinel HP system to support CBRN and hospital decontamination operations. Supplied with the S-2001 butyl hood assembly and breathing tube, three S-2016 CBRN chemical cartridges and the CBRN CAP 2 user's manual.
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Butyl hood with a lay-flat design and adjustable head band. No fit testing required. Provides broad CBRN protection when used with the Sentinel CBRN blower and cartridges.
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NIOSH-approved Cap 2, 40mm threaded CBRN cartridges rated against chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals, biological threats and nuclear particulates. For use with the S-2001 butyl hood, and each pack is one full set for the blower.
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SKU S-2002
The rugged, dual-chamber powered air unit that the hood and cartridges attach to, compatible with rechargeable and alkaline battery packs.
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Sentinel XL Alkaline Battery Pack
SKU S-4013
Alkaline battery adapter for the Sentinel XL blower, supplied with five Duracell D-cell batteries and providing up to 10 hours of runtime.
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SKU S-2008
Sold separately for compatible Sentinel XL systems. NIOSH approved to support the blower when worn with the CBRN hood, and a storage pack for all Sentinel XL CBRN system components.
Readiness tip
The alkaline pack is worth understanding as a readiness decision rather than a spare part. Rechargeable batteries are efficient for routine operations but depend on charge state at the moment an incident begins. A shelf-stable alkaline pack removes that dependency, which is why many CBRN caches hold both.
Organic Vapor and Acid Gas Cartridges for Industrial Chemical Tasks
Not every chemical task is a CBRN task. Where the hazard is a known solvent vapor or acid gas, as in chemical processing or pharmaceutical manufacturing, the Sentinel XL HP configuration with an OV/AG/HE cartridge is the relevant option.
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Sentinel XL OV/AG/HE Cartridges (Pack of 3)
SKU S-4012
NIOSH-approved protection against organic vapors and acid gases, including chlorine, hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide, chlorine dioxide and hydrogen fluoride, with built-in HE filtration at 99.97% efficiency. Used with Sentinel XL HP head covers and hoods, which are listed on the healthcare page.
Cartridge check
The S-4012 is not a CBRN cartridge, does not fit the CBRN butyl hood configuration, and is not intended for ammonia or formaldehyde. OSHA requires gas and vapor cartridges to be replaced on a change-out schedule. No Sentinel cartridge supplies oxygen, so none are for use in oxygen-deficient atmospheres.
SCape Escape Respirators for CBRN Egress
Where the requirement is evacuation rather than operation, SCape air-purifying escape respirators deliver 30 minutes of filtered airflow at 64 liters per minute from an integral blower that activates as the unit leaves its tub. The one-size-fits-all hood needs no fit testing or size selection.
SKU 6000-10435-03 · NIOSH TC-14G-0277
Chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals, biological threats and nuclear particulates.
SKU 6000-11300-03 · NIOSH TC-14G-0312 · CE Marked 797525 · UKCA Approved 797527
Adds carbon monoxide protection
The same coverage as the CBRN30, plus carbon monoxide.
Both achieved an average Laboratory Respirator Protection Level of over 50,000 in NIOSH testing, against a required minimum of 2,000 for this class of device.
Where CBRN Protection Is Deployed
- Chemical production, processing and storage facilities
- Hospital decontamination teams and emergency departments receiving contaminated casualties →
- Hazmat units and emergency response organizations
- Control rooms and critical infrastructure operations centers
- Government installations and public buildings →
- Mass transit systems and transport hubs
- Pipeline and energy infrastructure operations
Frequently Asked Questions
What does CBRN protection mean?
CBRN stands for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear. CBRN-rated respiratory equipment is tested against agents from across that threat class, including military warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals, biological threats and nuclear particulates. It is a higher and broader specification than standard particulate or organic vapor filtration.
When should a facility specify a powered air system rather than escape respirators?
Specify powered air where personnel are expected to work in or near a hazard for an extended period, such as decontamination lines, casualty handling or site control. Specify escape respirators for populations who would need to evacuate a contaminated area rather than operate inside it. Many CBRN programs hold both, for different groups of people.
Which complete Sentinel XL CBRN system should a team choose?
Choose the Standard System when units are stored and transported in a duffel bag, and the Backpack System when the team wants the NIOSH-approved Sentinel Backpack to support the blower and cartridges during wear and hold every component between deployments. Each comes with an alkaline battery pack that runs on D-cells, or a NiMH battery with the Smart Battery Charger.
What is included in the Sentinel XL CBRN Conversion Kit?
The kit (S-5000-05) contains the S-2001 butyl hood assembly with breathing tube, three S-2016 CBRN chemical cartridges and the CBRN CAP 2 user's manual.
Can an existing Sentinel system be converted for CBRN use?
Yes. A Sentinel HP system can be converted to support CBRN and hospital decontamination operations with the Sentinel XL CBRN Conversion Kit, which supplies the butyl hood and CBRN cartridges needed for the configuration.
What do the Sentinel CBRN cartridges protect against?
The S-2016 cartridges are NIOSH-approved Cap 2, 40mm threaded CBRN cartridges providing protection against chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals, biological threats and nuclear particulates. They are used with the S-2001 butyl hood, and each pack of three is one full set for the Sentinel XL blower.
What does Cap 2 mean for a CBRN cartridge?
Cap 2 is a NIOSH capacity rating for CBRN cartridges. It means the cartridge met the 30-minute minimum service life required in NIOSH bench testing, twice the 15 minutes required for Cap 1. Bench-test service life is a rating rather than a promise of time in the field, so follow the user instructions and your program's change-out rules.
Is the OV/AG/HE cartridge a CBRN cartridge?
No. The S-4012 OV/AG/HE cartridge is NIOSH-approved for organic vapors and acid gases, including chlorine, hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide, chlorine dioxide and hydrogen fluoride, with HE particulate filtration. It is used with Sentinel XL HP head covers and hoods for industrial chemical tasks, not with the CBRN butyl hood, and it is not intended for ammonia or formaldehyde. For CBRN work, use the S-2016 CBRN cartridges.
How long does the Sentinel XL run on an alkaline battery pack?
The S-4013 alkaline battery adapter provides up to 10 hours of runtime and is supplied with five Duracell D-cell batteries. Because alkaline cells are shelf stable, the pack is often held alongside rechargeable batteries so that readiness does not depend on charge state.
Does the Sentinel XL CBRN butyl hood require fit testing?
No fit testing is required. The hood uses a lay-flat design with an adjustable head band, and provides broad CBRN protection when used together with the Sentinel CBRN blower and cartridges.
How do I order CBRN equipment and replacement cartridges in volume?
Every CBRN system, escape respirator, cartridge and component above can be ordered directly from this page. For program-level quantities, cartridge replenishment schedules or help specifying a configuration, request a quote or call ILC Dover on 469-822-8981, Monday to Friday, 08:00-16:30 CST.
CBRN Equipment from a Proven Protective Systems Manufacturer
ILC Dover has engineered protective and containment systems for environments that punish any weakness in a seal, a seam or a filter path, from aerospace through biopharmaceutical containment to CBRN personal protective equipment. That background sits behind both product lines on this page: powered air for the people who go toward the hazard, and escape respirators for the people who need to get away from it.
Browse the CBRN range above. Related pages cover SCape escape respirators, government CBRN protection, hospital decontamination and healthcare PAPR programs, and the full Advanced Respiratory Protection catalog.
Building CBRN coverage across your sites?
Talk to the team about program-level quantities, cartridge replenishment schedules or help specifying a configuration. Monday to Friday, 08:00-16:30 CST.