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The Complete Guide to PAPR Welding Helmets with Respirator
The complete guide to PAPR Welding Helmets -
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Welding Fume Control: Quotes, Demos, Advice
Tell us about your workshop.
Let us know what you weld and where. One of our fume specialists will be in touch shortly to talk it through.
Pick one to open our enquiry form. We'll fill in that answer for you.
Free, with no obligation. Not sure what you need? Just send us a question.
What changes on 1 December 2026.
Australia's workplace exposure standards are being replaced by Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL), and several of the limits are much tighter. For welding shops the big one is manganese, which is in the fume from most mild steel wires and electrodes.
A new respirable manganese limit of 0.02 mg/m³ also applies.
Already in force. Most shops are measured against this one today.
There is no exposure limit for chromium VI in the new list. It's a carcinogen with no safe threshold, so exposure has to be eliminated or reduced as far as reasonably practicable.
Values are 8-hour time-weighted averages, summarised from Safe Work Australia's published changes. General information only, not legal advice. Check the full WEL list for your materials and processes.
Not sure where you stand? Measure it.
The ALLCLEAR PD30 is an Australian-made personal fume monitor. It's worn by the welder, measures fume right where they work, and shows a live 8-hour TWA in mg/m³ on a colour-coded screen.
One charge runs for more than 12 hours. Check readings on the unit, on your phone over WiFi, or across your whole crew in the ALLCLEAR Fume Cloud.
Fume control for every kind of job.
No single extractor suits every application. Extraction captures fume at the source and cleans the air for everyone in the shop, while a PAPR helmet protects the welder's own breathing zone. WHS law puts controls at the source ahead of PPE, so most workshops end up with a mix of both.
PAPR welding helmets
Filtered, cooling air straight to the welder. Works with any process, in tight spaces and out on site. It protects the wearer only, so pair it with extraction.
Mobile fume extractors
A flexible arm captures fume at the arc and the unit cleans the air for the whole shop. Wheel it to wherever the job is.
On-torch extraction
Fume is pulled away right at the nozzle, so there's no hood to keep repositioning. Best suited to downhand MIG production work.
Wall-mounted extraction
A fixed extraction arm for dedicated welding bays. It's always in position and keeps your floor space clear.
Downdraft tables
Draws fume and grinding dust down through the work surface. Hands-free, and ideal for small parts, training and production.
Fume monitors
Measures exposure where your people work, so you can show your controls are doing their job.
Weighing up your options? Read our guide to choosing the right welding fume extractor.
Fume control from a team that's in fab shops every day.
A Weldclass PAPR helmet at work in an Australian fab shop.
PAPR and ALLCLEAR extraction working together.Common questions.
Is the demo really free?
Yes. There's no cost and no obligation. We bring the gear to your site so you can see it working on your own jobs.
Do I have to change suppliers?
No. Weldclass sells through a national network of distributors. Let us know who you normally buy from when we call, and we'll work with them on pricing and supply.
I'm not sure what I need. Can you still help?
That's what the call is for. Tick "Other / not sure" on the form and we'll work through your processes, materials and layout with you.
Will a PAPR helmet make us compliant on its own?
It protects the person wearing it. WHS law expects fume to be controlled at the source first where that's reasonably practicable, so most shops use PAPR alongside extraction. We can help you work out the right mix.
Do you work with small workshops?
Yes. We help everyone from one-person operations through to large fabrication sites and training facilities.
See it working in your own workshop.
Free onsite demo, supplied through your usual distributor.