Which type of respirator provides breathable air from an external source for the wearer?

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Breathable air from an external source means the wearer isn’t relying on filtering the surrounding air but is getting air supplied to them from outside, through a hose or line, or from a dedicated supply. The option that describes air coming from a compressor external to the user fits this idea, because the respirator is connected to that external air source and delivers that air to the wearer.

N95 masks filter ambient air rather than supply air from an external source, so they don’t meet the concept. A PAPR uses a blower to move air, but that air is typically ambient air that’s been filtered, not a direct external supply, so it isn’t the same as an external-source air supply. The choice mentioning compressor-provided air explicitly describes air being supplied from outside, which is why it’s the best match for providing breathable air from an external source.