ESPIRE – full face gas mask

Creator:

Carlos Schreib

Curator's Note

Updated: September 2023

This project is a great example for how a human centred approach can inspire technology to adapt to a desireable human experience – rather than accepting the limitations of current technologies.

Carlos Schreib presented this project in 2015 and is currently working on its realization.

It is a true design vision of a new product archetype that could soon be a new standard.

Abstract

The award-winning ESPIRE full face respirator was created for varnishers and chemical engineers. The fully transparent front increases comfort, communication and ease of use.

A partition between the viewing and the mouth section keeps the visor free of condensation, and the filter has been moved to the top of the mask, leaving the mouth section free. Thus not only is the air flow optimized but the aesthetics of the respirator are completely changed.

Facial expression is a crucial part of communication. Without it, integral parts of an individual’s personality are lost. This loss of information is a problem for the mask user and everyone in the user’s environment. With espire this can be avoided.

Compared to conventional models, this new type of respirator offers not one, but three advantages: First, it offers the user a large field of vision, second, it does not fog up and third, its filter is replaceable. A simple idea that takes into account all types of needs!