AVON PROTECTION S10 RESPIRATOR

Q: What is the shelf-life of the Avon Protection S10 respirator?

A: The S10 CBRN Respirator was introduced in 1986 and remained in service with the British Armed Forces until it was replaced by the General Service Respirator (GSR), with replacement beginning in 2011. No further S10s were to be procured after that point.

 The commonly quoted figure for the S10 respirator assembly was a 20-year shelf/storage life, subject to inspection and condition, while the filter had its own (shorter) expiry date. However, for safety-critical respiratory protection, the condition of the mask and the expiry status of the filter are more important than the age alone, In practical terms, many S10 masks manufactured in the 1980s and 1990s still appear physically sound today, but:
Rubber may harden, crack, or lose elasticity.
Exhalation and inhalation valves can deteriorate.
Drinking-system seals and diaphragms can age.
Original filters are almost certainly beyond their certified service life.