Avon EH20 NBC escape Hood
Model: EH20
Country: UK
Description: CBRN air purifier emergency escape hood
Year: 2006
Condition: new and unused
Price: £2.59 + £3.90 postage
Source: eBay
Well here is something you don't see every day... A fancy civilian (almost corporate) version of a gas mask. Designed primarily to help facilitate a hasty exit from an office disaster or as an immediate respirator for the likes of police or fire departments.
Essentially what we have here is a single use respirator capable of keeping out a wide range of airborne nasties for a maximum of about 20 mins, enough time to leg it from a disastrous situation and certainly the same capabilities as what a regular gas mask and filter can do.
Simple no nonsense instructions for a quick get away!
Very little is known about the EH20 hood. It doesn't feature anywhere on the Avon website now or in the past which seems a little strange. However Avon do have an equivalent escape hood in current production called the NH15 which is pretty much the same product albeit with a few slight cosmetic changes.
These type of personal protection products seem to be aimed at the American market by the look of it. I can't remember ever seeing anything like this in the UK. As far as I know our police use regular avon FM-12s and the fire brigade have their own siebe-gorman type rebreathers . I could be wrong though?
According to the spiel on the NH15, these escape hoods not only protect against the airborne stuff but also protect against chemical splashes to the face thanks to the complete head covering they provide.. It seems a great idea!.
Avon also boasts that these escape hoods are the smallest compact respirators on the market. - what about the tiny Russian POY mask? Oh well
These respirators have a shelf life of five years which is OK but not on the scale of a regular mask which have filters that can have a ten year shelf life. As these respirators are cheap and cheerful the five year thing isn't really a problem. When it's expires, you just buy another I guess.
fits snuggly inside its nylon outer case.
Enough of the waffle, it's time to have a look at the damn thing.
Well first off the EH20 comes very tightly packed inside a silver foiled air tight pouch. It's definitely a single use item as there is no way you could fold it back up neatly in the foil again.
On the outside of the foil is a very well presented sticker of instructions outlining the fastest the way of fitting the hood in an emergency situation.
I can't knock Avon on their approach. These instructions are simple to follow and allow someone to get the hell out of somewhere quickly and safely without having to learn how to use the damn thing first. No prior safety course required here. I really like the concept so far.
Twin filters with a rudimetary voice diaphram on the front
The silver foil pouch sits snuggly inside a black nylon case. The case itself is practical and seems hard wearing. It features a handy belt loop on the back so the hood can be worn on someone's belt for fast deployment.
Once again it haas been carefully designed to be as neat and as compact as possible. The hood in its foil sealed pouch just about fits the case with no room to spare. I pity the poor beggar who had to pack these in the factory. must have been an nightmare!
The hood itself is made from a clear plastic material which is large enough to fit over even the biggest of heads. The hood then becomes completely air tight with the only air coming through the two flat filters on the front.
It's quite comfortable to wear and doesn't irritate as I first thought.
The escape hood is designed in such a way as to be donned quickly and safely - even if an idiot got hold of one. It seems impossible to get it wrong.
Great visabilty but looks like you have a bag on your head!
The business end of the hood, namely the dual filters are made from a newer type of filter material able to fend of the majority of toxic agents thrown at it.
The hood does feature a speech diaphragm of sorts allowing clear communications with others during an attack. It looks a little basic but it does the job.
Getting a hold of one of these specific escape hoods is pretty difficult, especially if you live in the UK. Since i bought this a few months ago i have yet to see any more floating around ebay. The NH15 on the other hand is much easier to get hold of. Despite Avons claims that the respirator is cheap and disposable it's not. Well its not cheap anyway. Some sellers in the US are flogging them for over 100 dollars each which seems outrageous.
I suppose this item does have its place in world of the gas mask. Its certainly an interesting one for the collection without a doubt.
In short then it's a gas mask in its most basic form. Made with expert know how by the clever guys at Avon who in my opinion make the finest gas masks on the market and have done for some time.
Avon never fail to impress with their innovations.
