Sourcing powered respirators from China

UK duty on powered air-purifying respirators

Heading 9020 covers other breathing appliances and gas masks, excluding protective masks with neither mechanical parts nor replaceable filters. Powered air-purifying respirators use a motor to draw air through filters. The table shows different configurations under the same commodity line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, both listed lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied facts list no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls. Powered respirators fall within the other breathing appliances line, subject to confirmation of the exact configuration.

Give your customs broker the complete kit description, filter details and a list of any separately shipped parts. Confirm the commodity code before ordering. For the wider breathing-apparatus context, see supplied-air respirators.

Specify the complete powered respirator system

Specify the hood, helmet or mask, blower, hose, filter, battery and charger as a matched system. Record the intended contaminants, filter type and class, airflow, battery runtime under the agreed operating conditions, warning functions, hose connections, visor material and replacement filter availability.

Confirm the applicable PPE category and any type-examination and ongoing production-control requirements for the respiratory protective equipment with the relevant authority. For Great Britain, check the applicable CE or UKCA conformity route, declaration of conformity and English instructions. Match the certification to the complete supplied configuration, rather than accepting a certificate for a similar blower or facepiece. Use testing and certification to review the documents.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 complete powered hood respirator kits under 9020 00 90 99, invoiced at £10,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,900, so it is £2,180. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Documents: check the type-examination and production-control documents against the actual blower, facepiece and filter combination. Check the conformity marking, declaration, English instructions and importer name and postal address.

Airflow and warnings: assemble arrival samples with the supplied filters and hoses. Measure airflow against the agreed specification and check the low-flow and low-battery warnings described in the instructions.

Battery and charger: check charging, battery retention and runtime against the approved sample and agreed test conditions. Examine connectors, cables and battery housings for damage.

Filters and assembly: check filter identity, expiry dates, sealed packaging, hose locks, seals and visor condition. Compare carton contents with the approved packing list. See quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A blower may run while the delivered hose, filter or facepiece differs from the certified combination. Other problems to check include loose hose couplings, damaged seals, weak warning signals and battery runtime claims based on unspecified conditions. Agree the assembly list and acceptance checks before production.

Powered air-purifying respirators are unsuitable for oxygen-deficient atmospheres. A fan does not provide an independent breathing-air supply. Keep that limitation clear in purchasing specifications and customer information.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For components and parts, see sourcing for manufacturers.