The GP-5 gas mask kit () is a Soviet-made gas mask kit, which contains a single-filter ShM-62 or Shm-62U gas mask. It was issued to the Soviet population starting in 1962; production ended in 1990. The GP-5 was produced three times more than the population of the Soviet Union. The GP-5 kit was originally made to protect the wearer from radioactive fallout during the Cold War and were distributed to most fallout shelters. They were tested in Poland to determine if they have NBC protective capabilities. It was concluded that the mask would last in an NBC situation for 24 hours.
A lightweight mask, the GP-5 weighs 1.09 kg (2.42 lbs). It can operate in all weather and withstand temperatures from to . The ShM-62 or comes with sealed glass eye pieces.
The GP-5 is a simple gas mask with protection around the entire head, and a single metal ringed filter for breathing. It was designed to protect against the ingress of toxic, radioactive substances and bacterial (biological) agents into the respiratory system, eyes and face of a person. Taking into account the identified shortcomings in the operation of the civilian gas mask GP-5, it was modernized, which was called the modernized civilian gas mask model 5 - GP-5M.
Ubiquitous in industries and in civil defense shelters, it is still sometimes used as a training RPE in life safety classes, although now it is mostly replaced by modern gas mask equipment and occasionally more modern Soviet-era gas masks.
The GP-5 kit is widely available on the army surplus market, usually very cheaply ($5 to $25), and are often used as a part of Halloween or fancy dress costumes, including cosplay. They are a favorite of gas mask collectors because they are common and have the "old" circular eyepieces like masks used in World War II and the "helmet" type masks.
History
The GP-5 was historically used by the USSR for NBC protection. The mask has become a popular item in popular culture since and referenced widely in video games and films, as it is very cheap because it is the most produced gas mask ever. The GP-5 is a simple gas mask with protection around the entire head, and a single metal ringed filter for breathing. It was designed to protect against the ingress of toxic, radioactive substances and bacterial (biological) agents into the respiratory system, eyes and face of a person. It was produced in the period from 1961 to 1989 (although there were FPC GP-5's produced in 1990). Taking into account the identified shortcomings in the operation of the civilian gas mask GP-5, it was modernized, which was called the modernized civilian gas mask model 5 - GP-5M. Gas masks GP-5 were produced three times more than the population of the Soviet Union. It was in impressive quantities in almost all industries and in civil defense shelters, sometimes it is still used as a training RPE in life safety classes, although now it is mostly replaced by modern gas mask equipment and occasionally more modern soviet-era gas masks.
A variation of the GP-5 is the PMG-2, which features a circular piece of metal that contains a thin piece of plastic on the inside, which acts as a voice diaphragm ('voicemitter'), as well as circular earholes. The military version of the ShM-62, [The ShM-41] uses a near-identical facepiece but with an elongated filter housing and a hose which connects to a "Coffee can"-type filter. The filter remains supported in the mask's haversack while the mask is being worn. The ShM-62 and the ShM-41 were issued respectively to the civilian population and armed forces of the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies, among which they were given differing designations. The East German Armed Forces designated the military version the SchM-41M. Although it is unrelated to the GP-5 family of masks, a similar variant of the Russian "helmet-style" design with small eyepieces and a voicemitter for those with specific needs relating to the use of optical equipment (i.e. officers - binoculars) was known as the SchMS.
Cancer, Mesothelioma and Asbestosis Link
There has been some debate as to whether or not the filters are dangerous for containing asbestos. In October 2013, Dixon Information found that the cotton layer of the filter contains 7.5 percent asbestos. All filters made after 1972 were supposed to not contain asbestos, but activated charcoal instead. Although this may be the case for some filters, many factories chose not to put the money into updating the assembly line and continued to use asbestos. It is safer not to wear any filters fit for the GP-5.