During emergencies, such as the pandemic, access to PPE can become difficult. Providing an open source design for the respirator allows for decentralized manufacturing to take place, mitigating the bottlenecks of centralized production and increasing accessibility. The filtered air provided by the fan is for comfort; it is much more comfortable to receive the flow of air from this mask than using an N95, as your lungs have to do less work. Also, the pressurization means that a perfect fit isn't required, such as with an N95; for this reason, PAPRas can work more reliably for people with beards, for example.