The FM12 NBC Respirator is a military gas mask produced by Avon in service with the British Armed Forces and various police forces. There is also an export version which is in use in the Netherlands.The FM12 was introduced in 2000 as an intended replacement for the standard issue S10 NBC Respirator in service from the 1980s. However the FM12 was never widely adopted by the military as it was deemed too similar to the S10 to warrant total replacement of all existing S10's. It was used however when an individual could not be found an S10 that fitted his face, due to strange facial dimensions. Two filter canisters are issued for the FM12, as with the S10; a light pressed metal type for riot control situations or training (marked with a painted red stripe or red tape), and a heavier plastic encased type for protection against NBC agents. The latter have a maximum shelf-life of 10 years, and the mask itself (the facepiece) of 20 years. The mask was designed around the S10, but has several design differences. The characteristics it shares in common with the S10 are the fail-safe drinking device, a SST(Secondary Speech Transmitter), and the ability to accept corrective lenses on the inside of the eyepiece.