The mask was designed to provide protection to civilians against nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC)[1] agents during the threat of the Cold War.

The mask has an adjustable elastic head harness and a rubber seal that ensures a secure and comfortable fit.

For the safety of the wearer, it is to be noted that numerous other gas masks, such as the GP-5, have filters similar to these and have been proven to contain asbestos,[5] arsenic[6] and chromium.

FPC protective action time when used with an additional DPG-3 cartridge for hazardous chemicals at an air flow rate of 30 dm³/min.

From 2008 to 2014, a number of Russian manufacturing enterprises developed and produced a range of modifications of the GP-7 (GP-7V) civilian gas mask.

Additionally, some manufacturing enterprises produced variations of civilian gas masks with plastic cases for filters, such as GP-7BV (GP-7B) and GP-7B (GP-7VMB).

Despite the wide variety of modifications, the GP-7 (GP-7V) civilian gas mask still remains unparalleled in a number of indicators of protective action time for substances such as chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, and, when used with an additional DPG-3 cartridge, ammonia.

Quality control and acceptance of civilian gas masks GP-7 at manufacturing enterprises is carried out by military representations of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation.