Choosing the Right Filter

At All Safety Products, Inc., we offer most of the filters, cartridges and supplied air systems you need to meet applicable standards and regulations for recommended respiratory protection. You do need to verify what your MSDS states for recommended protection and check with a certified safety consultant when in doubt. We do have a directory of safety consultants or you can check the following website for a consultant listing, http://www.aiha.org .

The correct cartridge must be selected for the hazard present. Unfortunately, chemical cartridges do not provide protection from particulate hazards, such as lead dust. Painters often need dual protection. When harmful particulates are present, the proper filter must be used alone or in combination with a chemical cartridge. Ensuring the safety of workers against particulates is dependent on the proper filter selection. Prior to the release of the new respiratory protection standard, the National Institute for Safety and Health (NIOSH) released new regulations for the certification and use of filters for respiratory protection. It is called NIOSH 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 84, Particulate Filters.

Respirators, cartridges, and filters are certified by NIOSH. The OSHA Respiratory Standard requires that you use NIOSH-approved respiratory protection that is based on the contaminant. NIOSH 42 CFR 84, sometimes referred to as Part 84.

The three levels of filter efficiency are:

95 percent (95)

99 percent

(99) 99.97 percent (100)1

The three categories of resistance to filter degradations are:

N - not resistant to oil

R - resistant to oil

P - oil-proof

The selection of filter efficiency (95, 99, or 99.97 percent) depends on how much filter leakage can be accepted. Higher efficiency means lower filter leakage. The selection of N, R, or P depends on the presence or absence of oil particles: If no oil particles are present, you can use N, R, or P. If oil particles are present, use R or P. If oil particles are present and the filter is used more than one work shift, use P.

1 Where OSHA requires the use of a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, an N100, R100, or P100 may be used, depending on the presence of oil.

While this is a brief explanation, you can visit www.osha.gov web site for more definitive information or consult with a certified safety professional.