How can you make sure you have the correct filter for your respiratory product?
Respiratory mask selection | Step by step guide
Face Fit Testing Kit
Choosing the correct filter for your half mask or full-face mask can be overwhelming with all the different types of face masks across all the different manufactures and with all the different levels of protection filters offer. No one would blame you for not knowing where to start.
Filters for half and full-face masks protect against various forms of hazardous substance, including particulates and gas / vapours. Both half masks and full face masks are tight-fitting RPE and require face fit testing upon selection and regularly thereafter – see our recent blog for more on this.
5 Step Guide:
1. A good place to start is to identify the sort of vapour, odours, acids etc you are requiring protection from, if you can foresee the sort of hazard’s you are due to face this will be crucial when staying safe.
2. Once you understand your hazard you will need to ensure that the mask you have has compatible filters for the hazard you need protection against, choosing a popular mask such as a JSP Force 8 half mask would be a great next step as its range of filters can support with the majority of tasks, also consider if you require full-face impact protection or eye protection at this stage.
3. Now you understand the type of filter you require, and you have a mask with a variety of filters the next part is to understand the filter types and what each type protects you from, a breakdown is as per the below:
This table is for guidance purposes only.
4. With this filter guide you may be able to understand the filter required, or the combination of filter types required. If you are unsure when following the guide, then we would request a material data sheet on the substance being used to further understand your hazards and advise accordingly through this.
5. The last step would be to understand the level of protection required (workplace exposure) this is where mask selection can play a pivotal role. There is a metric for the level of protection, this is called APF (assigned protection factor) and based on the mask you have you can see the level of protection double in effectiveness when changing from a half mask to a full-face mask.
For instance, the APF of a half mask with P3 filters is 20 but when using the same P3 filters on a full-face mask the APF is 40.
This isn’t just the case for P3 filters either this is case for other filters such as A2P3 filters and ABEK1P3 filters.
Selection of the correct filters is essential to ensure protection is provided to the wearer. A full risk assessment must be completed to determine the correct protection factor and filter type - this section gives general guidance on the appropriate filters for various hazardous substances.
Press to Check Filters
With these 5 steps you should have a much better understanding on the filters that will be required for your environment and the suitable mask to pair the filters with. Manufactures have extensive knowledge on the filters they produce and can provide advise to make sure you are safe.
JSP have designed an innovative way to add an extra level of protection to its user with the ability to check the filters and mask are fitted correctly with their press to check filters. This will allow the user to carry out a check every time they don the mask to confirm the mask/filters are fitting and working correctly.
Our team of experts are also happy to help support in your filter selection and have complete confidence in doing so, should you not be sure you the right filter for your hazards then please do get in touch.
