Filtering respiratory protection devices Its efficiency mainly depends on the choice of filter that monitors the gases, vapors and particles present. Depending on the activity sectors and the gases that are likely to be present there, different gas mask filters Provides effective respiratory protection: particle filters (fine dust, aerosols, viruses and bacteria), anti-gas filters (organic and inorganic vapors, acids, ammonia and mercury vapors), combined filters (gas and particles), CO/NO filters And Reactor / Nuclear filters (Iodine 131 and radioactive methyl iodide).

Gas mask filter coding

Gas filters

There are different types of gas mask filters for each category of gas mask and depending on the nature of the gases or vapors. Each breathing cartridge is labeled with a letter and a specific color for each gas or gas family in accordance with the European standard EN 14687.

Gas mask filter respirator cartridge color codes:

	A	Organic gas and vapor with a boiling point above 65°C (solvents, hydrocarbons, alcohols, benzene, ethanol, refrigerants/freons, white spirit)
	AX	Organic compound gas and vapor with a boiling point below 65°C (many VOCs, methyl acetate, acetone, chloroform, methanol, phenol, styrene)
	B	Inorganic gas and vapor (hydrocyanic acid, bromine, chlorine, cyanide, chlorine dioxide, fluorine, hydrogen sulfide, carbon disulfide)
	CO	Carbon monoxide
	E	Acid gas and vapor – mainly associated with P3 – (acrylic acid, formic acid, nitric acid, hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen fluoride)
	Mercury	Mercury vapor and derivatives – mainly associated with P3
	K	Ammonia and organic derivatives (DMA, DMEA, hydrazine, methylamine, MMH, UMDS)
	Nox	Nitric oxide, nitrogen oxide, nitrogen vapor
	REAKTOR	Radioactive iodine, radioactive methyl iodine
	Sx	Specific manufacturer specified gas and vapor
	P	Solid and liquid particles (lead, asbestos, ceramic fibers, aerosols), highly toxic and radioactive particles, bacteria and viruses (avian flu, A/H1N1 flu, SRAS, tuberculosis, Ebola virus)

⇒ Find the appropriate respirator cartridge filter for your application

Gas mask filter categories:

Air purification respiratory filters are grouped according to efficiency categories according to EN143 and EN143/A1 standards.

Maximum allowable concentrations of toxic substances:

– Half mask respirator: 50 times OEL

– Full face mask respirator: 2000 times OEL

Class 1 (lower efficiency): Canister filter (e.g. A1) – small capacity, gas content below 0.1% by volume

Class 2: Cartridge filter (e.g. ABEK2) – medium capacity, gas content below 0.5% volume

Class 3: % For a gas ratio of less than 1 volume

Particle filter

There are different particle filter classes for gas mask filters:

– P1 class filters – low efficiency, this stops at least 80% of the aerosol (under 20% penetration)

– Class P2 filters – medium efficiency, intercepting at least 94% of this aerosol (under 6% penetration)

– P3 class filters – high efficiency, stops at least 99.95% of this aerosol (under 0.05% penetration)

Combined filters (gas and particulate)

As the name suggests, combined gas mask filter both gases It also stops particles. These filtered breathing cartridges are heavier but more efficient than aerosol or gas cartridges. Air first enters through a particle filter (also a pre-filter) and then passes through a gas filter.

Combined gas and particle filters also provide safety against paint droplets and gases. These respiratory protective cartridges are mostly used in liquid spraying jobs.

Air filtering respirator usage limits

Never use filtered respiratory personal protective equipment in the following situations:

– Ambient oxygen rate is below 19%

– In closed areas or places with poor ventilation: tanks, tunnels, boat docks…

– If the substance concentration is unknown or directly hazardous to life or health (IDLH)

– When the substance concentration exceeds the permissible concentration or filter capacity

Bu durumlarda SCBA’lar, hava beslemeli solunum sistemleri ve acil kaçış solunum cihazları gibi atmosfer beslemeli solunum cihazlarının kullanılması önerilir.