HEPA filter with a cap & a plug for 3M full facepiece mounted as Powerflow powered air purifying respirator system, 20 un.

3M HEPA filter for full facepiece for Powerflow powered air purifying respirators. These filters ensure compliance with NIOSH 42 CFR 84 standards. Sold in cases, 20 units/case.

This model of filter is provided with a cap and a plug to avoid any contamination. The worker can indeed encapsulate the particles once the job is done by putting back the cap on the air intake and the plug on the air outtake. It is certified HEPA and protects one from most airborne particles with an 99,97% efficiency. This filter has been design to protect one from great contaminants such as asbestos. It has also been design to go with the intrinsically safe battery pack for Powerflow equipment.

3M manufacturer’s code: 450-01-01R20

Use for: 
This type of respiratory protection system is recommended for work that will loosen solid particles in the air such as molds, asbestos, heavy metals, radionuclides and radon daughters. As for the HEPA filter per se, it protects one from most airborne particles with an 99,97% efficiency.

Biological particles:
These filters help prevent the inhalation of certain airborne biological particles like mold, Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Tubercle bacillus Koch) the main causative agent of tuberculosis, pandemic flues (H5N1, H1N1), etc. However, it cannot eliminate the risk of contracting infection, illness or disease. Due to the nature of some contaminants, the exposure limit value of some products and byproducts haven’t been quantified by governmental agencies, thus wearing a respirator doesn’t necessarily protects you.

Do not use for: 
This respirator does not offer a protection against vapours and gases. It is strongly discouraged to wear any kind of respirator for application with sandblasting. It is also highly advised to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation towards the product’s limits. HEPA filters may offer a protection up to 1000 times the permissible exposure limit set by the CNESST or any other government regulation applicable. One should never use a respirator in an oxygen deprived environment (an atmosphere with less than 19,5 % oxygen).

Maintenance and service life:
For a safer performance, manufacturer’s recommendation must be followed. 3M recommends using the airflow indicator to inspect the state in which the filter is before starting to work. This model of filter is disposable, thus maintenance isn’t needed. Trying to clean it with compressed air, a vacuum or soaking it water will be ineffective and may even break it. Moreover, tempering with the filter may be a direct danger to health and safety since it may release dangerous particles from which one wanted to be protected.

HEPA filter service life may vary according conditions of use; it is thus difficult to determine a service life expectancy. For reference, the more the work environment is contaminated, the less the filter will last. It is thus the reason why it is so important that one always check the condition of the filter with the help of the airflow indicator before undertaking any kind of decontamination work.