respirators

B

beezaur

Joined
Jul 31, 2002
Messages
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I am looking for a respirator/filter combination for escape of a hazardous environment. This will be for my BOB.

I am concerned with two environments: the toxic smoke from a typical fire involving furniture and carpet, and extremely dusty environments like after a collapse or explosion.

I have been looking at the 3M respirators at www.galls.com and a few others, but I don't know much about them.

Anyone else have a respirator or gas mask for egress, or know what to look for?

Scott
 
Choosing a dust mask is relatively simple, is the concern dust or mist? Choose either an N95 or P95 dust mask. Any safety supply store can help you with that selection. Respirators are a lot more difficult, as the filters are tailored to the environment. Note that fire fighters wear supplied air respirators because they don't know what is in the air they breathe in a fire. Also consider something as simpe as facial hair. If you have a beard, it can affect the seal of the respirator to your face, possibly giving you a false sense of security as you breath through the filters, unaware of the fumes leaking in around the edges of the repirator. Full face would be better, but are more expensive.

Short version, the wrong choice of filters for a respirator can be just as dangerous as breathing fumes without one. Tough call on what to get. Dust masks are easy;) .
 
Actually, one main concern is gas. Smoke from burning buildings contains various cyannide gasses, carbon monoxide (CO), phosgene, and others. I have seen an Evacu-8 device which filters CO, but I can't find any filters for CO that will work on respirators that can also be used for dust. I would like to have one unit for fire evac that can also be used in thick particulates with a simple change of filters.

Scott
 
I work in HAZ-MAT and we use Lab safety supply at www.labsafety.com. There are several different types of filters you can use....as far as masks go, our team uses North brand full face masks and when on SCBA we use the North as well, their half faces are nice unless you wear glasses.Be sure you get fit tested or it will not work as well.They carry many different types of filters, it will be kind of Difficult to get a filter for every type of vapor, but if you call them they should be able to help you. We only use acid gas and other types of organic filters...hope this helps
 
A dust mask (N95 or P95) is intended to filter out particuloates, so it is as specific as a respirator particulate cartridge, only it will not work as well.

The letter refers to the filter's resistance to oil, N is no resistance, P is resistant. The number refers to the filter efficiency, 95 means that the filter is 95% efficeint.

A dust mask will not seal to the face as well as a true respirator. Facial hair will absolutely effect the seal of the respirator to the face. If you wear a respirator at work, you must be fit tested (as well as mdically cleared). I would recommend that you get fit tested and trained on a respirator's use if you are going to depend on one to save your life.

I would recommend a full face respirator, with combo cartridges; organic vapor/acid gasses/p100. This will filter out all biological particles, as well as many chemicals. I am unaware of any carbon monoxide cartriges. Although carbon monoxide is a concern in a fire, I would rather have protoection against 70% of the hazards than against none.

If you can afford it, and can deal with the weight and added maintenance of a battery, get a PAPR respirator (PAPR: Powered air purifying respirator). A PAPR has a fan that blows air that hs been through the cartridge into the breating space. It is much more comfortable to wear for long periods of time, and since it is positively presurized, fit testing is less improtant (it should still fit).

Labsafety is an excellent place to purchae respirators and cartridges. Also check out their NBC gas-masks.

Firefighters wear SCBA for several reasons, one of which being that it is an OSHA requirment. A structure fire is considered to automaticaly be an IDLH environment (Immediately Deadly to Life and Health) If you enter an IDLH environment during your job, you must wear an SCBA.
 
I have worn a respirator all day/night, and know what works for me, and what is junk.

If you want a serious mask, it must be full face. Do not waste your time with a half mask type respirator.

Do you wear prescription glasses, have asthmas, emphesema(sic)? Are you claustrophobic? Do you have a beard? These are all things that should be considered when buying/using one.

If you are going to wear a respirator you should have a fit test performed before buying anything, and you have a breathing test administered by a medical facility that can determine whether you are able to work in one or not. It will do you no good to put one on, and then pass out before you get out the door.

I have worn a North full face for so long in the heat you have to take a break just to pour the water out of it before you drown. They are a very good fit for me.

You can also order specific cartridges for specific situations. These can also be replaced simply by unscrewing the old set, and screwing in the new set.

If/when you get one, put it on nad wear it around the house all day. This will acclimate you to the breathing you will experience. Some people find it to be unbearable.

http://www.vwrsp.com/catalog/product/index.cgi?object_id=0001551&resultNum=0
 
How serious am I?

Well, If I am going to do something, I want to do it right. If you want to put a number on it, I am at least $200 serious.

I have been a volunteer firefighter for 13 years, so I have my share of SCBA time -- I can change my bottle without removing my mask or taking a breath. I just don't know much about filtering (air purifying) respirators.

The more I think about it, the more a full face respirator seems the choice. I was hoping that there was some sort of sealed goggle that I could find, but I don't think such a thing exists.

The main trouble now seems to be finding the cartridges I need for safe egress from a fire.

Thanks guys, this is great info.

Scott
 
I think that we use the N95 Respirator masks at the hospital whenever we have an airborne isolation patient. I imagine that if it can block TB (albeit with the aid of negative airflow) it would probably do well with dust particles. Besides a hospital though, I don't know where else to get them?:confused:
Matt
 
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