Respirator cartridge selection

Find out in this section how to select the right gas mask filter. Respirator cartridges are used with half-mask respirators, full-face mask respirators or powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) to filter contaminated air. 

 

Filter selection tool

Gas selection

Corresponding filter cartridge

> Understanding coding

To select the proper filter cartridge for your gas mask, it is necessary to know the gas or substances that you want to be protected from.

Respirator cartridge - gas mask filter types codification

Type A gas mask filter

A

Organic gas and vapor with boiling point above 65°C (solvents, hydrocarbons, alcohols, benzene, ethanol, freons/refrigerants, white spirit) dedicated respirator cartridge

filtre type A

AX

Respirator cartridge for organic compound gas and vapor with boiling point below 65°C (many VOCs, methyl acetate, acetone, chloroform, methanol, phenol, styrene)

type B gas mask filter

B

Inorganic gas and vapor (hydrocyanic acid, bromine, chlorine, cyanide, chlorine dioxide, fluorine, hydrogen sulfide, carbon disulfide)

CO gas mask filter

CO

Carbon monoxide respirator cartridge

Type E gas mask filter

E

Acid gas and vapor – mainly associated with P3 – (acrylic acid, formic acid, nitric acid, hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen fluoride)

Type Hg gas mask filter

Hg

Mercury vapor and derivatives - mainly associated with P3 respirator cartridges

Type K gas mask filter

K

Ammonia and organic derivatives (DMA, DMEA, hydrazine, methylamine, MMH, UMDS)

Nox gas mask filter

Nox

Nitric oxide, nitrogen oxide, nitrous vapor

REACTOR gas mask filter

REACTOR

Respirator cartridge against radioactive iodine, radioactive methyl iodine

Sx gas mask filter

Sx

Specific manufacturer mentioned gas and vapor

Type P gas mask filter

P

Solid and liquid particles (lead, asbestos, ceramic fibers, aerosols), highly toxic and radioactive particles, bacteria and viruses (bird flu, A/H1N1 flue, SRAS, tuberculosis, Ebola virus)

Major respirator cartridge filter combinations

Gas mask filter:

Protection from:

P

Solid and liquid particles, radioactive and highly toxic particles, bacteria and viruses

A2

Organic gas and vapor (solvent) with a boiling point above 65°C

B2

Inorganic gas and vapor (chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide)

E2

Acid gas and vapor like sulfur dioxide

K2

Ammonia and organic derivatives

A2B2

Organic and inorganic gas and vapor

A2B2E2K2

Organic and inorganic gas and vapor, acid gas and vapor and ammonia

AX

Organic compound gas and vapor with a boiling point below 65°C

A2-P3

Organic gas and vapor (solvent) with a boiling point above 65°C, solid and liquid particles, highly toxic and radioactive particles, bacteria and viruses

B2-P3

Inorganic gas and vapor (chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide), solid and liquid particles, highly toxic and radioactive particles, bacteria and viruses

E2-P3

Acid gas and vapor like sulfur dioxide, solid and liquid particles, highly toxic and radioactive particles, bacteria and viruses

K2-P3

Ammonia and organic derivatives of ammonia, solid and liquid particles, highly toxic and radioactive particles, bacteria and viruses

A2B2-P3

Organic and inorganic gas and vapor, solid and liquid particles, highly toxic and radioactive particles, bacteria and viruses

A2B2E1-P3

Acid, organic and inorganic gas and vapor, solid and liquid particles, highly toxic and radioactive particles, bacteria and viruses

A2B2E2K2-P3

Organic and inorganic gas and vapor, acid gas and vapor, ammonia, solid and liquid particles, highly toxic and radioactive particles, bacteria and viruses

AX-P3

Organic compound gas and vapor with a boiling point at or below 65°C, solid and liquid particles, highly toxic and radioactive particles, bacteria and viruses

Reactor-Hg-P3

Mercury and compounds, radioactive iodine and organic compound (methyl iodine), solid and liquid particles, highly toxic and radioactive particles, bacteria and viruses

A1E1Hg-P3

Acid, organic and inorganic gas and vapor, ammonia and organic derivatives, mercury vapor and compounds, solid and liquid particles, highly toxic and radioactive particles, bacteria and viruses

A2B2E2K2-Hg-P3

Acid, organic and inorganic gas and vapor, ammonia and organic derivatives, mercury vapor and compounds, solid and liquid particles, highly toxic and radioactive particles, bacteria and viruses

A2B2E2K1HgNOCO20-P3

Acid, organic and inorganic gas and vapor, ammonia and organic derivatives, mercury vapor and compounds, solid and liquid particles, highly toxic and radioactive particles, micro-organisms like bacteria and viruses

Filtering air purifying respirator usage limits

A filtering APR unit - gas mask or powered air purifying respirator equipped with respirator cartridge - should not be used in the following situations:

  • When the oxygen rate is under 19%.
  • When working in a confined space or a poorly ventilated area like tunnels, tanks or boat slips
  • When the pollutant concentration is unknown or immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH)
  • When the pollutant concentration exceeds the maximum allowed concentration of the filter

In these situations using a self contained respiratory protection, aslo known as atmosphere supplying respirators, is recommended.