osha assigned protection factor (apf) 10

Understanding respiratory protection options in Healthcare: The Overlooked Elastomeric

In the healthcare industry, the importance of respiratory protection is often overlooked. Choosing the correct respirator for the exposure level and work task is a critical component of a respiratory protection program.  Most healthcare workers are aware of the N95 respirator but may not be aware that the re-formable, reusable elastomeric respirators are a viable option for respiratory protection. (Peterson et al., 2015).  Elastomeric respirators with N95 cartridges have been used during aerosol transmissible disease outbreak emergencies like SARS as a reusable N95 respirator option. (CDC-NIOSH January 20, 2012) They are a cost-efficient and sustainable alternative when the demand for disposable respirators is excessive.  This blog aims to educate healthcare workers and administrators about elastomeric respirators.  A summary of various types of respiratory protection for the healthcare setting, including elastomeric respirators, is included below.  It is important to understand the most suitable respiratory protection option given the potential hazards of a situation.

Surgical Masks

Surgical masks are not respirators. They are disposable coverings designed to be loose-fitting over the user’s nose and mouth. These loose-fitting masks leave gaps between the mask and the wearer’s face through which harmful particles may pass. Since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not address the fit function of masks and surgical masks are not NIOSH approved, the mask may not be used in situations covered by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) within areas requiring the use of respiratory protection. Therefore surgical masks should never be used for protection against infectious aerosolized particles.

N95 Respirator and Surgical N95

Both the N95 respirator and the surgical N95 are filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) with an assigned protection factor (APF) of 10. The level of protection is the major difference between surgical masks and FFRs; the APF of 10 means the N95 reduces the aerosol concentration to 1/10 of that in the room and this equates to blocking 90% of airborne particles from being inhaled. (CDC-NIOSH, May 23, 2017). Both types of N95 respirators protect the user from aerosolized particles, whereas the surgical mask does not.

Standard N95 : NIOSH-approved device (not FDA cleared). Used to reduce inhalation of aerosolized particles. Fit testing is required.

Surgical N95 : NIOSH-approved and cleared by the FDA as a medical device. Meaning the protection characteristics are the same as the standard N95, except that the surgical N95 protects the sterile field, while protecting the worker with spray and splash resistance as well as flame resistance. Fit testing is required.

The most common type of N95 respirator is disposable and not designed for extended use. However, healthcare workers may be directed to re-wear these respirators, with specific directions, during emergency shortages (CDC-NIOSH March 13, 2014). For a true reusable respirator, an elastomeric or powered air purifying respirator should be considered.

Elastomeric Respirator

An elastomeric respirator is a reusable device with exchangeable cartridge filters that also has an APF of 10. The facepiece is made of synthetic or rubber materials that form a seal against the user’s face, with properties that allow the original shape to be repeatedly reestablished if it is temporarily deformed. As the facepiece of the elastomeric respirator should form a tight seal against the user’s face, just like the disposable FFRs, fit testing is still required. A particular challenge and potential benefit of an elastomeric air purifying respirator (APR) is that it may be disinfected through a process using a bleach water mixture. The ideal way to disinfect these respirators is with bleach and water. However, the use of bleach and water use is not practical between patients. Therefore, alcohol may be used for disinfection by wiping the exterior surface. The attached filtering cartridge(s) is replaceable and can be easily changed (Bessesen et al., 2015). This makes the device valuable during times of high demand, such as during a pandemic. Unfortunately procedures for disinfection and decontamination within healthcare environments are not routine and must be established for the environment where elastomerics may be used. Further complicating its common use, many healthcare workers have never heard of the elastomeric respirator, which indicates that there is a great need for education about the option of this type of respiratory protection. Although OSHA considers the protective factor for the elastomeric FFR to be the same as the disposable standard N95 FFR, some health facilities use the elastomeric exclusively due to employee’s perceptions of better fit. The elastomeric FFR may potentially cost less over time and may not create as much hospital waste as the N95 FFR due to the extended wear time. The elastomeric respirator offers a viable protection option that hospital administrators and healthcare workers may consider when updating respiratory protection programs.

Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR)

The Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) is an additional option for consideration. These battery-powered respirators may have an OSHA APF of 25 for the loose-fitting PAPR facepiece, an APF of 50 for the tight-fitting half-mask PAPR, and an APF of 1000 for the full facepiece PAPR. The PAPR provides superior respiratory protection compared to FFRs and elastomeric respirators, but healthcare workers complaints have been associated with the physiologic and ergonomic impact of wearing the apparatus including restricting peripheral vision. Loose-fitting PAPRs may be used when fit testing fails or when facial hair is present. PAPRs also have higher initial costs and additional proprietary ancillary supplies (batteries, hoods) adding additional logistical challenges for product management.

What are your thoughts?

None of these devices provide absolute respiratory protection (NAS, 2006). Correct donning and doffing procedures are important to achieve suitable protection. Understanding the available types of respiratory protective devices and their correct use are important to the promotion of healthy working environments. Elastomeric respirator use is a practical option that may be considered for respiratory protection within healthcare institutions. Further discussion is needed to evaluate the pros and cons of instituting a strategy for the use of this type of respirator within the healthcare industry. Please use the comment section below to add your thoughts to the conversation. Does your institution have a strategy for adoption of elastomeric use? Do you see benefits? Drawbacks? Should elastomerics be considered as part of an overall strategy during a pandemic when demand for N95’s exceeds available supply? Should elastomerics be part of hospital and public health stockpiles?

Michael Bach PhD, RN, is an American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Fellow with NIOSH

Mention of any company, product, or service is for informational purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), or imply that any company or its products or services are preferred over any other.

Bessesen, M. T., Adams, J. C., Radonovich, L., & Anderson, J. (2015). Disinfection of reusable elastomeric respirators by health care workers: A feasibility study and development of standard operating procedures. American journal of infection control, 43(6), 629-634.

CDC-NIOSH January 20, 2012. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators /factsheets/respsars.html

CDC-NIOSH March 13, 2014. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hcwcontrols/ recommendedguidanceextuse.html

CDC-NIOSH May 23, 2017. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp _part/n95list1.html

National Academy of Sciences (NAS), (2006). Reusability of facemasks during an influenza pandemic: Facing the flu. Committee on the development of reusable facemasks for use during influenza pandemic. National Academies Press: Washington, DC.

Peterson, K., Novak, D., Stradtman, L., Wilson, D., & Couzens, L. (2015). Hospital respiratory protection practices in 6 US states: A public health evaluation study. American journal of infection control , 43 (1), 63-71.

Additional Resources

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2015-117/default.html

• https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/wp-solutions/2016-109/default.html
• https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2009/10/14/n95/
• https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/RespSource.html

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is addressing questions related to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 through CDC-INFO and on their webpage. As such, this blog has been closed to comments. Please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html . You can find the most up-to-date information on the outbreak and get the latest answers to frequently asked questions. If you have specific inquiries, please contact CDC-INFO at https://wwwn.cdc.gov/dcs/contactus/form or by calling 800-232-4636. If you have questions about PPE that are not related to Coronavirus Disease 2019, please contact us at [email protected] .

22 comments on “Understanding respiratory protection options in Healthcare: The Overlooked Elastomeric”

Comments listed below are posted by individuals not associated with CDC, unless otherwise stated. These comments do not represent the official views of CDC, and CDC does not guarantee that any information posted by individuals on this site is correct, and disclaims any liability for any loss or damage resulting from reliance on any such information. Read more about our comment policy » .

interesting, as a health care provider I had not heard of these and had little training in them. thank you

As a small woman with a small face, most respirators of whatever type are simply too big to fit well, no matter how adjusted. Currently available respiratory protection generally does not serve its purpose for those of us for whom it was not designed well enough to fit. Only greater consideration of variability of wearers’ sizes and a greater range of size options will address this shortcoming.

The elastomeric respirator in the picture has chemical cartridges. These cartridges do not provide any protection against particulates unless they have particulate prefilters. A picture of an elastomeric respirator with filters might be more appropriate for your otherwise excellent article.

Good Catch. Chemical cartridges are typically not used by healthcare workers. We changed the photo to represent an elastomeric that may be used within the hospital.

Thanks for your reply!

Actually, those are not chemical cartridges pictured. Those are P100 filters, equivalent to a HEPA filter, with a “shower cap” to protect the filter from water or bodily fluid splashes. This particular elastomeric facepiece, with accompanying P100 filter, is ideal for healthcare workers due to available scrub colors, exhalation diverter valve, and the aforementioned shower caps. It is less obtrusive to the patient than industrial elastomeric facepieces as it is available in hospital-friendly colors, diverts wearer’s exhaled air away from patient’s face, and it also clarifies voice communication with the built in speech diaphragm.

Thank you for drawing this to our attention. We have inserted a new photo in the elastomeric section.

I believe the elastometric respirators would be a valuable option for pre-hospital application such as EMS, EMA, fire, rescue etc as well as hospital based departments such as the ER, OR, and any unit that deals with airborne precautions. As a healthcare provider I would feel most comfortable using a elastometric respirator and it is my belief that with proper training, fittings, and upkeep a majority of healthcare workers would feel the same way. Well written article, thank you.

Does anyone know where I can find the NIOSH requirements for PAPR annual Training? Is hands on training a Requirement for PAPRs or can it be online education?

Hello Jon, PAPR training is typically part of an institution’s Respiratory Protection Program. The RPP is an annual training initiative to keep healthcare workers current on the facilities policies and procedures for respirator use. The PAPR is an air purifying respirator that is used for a specific purpose when other respirator choices do not suit the user or situation for proper respiratory protection. If possible please consult with your Education Department or Infection Control Manager about PAPR training in your facility. Also you may find the 2 links below helpful, specifically the “Hospital Respiratory Protection Program Toolkit”: page 32 (Training), and the “Implementing Hospital Respiratory Protection Programs: Strategies from the Field” publication: page 29 (Chapter 3: Training and Fit Testing Challenges and Strategies).

https://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/Implementing_Hospital_RPP_2-19-15.pdf

Thank you for your question.

I’ve considered the option of using the elastomeric’s but wonder what the life of the filters would be. You’d need to have a plan for changing them out and enough on hand.

Elastomeric respirators typically have an exhalation valve. Thus they should not be worn in a sterile field or other patient treatment areas where a surgical mask or surgical N95 (as described in this post) is necessary to provide patient protection.

As mentioned in the blog post and reiterated in your comment, only respirators cleared by the FDA should be used when a sterile environment is required. The elastomeric is a potential replacement for an N95 filtering facepiece respirator, not a surgical N95 filtering facepiece respirator.

OSHA guidance states “Surgical respirators (without exhalation valves) should be selected for use in environments where a sterile field must be maintained.” (OSHA, 2015, page 25)

Please visit the following for more information on respirator use with exhaust valves: Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2015). Hospital respiratory protection program toolkit. OSHA publication, (3767-05). Retrieved from: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3767.pdf (page 25) CDC-NIOSH August 19, 2016 Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/respsource3healthcare.html , and National Academy of Sciences (NAS), (2006). Reusability of facemasks during an influenza pandemic: Facing the flu. Committee on the development of reusable facemasks for use during influenza pandemic. National Academies Press: Washington, DC. (Page 31)

Thank you for your comment.

Hi, As some Asian ladies with very slim face ( too samll) for fitting the common Surgical N95. Question 1 : Can they wear N95 ( without FDA cleared) one with wearing Face-shield for nursign patient with Airborne precaution and Blood / body fluid spalsh is anticipated ? Question 2 : same HCWs as Question 1, if they need to do the operation in an Airborne precaution case, whcih type of respirator can be worn? Thanks

The following response comes from experts within the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory.

You should consult the appropriate governmental agencies that regulate the use of PPE in your country for specific guidance (for example the State Administration of Work Safety). There are NIOSH-approved N95 respirators that would provide adequate respiratory protection, but not the splash protection of a surgical N95 filtering facepiece respirator. The use of a faceshield would compensate for the difference in respirators and actually add more splash protection than a surgical N95 filtering facepiece respirator because the faceshield also covers other mucous membranes (eyes, nose) and more facial skin. For an overall review of faceshield use and related issues, we have a recent publication: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15459624.2015.1095302 .

In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which is the U.S. government agency which sets and enforces occupational health and safety standards has a Bloodborne Pathogens standard. It states: “Masks in combination with eye protection devices, such as goggles or glasses with solid side shields, or chin-length face shields, shall be worn whenever splashes, spray, spatter, or droplets of blood or other potentially infectious materials may be generated and eye, nose, or mouth contamination can be reasonably anticipated.” (Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) Blood Borne Pathogens Standard (Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1910:1030 subpart (d)(3)(i)). [accessed July 14, 2015]; Available at https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10051 ). Again, check with the governmental agencies in your country if they have a comparable standard.

in my opinion, it is necessary to use elastomers in the hospital. but back again to hospital policy and also how big a hospital or hospital standard itself. but does a hospital like this have to use elastomers?

Has anyone seen the latest N95 respirators on the market? I haven’t seen in stores but I understand that several members of Children’s Hospital raved about the respirators ability to transform a depressing ambiance and overpoweringly melancholy environment like a sick kids room in to one of laughter and suspended reality. My buddy said the company is called ugly mug respirators. I haven’t had time to look them up, but be my guest. Jim, my friend, even mentioned that they are in the process of creating a line of N95 masks in a smaller size…which might work great for someone like you, Gloria

All respirators used in the workplace with a respiratory protection program must be NIOSH-approved. NIOSH is not familiar with the product or company mentioned. The appropriate markings of a NIOSH-approved filtering facepiece are illustrated in NIOSH document 2013-138 . At this time, NIOSH has not approved any filtering facepiece respirators by “ugly mug.” Verification of whether or not a respirator is NIOSH-approved can be answered by looking at the NIOSH Certified Equipment List .

If the N95 Surgical Mask does not have an exhalation valve and protects the Sterile Field where does the exhalation breath of the wearer go? I am not that familiar with surgical FFR’s. Another question: I am not clear about this statement (quoted below) in the explanation above:

“The level of protection is the major difference between surgical masks and FFRs; the APF of 10 means the N95 reduces the aerosol concentration to 1/10 of that in the room and this equates to blocking 90% of airborne particles from being inhaled.”

Does an APF refer to level of protection meaning that the 10 will protect the wearer up to 10 times the PEL of the contaminant and If the concentration is more than 10 times the PEL a half-mask cannot be used. Also does the 95 refer to efficiency, meaning that a N95 is 95% efficient in it’s filtering capacity? (what does the stated blocking of 90% refer to)? Please Clarify, Thank you

With the Coronavirus being the most severe threat to public health in the world and there is a shortage of the disposable N95 masks, would you recommend using Elastomeric Respirator coupled with with P100/P95/N100/N95 filters as a protection for the general public? Thanks!

At this time, CDC is not recommending the use of face masks among general public for the novel coronavirus. For the general American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus, the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV is considered low at this time. While an elastomeric respirator provides the same level of protection as an N95 respirator, additional considerations should be made when selecting a respirator for non-occupational use. Please take a look at our blogs on non-occupational respirator use and selection. These blogs will provide you information on how to select the best respirator for you and links to NIOSH certified respirators: http://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2018/01/04/respirators-public-use/ and https://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/2019/06/picking-a-respirator/ . You can also find a breakdown of the differences between surgical masks, N95 respirators and elastomeric respirators here: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/pdfs/UnderstandingDifference3-508.pdf .

If you use an elastomeric half face respirator (EHFR) with removable filters* while treating covid-19 patients, how long can you use the same filter – one day only, or days to months ? Can the filters be removed daily, the face mask cleaned, and the filters carefully reattached (without a high risk of self inoculation)? Or can the filters be rotated after use, stored for 10 days (or however long it takes virus to become inactive), then reused? How many days is long enough to store the filters for the virus to inactivate? It has been suggested that in a crisis when disposable N95 and PAPR are not available, health care workers may need to consider alteernate strategies.** Is there any guidance on what is most safe and effective for use of EHFR with regards to filter changes?

*for example, the widely available P100 3M pink disc filters model 2091 or 2097, with a model 7502 mask **for example, CDC has already released limited guidance on extended use and reuse of N95 disposable masks during a severe shortage

A respirator used in the care of an infectious patient should be considered potentially contaminated with infectious material on the outside and a source of contact transmission for healthcare personnel or patients. Therefore, PAPR filters should be removed with minimal handling, and disposed of properly. Hand hygiene should always be performed after removing a respirator. (NIOSH. Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2015-117, 2015 May; :1-82 https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2015-117/ ). Please consult the manufacturer’s instructions to determine if your PAPR filter can be reused. Unless the manufacturer identifies a specified duration of use, the service life of all powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) filters is limited by unacceptable contamination/soiling or physical damage. All PAPR filters should be replaced whenever they are damaged, soiled, or causing noticeably increased resistance which results in decreased airflow. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations for specific information on the model you are using. For information on coronavirus disease 2019, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html .

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OSHA Assigned Protection Factors

SUBJECT: ASSIGNED PROTECTION FACTORS (APFS) ORIGIN: Moldex Technical Services Department REVIEWED/UPDATED: August 2021

OSHA has promulgated APFs that have been incorporated into its respiratory protection standard. This completed its revision of the reserve sections of OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard as published in 1998. The APF for Half Mask Respirators, which includes Moldex disposable and reusable respirators, is 10. The APF for full face respirators is 50, when quantitatively fit tested.

APFs are numbers that indicate the level of workplace respiratory protection that a respirator or class of respirators is expected to provide to employees when used as part of an effective respiratory protection program. Employers must use APFs to select the appropriate type of respirator based upon the exposure limit of a contaminant and the concentration of the contaminant in the workplace. The APF multiplied by the contaminant’s exposure limit gives a Maximum Use Concentration (MUC). If the workplace level of the contaminant is expected to exceed the respirator’s MUC, the employer must choose a respirator with a higher APF.

All respirators must be properly fit tested. All respirators must be used in accordance with all local and federal regulations including OSHA 29CFR1910.134.

OSHA:  www.osha.gov https://www.osha.gov/Publications/3352-APF-respirators.pdf Information on Moldex Respiratory Protection, including a Chemical Selection Guide that includes contaminants and their exposure limit, can be found at  www.www.moldex.com . If you should have any questions, please contact the Moldex Technical Service Department at 800-421-0668 x512/550 or email at  [email protected] .

WARNING : The information contained in this Tech Brief is dated and was accurate to the best of Moldex’s knowledge, on the date above. It is not meant to be comprehensive, nor is it intended to be used in place of the warning/use instructions that accompany Moldex respirators. Outside of the USA, check with all applicable and local government regulations.

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Selecting Respirators for Your Workplace

Choosing the right respirator is key. No matter how well made your respirator is, it can’t filter out hazards that it’s not designed for. Once you have the results of your exposure assessment, you’re ready to select appropriate protection for your employees.

• Step One: Know your hazard type. You’ll need to select equipment based on whether your work environment contains a particulate hazard (particles such as hazardous dusts or fibers), a gas or vapor hazard (such as solvent vapors or chlorine gas), or both types of hazards. Generally, you protect against particulate hazards with a filter and against gas and vapors with a cartridge. If both types of hazards are present, combination cartridges are an option that can filter out both particles and gas or vapors
• Step Two: Find out if your workers need respiratory protection. The exposure assessment should yield employee exposure levels for the substances you tested for. The results are typically measured in parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per cubic meter of air (mg/m3), commonly averaged over an eight-hour work shift. Compare your exposure levels to the occupational exposure limit (OEL) or permissible exposure limit (PEL) set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to determine if action is required by law. You can often use values set by other groups, such as the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) – if those values are lower than the OEL. In any event, make sure both your measured concentrations and the levels to which you are comparing them (such as the OEL) use the same units of measure. For instance, both could be expressed in ppm for an eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA). Measurements may also be in the form of 15-minute short-term exposure limits (STEL) or a ceiling limit (C), which is the absolute limit that should never be exceeded at any time by a worker. If your employee exposure levels are below the OEL, then respirators aren’t legally required, though you may still want to offer respirators for voluntary use. If your levels are above the limit, look to reduce exposures through engineering, or administrative controls. If putting those controls into place is not feasible, choose respiratory protection that help bring exposures down to an acceptable level for workers.

The only respirators OSHA allows for use in the workplace are those approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). All NIOSH-approved respirators have an assigned protection factor (APF), which can range from 10 to 10,000.

The APF is the workplace level of respiratory protection that a respirator or class of respirators is expected to provide to employees when the employer implements a continuing, effective respiratory protection program as specified by 29 CFR 1910.134. For instance, an APF of 10 means the respirator can protect against exposure levels that are up to 10 times the PEL for that hazard.

To see what level of APF your workplace needs, divide your exposure levels by the exposure limit. (This is called the “hazard ratio.”) For instance:

Exposure level: 500 ppm ÷ OEL or PEL: 50 ppm — APF: 10

• Step Four: Choose a respirator type Once you know your required APF, you can narrow down your choices to those respirators that can reduce exposure to below the OEL. OSHA lists APFs for different types of respirators. For example, half-mask respirators with cartridges and filters have an APF of 10. Besides choosing equipment appropriate for your workplace’s types and levels of hazards, you must also consider compatibility with other required protective equipment, such as safety glasses and hard hats. Glasses and half face respirators, for example, may compete for space on the same part of the face — the bridge of the nose — so it’s vital to find equipment that fits together without causing either leakage around the respirator edges or loss of eye protection. Comfort and ability to do the job are also important considerations; if the work is particularly strenuous, try to select respirators that are as lightweight and streamlined as possible. And keep in mind that people’s faces come in all shapes and sizes; you may need to select from a variety of models and sizes to find properly fitting respirators for all workers who need one.

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Overview of Respiratory Equipment Types

Respirators are classified by the type of hazard they protect against, their APF and the specific substance(s) they’re approved for. There are other ways that you may also commonly see respirators classified as well, such as:

Negative-Pressure

Negative-pressure respirators rely on the wearer to pull air in through cartridges or filter. This has the potential to put a strain on the wearer, which is why medical evaluations are important (and required).

Disposable respirators, also known as filtering facepieces, are used to help protect against some particulate hazards. They’re lightweight and require no maintenance since they’re discarded after use.

Reusable respirators can be used with particulate filters, gas and vapor cartridges or combination cartridges, which may need to be replaced on a schedule or as needed.

Half-face respirators cover the lower half of the face, including the nose and mouth.

Full-face respirators cover the eyes and much of the face, and can sometimes replace the need for safety glasses.

Positive Pressure

Positive-pressure respirators do the work of pushing air to the respirator headtop or facepiece; they can either be powered-air, using a battery-powered blower to pull air through a filter, or supplied-air, bringing clean air through a hose from a source outside of the contaminated work area.

Tight-fitting respirators must be fit-tested when use is required, and users must perform seal checks every time a tight fitting negative pressure respirator – a filtering facepiece or half facepiece respirator - is worn.

Loose-fitting respirators typically have a hood or helmet.

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)

Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) is classified as a positive pressure supplied air respirator, but is different from all other respiratory equipment in that the user carries the source of the clean air with them in a tank. This type is mainly used for conditions that are unknown or “immediately dangerous to life or health” (IDLH), such as oxygen-deficient atmospheres, when hazards are so concentrated or so toxic they can’t be brought to acceptable levels with other types of respiratory protection, or when you’ve been unable to definitively record the level of hazard in the workplace.

Choose a Cartridge and/or Filter

Understanding the different types of particulate filters and gas and vapor cartridges can help you select the right one. NIOSH categories and labels are useful systems to learn about.

For particulate filters, NIOSH has 10 different categories, nine for negative-pressure filters and one for for powered air-purifying filters [PAPRs]).

The negative-pressure categories are based on a combination of two factors:   

• Resistance to oily mists . This is indicated by a letter (N, R or P). N-class filters are not resistant to oil. R-class filters are oil-resistant, but they may only be used against oily mists for up to eight hours. P-class filters are oil-proof; time-use limitations must be determined by the manufacturer.  3M recommends 40 hours of use or 30 days, whichever occurs first, for its P-class filters.
• Filtration efficiency . Filters will be rated 95, 99 or 100. This means when used properly, they are capable of filtering at least 95%, 99% or 99.97% of airborne particles. For PAPR filters, there is single particulate filtration classification referred to as HEPA or HE. High Efficiency Particulate Air or HEPA filters provide at least 99.97% filtration for all particulates. For gas and vapor cartridges , NIOSH has a color-coding system to help you identify the correct equipment for your specific hazard. For example some common colors are:
• Organic vapors from solvents, such as those in paints and thinners, require a cartridge with a black label.
• Cartridges approved for acid gases , include gasses such as chlorine, hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide, have a white label.
• Yellow -labeled cartridges are approved for both organic vapors and acid gases .
• Cartridges approved for ammonia or methylamine have a green label.

Learn more about respirators that meet the needs of any work environment. Half or full facepiece reusable respirators help protect against both particles and/or gases and vapors.

Learn more about the extensive family of 3M disposable respirators (N95 – P100) that offer a full range of comfort, convenience and features that help you meet your needs.

Learn more about respirators that deliver a comfortable stream of clean air to the wearer either using a battery-powered motor blower (Powered Air Purifying Respirators – PAPR) or from a pressure pump (Supplied Air Respirators – SAR).

3M Can Help

We have respirators that can help protect against chemicals as well as particulate hazards, including oily mists. We can also help you with your selection process:

The 3M Respirator Selection Guide provides respirator selection criteria for particulate hazards and a wide range of chemical compounds.

Our free 3M™ Select and Service Life Software can help make selecting the appropriate respirators faster and easier. Just enter contaminants and their concentrations and the software analyzes the data and profiles a record of your choices. The software can also help you estimate the service life of 3M™ Respirator Cartridges, which aid in maintaining you OSHA-required cartridge change schedule for gas and vapor cartridges.  

For more information about respirator selection, go to our website or call 3M Technical Service at 1-800-243-4630.  

For more information about respirator selection, go to our website or call 3M Technical Service at 1-800-243-4630 .

• 3M RESPIRATOR SELECTION GUIDE (PDF, 433K)
• 3M Select and Service Life Software

See the next step in your journey to optimizing your respiratory protection program.

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Assigned Protection Factor (APF)

Table of contents, what does assigned protection factor (apf) mean, safeopedia explains assigned protection factor (apf).

Assigned Protection Factor (APF) is the level of protection a respirator can be expected to provide if it is functioning properly and the user is wearing it correctly. APF is scored via a number, allowing users to gage how much contaminant they are expected to inhale while wearing the respirator.

Various groups, such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) have proposed standards for different types of respirators. However, APF overrode all other standards previously used in 2006. APF sets guidelines to be used by employers and management in selecting proper personal protective equipment (respirators) for hazardous jobs (in air mixed with dusts, fibers, vapors, fumes and biological hazards). Under the related provisions, employers must provide suitable respirators to the employees. Employers must also ensure that these respirators comply with all other requirements under routine and assumed emergency situations. APFs provide employers with important information about matters to be considered while choosing respirators.

While measuring APF, air samples are taken simultaneously outside and inside the respirator as the worker continues the job. An of APF 10 indicates that a respirator reduces contaminant concentration by one-tenth.

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Related Terms

• Exposure Limit
• Permissible Exposure Limit
• Powered Air-Purifying Respirator
• Supplied Air Respirator
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• Pressure-Demand Respirator

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Solution Summary: Respiratory Protection with an Assigned Protection Factor (APF) of 10

Respirators with APF 10, when properly fitted and used, reduce the inhalation of airborne contaminants.

Description:

Exposure to airborne dust, silica, asbestos, and chemical vapors can lead to a variety of diseases and even death. Respirators, when properly fitted and used, reduce the inhalation of airborne contaminants, including engineered nanomaterials. When engineering controls, administrative controls, and good work practices have been used to reduce the extent of the hazards on a jobsite, respirators can provide additional reduction of risk. This solution focuses on NIOSH-approved air-purifying respirators with an assigned protection factor (APF) of 10, the lowest level of respiratory protection, which includes elastomeric half mask and filtering facepiece respirators.

Engineering, administrative, and work practice controls are required by OSHA to be implemented to mitigate airborne hazards, with proper use of respirators being the last layer of protection when additional controls are necessary. Respirators are required by OSHA to be used as part of a complete and effective respiratory protection program implemented by the employer.

• Engineering controls, work practices, and administrative controls seek to reduce worker exposure to airborne contaminants. Engineering controls remove dust through local exhaust ventilation, tool-mounted vacuums, or wet work. Work practices rely on training, SOP’s, proper clothing, and equipment maintenance to reduce worker exposure to contaminants. Administrative controls minimize worker exposure through scheduling and work assignment rotations. These are discussed in more detail in OSHA’s Technical Manual .
• Respirators are used as an additional layer of protection to reduce worker exposure below the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for the hazard. The APF tells you up to what level above the PEL a properly fitted respirator will protect a worker. For example, the PEL for asbestos is 0.1 fibers/cc , so a respirator with an APF of 10 will provide protection in an environment with exposure up to 1 fiber/cc . Note that for exposures such as asbestos or silica, which may cause cancer or other life-threatening diseases, measuring exposure levels at or near the PEL may be technically challenging and a protection factor of 10 may not be sufficient.
• Engineered nanomaterials are very small size (from 1 to 100 nanometers or so, roughly 100,000 times thinner than a human hair). Despite their very small size, NIOSH has demonstrated that engineered nanoparticles are efficiently captured by the filtering material used in respirators to capture airborne particulates . Consequently, respirators that are used to protect workers from asbestos and silica will also protect workers from airborne exposure to engineered nanoparticles.
• There are no OSHA PELs for any engineered nanomaterial. However, NIOSH has issued a Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) for carbon nanotubes of 1 µg/m3 elemental carbon as a respirable mass 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) concentration for up to a 40-hour week (NIOSH, 2013). NIOSH also has an REL for ultrafine titanium dioxide of 0.3 mg/m3 as a time-weighted average (TWA) concentration for up to 10 hours/day during a 40-hour week (NIOSH, 2011).
• Respirators can also be used as an additional layer of protection to reduce worker exposure below the NIOSH REL for engineered nanomaterials. The APF tells you up to what level above the REL a properly fitted respirator will protect a worker. For example, with an REL for ultrafine titanium dioxide of 0.3 mg/m3, a respirator with an APF of 10 will provide protection in an environment with exposure up to 3.0 mg/m3.
• Respirators must be selected based upon the type and extent of hazard present in the work place. A qualified person should assess the worksite risks and follow the NIOSH respirator and filter selection logic . OSHA provides an online tool for respirator and filter or cartridge selection that follows the same logic. Respirators, cartridges, and filters must be certified by NIOSH and a searchable equipment list is available.
• A negative pressure APR works by creating a seal around the face of the worker. This seal prevents ambient air, which may be contaminated, from entering the worker’s breathing zone. Inhalation causes the pressure inside the mask to be lower than the ambient air pressure, pulling air through the filters, chemical adsorbing cartridges, or filter-cartridge combinations and into the workers lungs. When the worker exhales, air leaves through an exhalation valve that closes once pressure is equalized.
• Negative pressure respirators cannot be used in oxygen-deficient environments or with exposure to gases like carbon monoxide.
• Respirators offer protection against hazards only when partnered with the appropriate filters or cartridges. A HEPA filter will provide excellent protection against airborne particles like silica and construction dust, including nanometer-sized particles like engineered nanoparticles, but will do nothing for chlorine vapors. Filters and cartridges are hazard-specific, color-coded, and come in combinations to provide protection against multiple threats. Filters and cartridges are brand and style specific and cannot be swapped between non-identical respirators. Filters and cartridges must be changed on a regular basis as determined by the employer’s respirator change schedule .
• Particulate filters are rated by NIOSH based on how well they remove particles from the air. A filter with a rating of 95% filtration efficiency removes 95% of particles at 0.3 µm (300 nm) and research has shown that they are effective with even smaller particles, including engineered nanoparticles. This is discussed further in the Risks Addressed section below.

Particulate filters are also rated based on their resistance to oil, which is important because some oil can reduce the effectiveness of the filter. Construction work does not generate as much oil mist as factory operations, in most cases. The table below shows the types of filters available. A filter cartridge or filtering facepiece must have the proper designation printed on them to show their NIOSH approval. For example, an oil-resistant HEPA filter cartridge will indicate R100 on the label.

• Medical clearance is necessary when employees are required to wear a respirator for their job. This is discussed in more detail in the respiratory protection program solution.
• OSHA also requires fit testing prior to respirator use. While a medical clearance can cover multiple respirator types, fit tests are respirator specific and must be conducted for every brand, size, and style to be worn. Fit testing must be repeated at least once per year, after any face or dental surgery, and if the worker experiences a significant change in weight. Fit testing may be qualitative or quantitative.
• During qualitative fit testing the employee performs a set of tasks while exposed to an aerosol or vapor ( video version ). If the user detects the test agent then the test fails and the respirator cannot be used.
• Quantitative fit testing involves the use of a computerized system to determine fit factors during a variety of exercises. The most common quantitative fit testing method uses an instrument that compares the concentration of airborne particles inside and outside the facepiece to determine if the fit is adequate. Contaminants are more likely to get inside the facepiece from a poor fit than through the filter media. In the highly dusty environment of a construction site, this is significant. While the qualitative fit test ends in a pass/fail designation, the quantitative fit test provides an overall fit factor. These fit factors must be higher than the APFs for the respirators. OSHA requires a minimum fit factor of 100 to wear a half-mask respirator and 500 to wear a full-facepiece respirator. OSHA requirements for fit testing are available online .
• There are trade-offs between using disposable respirators, which are more comfortable and elastomeric, which are easier to fit reliably but need to be cleaned and stored between use.
• Employees must also perform a respirator seal check every time they wear their respirator. There are video examples of seal checks for a half face elastomeric APR and a filtering facepiece . Seal checks verify that the respirator is adequately sealed to the face.
• Respirators should be cleaned and inspected daily to ensure proper fit and function, with attention paid to checking particulate filters for breaks.

Examples NIOSH-Approved Filtering Facepiece and Elastomeric Respirators

3M™ Aura™ N95 Particulate Respirator 9211+/37193(AAD)

• Exhalation valve directs exhaled breath away from glasses
• Design allows more room for eyewear
• Ideal use: grinding, sanding, sweeping, bagging and other dusty operations

Northern Safety & Industrial 7210 N95 Disposable Respirator Mask

• ASoft inner shell material and padded nosepiece deliver all-day comfort
• 95% filter efficiency against solid and non-oil based particulates
• Adjustable noseclip reduces fogging and offers a secure fit
• Manufactured in an ISO 9002 Registered and ISO 14001 Certified facility

• Adjustable buckle straps
• Foam faceseal
• Ideal use: lead abatement and pharmaceutical manufacturing

• Comes with 2 P100 filters
• Additional filter cartridge types available
• Ideal use: grinding, sanding, sweeping, bagging, vacuuming, mold cleanup

Risks Addressed:

Chronic silica inhalation has been linked to an increased risk for multiple types of cancer, COPD, and silicosis. Welding fumes are known to cause metal fume fever and are also associated with Parkinsonism. Increasingly, nano-enabled construction products are being used in construction that can also expose workers to inhaling engineered nanomaterials when the products are being disturbed, such as concrete roofing tiles that contain nano-size titanium dioxide. Inhalation of ultrafine titanium dioxide particles may increase the risk of workers developing lung cancer and other respiratory diseases (NIOSH, 2011). APRs, when properly used, can effectively reduce the inhalation of particles. APRs do not provide breathing air and must not be used in oxygen-deficient or immediately dangerous to life and health environments, which may include confined spaces.

In a construction setting, workers are most often exposed to nuisance , wood , and silica dusts. Exposure to these can cause pulmonary illnesses, and silica dust exposure can lead to silicosis and death. All construction dust acts as an irritant to nasal, throat, and lung tissues, resulting in reduced respiratory capacity. Chronic exposure leads to a heightened risk for respiratory infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, COPD, and cancer. With the increasing use of nano-enabled construction materials, workers can also expect to have an increased likelihood of being exposed to engineered nanomaterials along with silica and other construction dust. While there is no evidence yet that engineered nanomaterials cause harm in humans, animal studies have demonstrated that some engineered nanomaterials, such as titanium dioxide and carbon nanotubes, can cause adverse effects on the lungs, including lung cancer (NIOSH, 2011; NIOSH, 2013).

Silicosis occurs when inhaled silica dust causes scarring of the lungs, causing difficulty breathing.  Silicosis is not restricted to people with chronic exposure. Short-term exposure to very high levels of silica dust can cause acute silicosis, which can be fatal within months.  Air filtering respirators with an APF of 10 are not sufficient for high dust exposures.  Unless air monitoring documents silica dust exposures consistently less than 10 times the Permissible Exposure Limit, higher forms of respiratory protection must be used.  APF 10 respirators should only be used in addition to effective dust suppression using wet methods or local exhaust ventilation. In construction products that contain both silica and an engineered nanomaterial like titanium dioxide, workers are most likely exposed to far more risk of harm to their health from exposure to silica than the health risk resulting from exposure to the engineered nanomaterial. That means that selection of the appropriate form of respiratory protection that effectively protects workers from the risk of silica will be sufficient to also protect workers from any health risks that may be associated with exposure to the engineered nanomaterial.

How Risks are Reduced:

A well-fitted APR forms a tight seal around the face ensuring that air must travel through the filter or cartridge before being inhaled. Filters remove solid contaminant particles. N95 filters are lighter material and trap particles using an electrostatic media to grab particles. N99 and N100 filters are a heavier material and physically block the passage of particles through the media. Cartridges for chemical vapors and gases work by trapping vapors onto an absorbent media . These media are specific to the gas or vapor and are limited by the attraction between chemical and media, as well as the available surface area for adsorption.

For workers exposed to engineered nanomaterials, NIOSH has concluded that N95 and P100 particulate filters provide the expected filtration efficiency according to their efficiency ratings (Rengasamy, et al 2009). However, both OSHA and NIOSH recommend that N100 or P100 filters be used when workers are exposed to high levels of airborne engineered nanomaterials (OSHA Fact Sheet FS-3634;  NIOSH blog post December 7, 2011). Surveys have shown that the most common respirators that are in use against engineered nanomaterials are P100 filters on elastomeric half mask or filtering facepiece respirators (Conti, et al 2008).

APRs work by filtering particles from the air or chemically purifying the air. APRs and filters are independently certified by the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) at NIOSH. These results have been verified independently in multiple peer reviewed journal articles, and the U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command . N95 and P100 filters are certified to remove 95% and 99.97%, respectively, of 0.3 µm diameter (300 nm) particles, the most difficult size to capture. The Army nanoparticle research has shown effectiveness at sizes down to 50 nm. This is significant for construction applications because it shows that proper use of respirators can significantly reduce exposure to airborne particles of any size on a job site. NIOSH has also confirmed that particulate filtering respirators are effective in capturing particles in the size range of engineered nanomaterials so that these respirators will work to reduce inhalation when exposed to airborne nanoparticles.

A simulated workplace protection factor study conducted by NIOSH has shown that elastomeric half mask and filtering facepiece respirators equipped with P100 filters provide a higher level of protection against exposures to nanoparticles than elastomeric half masks and filtering facepiece respirators with N95 filters (Vo et al 2015; Zhuang et al 2015). This finding supports the NIOSH and OSHA recommendation that N100 or P100 filters be used when workers are exposed to high levels of airborne engineered nanomaterials.

Effects on Productivity:

Use of air-purifying respirators has been found to impede physical effort, especially fine motor skills, and can impair cognitive functions.  Prolonged respirator use may be uncomfortable, reduce communication, and contribute to heat stress.  Claustrophobia may prevent some workers from using respirators.

Additional Considerations:

People often confuse surgical masks with filtering facepiece respirators. Surgical masks do not provide adequate protection against airborne particles and are not NIOSH certified. The OSHA respiratory protection standard, 1910.134 , only permits employers to use NIOSH certified respirators and prohibits the use of surgical masks to be used to protect workers from exposure to airborne inhalation hazards. NIOSH published a video and a blog entry to explain the differences between respirators and surgical masks. Additionally, many filtering facepiece respirators are not worn properly. Wearing the wrong size or failing to ensure that you have a proper face seal will significantly reduce the effectiveness. 

Engineered nanoparticles are very small, in the range of 1 to 100 nanometers. Both N95 and N100 or P100 filters perform as expected: penetrations of nanoparticles through the filter are below 5% for N95 and below 0.03% for N100 or P100 filters (Rengasamy et al, 2009). However, N95 filters do not perform as well against nanoparticles as, P100s due to the difference in filtering media. N95s use an electrostatic charge to trap particles which is more effective in capturing particles larger than nanoparticles, while N100s and P100s create a physical barrier that is more effective in capturing small particles in the nanoparticle size range ( Balazy et al., 2006 , Rengasamy and Eimer, 2012 , Rengasamy et al, 2013).

Leakage around the seal of the respirator facepiece and the wearer’s face can also contribute to workers inhaling particles that leak into the wearer’s breathing zone. Using human test subjects, NIOSH researchers compared faceseal leakage performance of N95 filtering facepiece respirators against exposure to nanoparticles and to a full range of particle sizes and reported that faceseal leakage was not greater for nanoparticles compared to the full range of size particles (Zhuang et al, 2013).

 APF 10 is the lowest level of respiratory protection, and higher levels of exposure to hazards such as silica or asbestos or to oxygen deficient atmospheres will require other types of protection.

Other safety equipment needs, such as eye protection or hearing protection, should be considered when selecting a respirator.

Contributors:

Marc Scimonelli and Michael R. Cooper - Aria Environmental, Inc. Bill Kojola, Bruce Lippy, CIH and Rosemary Sokas, MD, MOH - CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training

Hazards Addressed:

• Construction dust

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Availability

3M To obtain information, visit Aura™ N95 Particulate Respirator 9211+/37193(AAD) and Half Facepiece Respirator Assembly 6391/07003(AAD) and Particulate Respirator 8293 or contact 1-800-364-3577

Northern Safety & Industrial To obtain information, visit 7210 N95 Disposable Respirator Masks or contact 1-800-571-4646

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