Selecting Respiratory Protection Equipment

Presented by:

2. Do not use filtering respirators if the contaminate concentration exceeds the IDLH level.

Notes:

*  The minimum guaranteed level of oxygen is recommended to be 19.5%
** is the concentration of a chemical that is   Immediatly Dangerous to Life and Health
     (see chemical tables for substances with IDLH concentration.

RESPIRATOR FILTERS

This guide is intended to fulfil three functions:

i.    Provide useful but basic data on chemical hazards in an easy reference form.
ii.   Advise, where possible, which Kitagawa tube from the Sabre range can be used to test atmospheric concentrations.
iii.  Advise, if applicable, which type of filter will be effective against the named substance(s).

The advice on filter selection should only be used where Protector Technologies' filters will be used and should not be regarded as applicable to other  filters.

NOTES TO CHEMICAL LISTS

OES   =  Occupational exposure standard

MEL   =  Maximum exposure limit

IDLH  = Concentration at which exposure is immediately dangerous to life or health

All temperatures are in degrees Celsius; a chemical's normal state is quoted at 20 degrees C.

Substances highlighted in red and yellow in the following list are substances, preparations and processes defined as carcinogens either by the U.K. Health & Safety Executive or NIOSH.

The substances highlighted in blue (in the tables) are asphyxiants. Where present they can dilute oxygen concentrations to a point where life cannot be supported.  As many are odourless, colourless and difficult to detect particular care must be taken with these substances in poorly ventilated spaces.

The Kitagawa tube reference number refers to the specific gas tube, marketed to Sabre Gas Detection in the U.K., that measures the specific chemical in the  concentration band around the MEL or OES

Single Files in PDF

See chemical hazard tables below for proper filter selection.