Military gas masks

[Patrick, Whit [WPatrick@cencoast.com]]

Barbara,

There are so many different "military gas mask" specifications, you would do
better to stay away from them unless you are looking for specific
protection.

> ----------
> From: Barbara Bowen [barbar...@worldnet.att.net]
> Reply To: ppe-ne...@list.zetnet.co.uk
> Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 1538
> To: ppe-news-list
> Subject: Military gas masks
>
> Anyone have any information on the specifications of the various types of
> military issued "gas masks"? Do they even come close to meeting niosh
> rqmts?
> Thanks
> Barbara
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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[Kevin Michal - Safety Partners [kev@safetypartners.com]]

Dear Barbara,
In the Workplace Injury & Illness Prevention Program Manual that is
available through my organization, Safety Partners, and written to both OSHA
and NIOSH specs, it clearly states that all respirators, regardless of the
manufacturer, have identical protection factors and color coding.
It is far more important what the color of the cartridge is in the cartridge
holder and whether industrial cartridge fits into that particular military
issue mask. I will include the information from our our manual on this for
clarification. For more information on this manual check out
www.safetypartners.com
I would also advise you to do a tented fit test on the masks in question. If
you need help with this let me know.
I hope this helps.

Kevin Michal
Client Services Manager
Safety Partners
Prevention = Profitability
Seattle/San Diego
1-800-266-7341
____________________________________________________________________________
_______

7. Respirator Selection, Use & Maintenance

Respirators are a last resort of protection from hazardous atmospheres.
Whenever possible, ventilation and chemical substitution are used to reduce
the hazard to a safe level. In order to be effective, respirators must be
appropriate to the hazard, used correctly and maintained properly. All
respirators and filters will be NIOSH or MSHA approved.

7.1 Respirator Selection
All respirators, regardless of manufacturer, have identical protection
factors and color-coding. This information is used to determine
appropriate respirator selection.

7.1.1 Protection Factor
A respirator's Protection Factor (PF) is defined as "the ratio of the
ambient concentration of the substance to the concentration of the
substance inside the respirator at the breathing zone of the wearer". For
example, if the concentration of a contaminant is 100 ppm, a respirator
with a PF of 10 reduces the exposure of the user to 10 ppm. The PF is
determined under ideal use conditions.

Full-Face Air Purifying Respirator--PF 100
Half or Quarter Face Air Purifying Respirator-PF 10
Particulate Filter Dust Mask-PF 10

7.1.2 Cartridge Color Coding

AIRBORNE CONTAMINANT CARTRIDGE COLOR

Acid gases
White
Hydrocyanic acid gas
White with a 1/2-inch green stripe around the
bottom of the cartridge.
Chlorine gas
White with a 1/2-inch yellow stripe around the
bottom of the cartridge.
Organic vapors
Black
Ammonia gas
Green
Acid gases and organic vapors
Yellow
Hydrocyanic acid gas and chloropicrin vapor
Yellow with 1/2-inch blue strip around the bottom of the
cartridge.
Acid gases, organic vapors, and ammonia vapors
Brown
Radioactive materials (except tritium or noble gases) and
dust, fumes, and mists
Purple (magenta)
Particulates (dust, fumes, mists, fogs, or smokes) in combination with any
of the above gases or vapors

Cartridge color above plus a 1/2-inch gray stripe
around the top of the cartridge. (This type of color
coding is rarely used. More often, a separate filter is
attached to the gas/vapor cartridge.)

----- Original Message -----
From: Barbara Bowen [barbar...@worldnet.att.net] <mis...@zetnet.co.uk>
Newsgroups: misc.industry.safety.personal
Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 3:38 PM
Subject: Military gas masks

> Anyone have any information on the specifications of the various types of
> military issued "gas masks"? Do they even come close to meeting niosh
> rqmts?
> Thanks
> Barbara

Barbara Bowen [barbar...@worldnet.att.net] <mis...@zetnet.co.uk> wrote
in message news:38309c19$0$28...@news.zetnet.co.uk...