How Long Do P100 Filters Last?

Respirators and face masks have become a fact of life in the past few months. Long before the fear of disease overwhelmed us, many jobs required respirators as part of your safety equipment. Those new to wearing and maintaining a respirator often wonder how often they should change the P100 filter cartridge required for their job.

The P100 filter in your respirator should be changed regularly. Never exceed the expiration date on the filter cartridge. Once opened, the maximum life expectancy is six months. If you smell or taste contaminants through the filter is well past its life expectancy. Most employers who require masks have a maintenance policy that sets out a filter change schedule.

Ignoring the life expectancy of your respirator and P100 filter cartridges can put your health at risk. You should be acquainted with the types of filter cartridges available, how they work, and how they are used. Respirators and the filter cartridges used in them are important parts of your safety equipment and should not be ignored.

Contrary to popular belief, P100 is not a filter or a brand. The P100 is a rating indicating the level of personal respiratory protection the filter cartridge provides. P100 filters are made by different manufacturers. These filter cartridges are manufactured in different styles to fit different respirator models.

What all these different respirator filter cartridges share with the P100 rating is the ability to block 99.9 percent of particles.3 microns or larger. For example, a micron is 1/1000 of an mm, approximately 1/25000 of an inch. As an example, most human hairs are approximately 70 microns in diameter.

A filter that carries the P100 rating has been tested by a certified laboratory. Several different companies perform these tests. Manufacturers are required to submit samples for testing regularly and make the results of those tests available to the public. In most cases, the filter cartridge packaging will identify the laboratory that conducted the test.

In general, a filter cartridge with a P100 rating will remove any airborne particulate matter larger than .3 microns. The International Organization for Standardization is the authority most often cited for definitions of this type. In this case, ISO 4225.1994 contains the definition of particulates and dust.

“Small solid particles, conventionally taken as those particles below 75 µm in diameter, which settle out under their own weight but which may remain suspended for some time.”

Many industries produce dust and particulate materials as part of their manufacturing process. The P100 filter cartridge rating doesn’t speak to specific minds of particulate matter. What is more important is the size of the particulates that the filter will remove. Currently, the P100 rating is the highest level of particulate protection available for a cartridge-style respirator.

Unfortunately, there is no quick or easy answer to this question. The environment where you work can vary, affecting the life expectancy of your P100 filter cartridge. The higher the level of contaminants in the air, the shorter the expected lifespan of your filter cartridges. However, some indicators will give you a clue that your respirator cartridge needs replacing.

The most important thing to consider about the life expectancy of your respirator cartridge is the manufacturer’s recommendations. Each manufacturer may make different requirements for filter changes based on the level of airborne particles and the particle material. You should understand the recommendations that came with your filter cartridges.

Many employers issue safety guidelines that set out how often employees should change the cartridges in their respirators. Some industries are mandated to require employees to wear respirators and stipulate what types of cartridges are used.

The authority to regulate workplace safety issues falls to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This federal agency issues regulations and requirements for workplace safety in the United States. You can view the OSHA requirements for respirators and filters in 29 CFR 1910.134

Your P100 cartridge should have an expiration date stamped onto the packaging. If the current date is past the expiration date on the package, discard the P100 filter cartridge. Don’t install the cartridge on your respirator. on your respirator.

Most P100 filter cartridges should not be used for longer than 6 months after opening the package. We recommend that you write the date you install the P100 cartridge in your respirator on the filter. This makes it easy to track when the filter should be changed.

P100 filters normally don’t allow particulate matter to pass through the filter even if they are totally saturated. In most cases, the air is harder to move through the filter, making it harder to breathe. You should not confuse the normal effort it takes to breathe in a respirator with the effort if the filter is clogged.

You draw air through the filter and into the respirator as you breathe. Breathing with a brand new filter cartridge will require some effort to overcome the air’s resistance in the filter. However, if the filter is clogged, the effort will increase, and you should notice the difference.

If you notice odors or tastes when you are wearing your respirator, it is a good sign that the is a problem with the respirator. You should immediately check the respirator for damage. Respirators, like any equipment, require regular maintenance and inspection. Respirators must also fit properly to be effective.

Check your respirator regularly for normal wear and tear. Look for signs of damage like tears or cracks. Your employer may have a safety officer who can perform a fit test on your marks to ensure it maintains a good seal with your face. If you smell or taste contaminants while wearing your respirator, this can be a dangerous situation and should be remedied immediately.

Like any tool or piece of equipment, your respirator must be properly maintained to remain effective. The best recommendations for inspecting, cleaning, and maintaining your respirator are those that the manufacturer makes in the user’s manual.

Some employers include respirator maintenance as part of their safety policies. In many cases, the steps for inspecting, maintaining, and cleaning your respirator are set out in your Employee Handbook or Safety Policies.

If your company doesn’t have a respirator maintenance policy or you are self-employed, you shouldn’t ignore this important task. There are some critical steps to remember about keeping your respirator operating at peak efficiency.

Most respirator manufacturers recommend that you clean and disinfect your mask at the end of each day’s work. Perspiration, dirt, and body oils can build up on the mask. These materials can shorten the lifespan of the mask material. If not removed, perspiration and body oils can lead to odors that may make the mask uncomfortable to wear.

Follow the recommendations from your respirator manufacturer to clean and disinfect the mask. Remember to remove the filter cartridges before using any liquid to clean your mask. If the filter cartridges get wet, they should be discarded, and new filter cartridges installed.

Good storage habits will increase the lifespan of your respirator and the filter cartridges. After cleaning and disinfecting your respirator, it should be thoroughly dried and then stored away from direct sunlight, extreme heat or cold, moisture, and chemicals.

If you store your regulator with filters attached, the filters should be covered to prevent your other gear from becoming contaminated. Particles can fall from the opening in the filters. A piece of tape of the opening in the filter effectively seals the opening during storage.

Some respirator designs don’t lend themselves to this method. In those instances, it may be better to remove the filters at the end of each work shift to ensure that the inside of the mask and other personal items aren’t inadvertently contaminated.