Why and when to replace your 3M™ Filters!

TechAssist Hotline

For further advice on 3M™ Reusable Respirators and

when to change 3M™ Particulate Filters and 3M™

Gas & Vapour Cartridge Filters (or any of our other 3M

Safety Products) phone our TechAssist Helpline:

1800 024 464

Specialist Sales Force

You can also talk to your 3M OHES Sales Representative

for help and advice with:

• Choosing 3M Reusable Respirators and when

to change your 3M Particulate Filters and 3M Gas &

Vapour Cartridge Filters

• Respirator Training Programs and Fit Testing

• Site Surveys – 3M can visit your worksite and

give a report on respiratory hazards and

recommended solutions.

3M Occupational Health & Environmental

Safety Website:

Use our website to access product information and

training tools www.3m.com/au/ohs.

3M Help and Advice

Helping to protect your way of life.

Please contact 3M through the following:

3M Australia Pty Ltd

Phone

136 136

3M Australia Pty Ltd Customer Service

Phone

1300 363 565

Fax

1800 656 222

3M TechAssist Hotline

Phone

1800 024 464

World Wide Web

www.3m.com/au/ohs

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SAI Global

ACN 000 100 096

ABN 90 000 100 096

3M Australia Pty Limited

Occupational Health

& Environmental Safety

Division

950 Pacific Highway,

Pymble, NSW, 2073

Neither whole or part of this publication may

be reproduced without prior permission.

FC01 0507

Why and when

to replace your

™

Filters!

**** This booklet is designed to be a guide only. For specific advice on 3M

Respiratory Products e.g. choosing a 3M Respirator, Fit Testing, and when

to change your 3M™ Particulate Filters and 3M™ Gas & Vapour Cartridge

filters call 3M TechAssist on 1800 024 464 or talk to your 3M OHES

Sales Representative.

This is your guide***

The purpose of this guide is to help answer questions about

the 3M™ Particulate Filters and 3M™ Gas & Vapour

Cartridge Filters that you use with your 3M™ Half Face

or Full Face Reusable Respirators.

Index

What types of 3M

™

Filters are there? 2

Why do I need to replace my 3

™

Filters regularly?

How do 3M

™

Particulate Filters work? 3

When do I replace my 4

™

Particulate Filters?

How do 3M

™

Gas & Vapour 4

Cartridge Filters work?

When do I replace my 3M

™

Gas 5

& Vapour Cartridge Filters?

Frequently Asked Questions 6

Which 3M

™

Particulate Filter 7-8

do I need?

Which 3M

™

Gas and Vapour 9-10

Cartridge Filters do I need?

3M Help and Advice Back

™

Particulate Filters:

Protect only against particles i.e. dust,

mists and fumes, aerosols, smoke,

mould, bacteria and so on.

™

Gas & Vapour Cartridge Filters:

Protect only against gases and vapours.

There are different kinds of gas &

vapour cartridge filters for different

kinds of gases.

™

Combination Filters:

Protect against both particles and gases.

Different combination particulate/

cartridge filters are used depending on

the gas or vapour present in the air.

What types of 3M

™

Filters are there?

Particulate filters get clogged up and become harder to

breathe through.

Gas and vapour cartridge filters start to let contaminant

through once their sorbents become saturated. This is

called breakthrough.

Important: The selection of filters must be carried out by a competent person

with a full knowledge of the respiratory hazards in the workplace.

Why do I need to replace my 3M

™

Filters regularly?

3 4

When do I replace my 3M

™

Particulate Filters?

Replace both the 3M™ Particulate Filters when:

• It becomes difficult to breathe comfortably

(this will vary from individual to individual).

• The filter become dirty or physical damage occurs.

™

Particulate Filters

These filters rely on the electrostatically charged fibres to

trap particulates within the filter media.

As particulate filters load up with the contaminant, they

actually become a better filter, however, they also become

harder to breathe through.

AS/NZS1716 uses a classification system to identify

the different types of particulates these filters will

capture e.g. P1, P2, P3.

Particles generated by mechanical processes

e.g. grinding, sanding

Particles generated by mechanical and thermal

processes e.g. welding

Particles including highly toxic materials

How do 3M

™

Gas & Vapour Cartridge

Filters work?

A Organic Vapours (boiling point > 65ºC)

Inorganic Gases

Acid Gases

Ammonia

Mercury

Organic Compounds with low vapour pressures

™

Gas and Vapour Cartridge Filters

These filters rely on sorbent material to “soak up” the gas

and vapour molecules.

Typically the sorbent is carbon grain, which has been

specifically treated. Depending on the chemical treatment

of the carbon surface, this material will absorb different

types of gases or vapours.

AS/NZS1716 uses a classification system to identify the

different types of contaminants these treated carbon grains

will capture e.g. A, B, E, K, Hg and G.

How do 3M

™

Particulate Filters work?

5 6

What is the shelf life of 3M

™

Filters?

Provided they are stored unopened in the original

packaging, filters will last five years from manufacture

date. Once removed from their packaging they should

be replaced after six months as recommended by

Australian/New Zealand Standards (even if they have

not been used).

How should I store my 3M

™

Reusable Respirator

and filters?

When not in use, your 3M™ Respirator and Filters should

be kept clean and dry, and away from oil and sunlight

and corrosive atmospheres to avoid deterioration. A

storage container or bag that can be sealed, can be utilised

for this purpose.

Why do I need to use a Particulate Filter with my Gas &

Vapour Cartridge Filters for some applications?

The particulate filter removes the tiny droplets or particles

in the air (e.g. mists from spray painting). The gas and

vapour cartridge filters do not filter these particles. If no

particulate filter is used, they could be breathed in.

What is a Fit Test?

Because everyone’s face is different, a fit test is used to

determine an adequate match between the face piece

of a respirator and the face of the wearer. Ideally this

should be done before the respirator is first issued and

then at regular intervals.

Can I wear a respirator with a beard?

Any facial hair has the potential to break the face seal

of a respirator. We recommend that people wearing

respiratory protection be clean-shaven, to enable the

respirator to achieve a good seal against the face.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I Replace 3M

™

Gas &

Vapour Cartridge Filters?

For specific advice on when to change 3M™ Particulate Filters and

3M™ Gas & Vapour Cartridge Filters talk to your 3M OHES Sales

Representative or call the 3M TechAssist Helpline 1800 024 464

The service life (i.e. how long it will last) of any gas

and vapour cartridge filter is affected by many factors

– some being: concentration and identity of contaminants,

breathing rates, humidity levels, ventilation, temperature,

carbon exposure time etc.

Replace both the 3M

™

Gas & Vapour Cartridge Filters:

• When the expiry date stamped on the sealed packet

has elapsed.

• Once opened, maximum use time is 6 months (even if

not used). The carbon will absorb contaminants from

the general environment.

• When contaminant can be detected by smell or taste.

• Or in accordance with your established Filter

Change Schedule.

To avoid smelling or tasting the contaminant when

using 3M

™

Gas & Vapour Cartridge Filters, take the

following steps:

• When you get a new pair of 3M Gas & Vapour

Cartridge Filters check the expiry date on the back

of the pack.

• Write the date on the filters when first removed

from the pack.

• Use the filters on your respirator in your normal

work environment.

• If at any time you smell or taste the contaminant

or irritation is detected, the filters need replacing.

• Take note of how long the filters lasted by comparing

the date recorded on the filter and the current date.

• If work practices remain the same and the levels of

vapours/gases are consistent, replace your filters on a

more regular timescale.

• Or in accordance with your established Filter

Change Schedule.

™

Particulate Filters

The 3M

™

Particulate Disc Filters 2000 series and the 3M

™

Particle Filters 5000 Series and Retainers attach to the 3M

™

Half

and Full Face Respirators to provide particulate protection.

• Lightweight

• Low breathing resistance: uses both sides of the filter

• Excellent field of vision

• 3M

™

Bayonet Filter Fixing System ensures precise

and secure locking

Which 3M

™

Particulate Filters do I need?

Product Code Description Packaging

2125 Particulate (P2) 1 pair/pack

40 pairs/case

2135 Particulate (P2/P3) 1 pair/pack

40 pairs/case

2128 Particulate, Ozone & Agricultural

type Organic Vapours with low

vapour pressure, Nuisance level

Acid Gas (GP2)*

1 pair/pack

40 pairs/case

2138 Particulate, Ozone & Agricultural

type Organic Vapours with low

vapour pressure, Nuisance level

Acid Gas (GP2/GP3)*

1 pair/pack

40 pairs/case

2076 Particulate & Hydrogen

Fluoride (P2HF)

1 pair/pack

40 pairs/case

6035 Particulate in Rectangular

Bayonet style (P2/P3)

10 pairs/box

4 boxes/case

5925 Particulate Filter used in

conjunction with 6000 Series

Cartridge Filters (P2)

10 pairs/box

4 boxes/case

501 Particulate Filter Retainer,

to hold the 5925

Particulate Filter

10 pairs/box

5 boxes/case

* Nuisance levels are those levels below the ASCC Exposure Standards

7 8

Which 3M

™

Gas and Vapour Cartridge

Filters do I need?

Product Code Description Packaging

6051B Organic Vapours 1 pair/pack

(boiling point > 65ºC) (A1)

32 pairs/case

6057B Organic Vapours

(boiling point > 65ºC)

Inorganic & Acid Gases (A1B1E1)

1 pair/pack

32 pairs/case

6054B Ammonia and Methylamine (K1) 1 pair/pack

32 pairs/case

6075B Organic Vapours & Formaldehyde (A1Form) 1 pair/pack

32 pairs/case

6059B Multi-Gas: Organic Vapours, (boiling point >

65ºC) Inorganic and Acid Gases, Ammonia &

Methylamine (A1B1E1K1)

1 pair/pack

32 pairs/case

6096A Organic Vapours (boiling point > 65ºC) Mercury

Vapours, Chlorine Gas, Particulates (A1HgP3)

1 pair/pack

16 pairs/case

6099B Mulit-Gas & Particulates: Organic Vapours

(boiling point > 65ºC), Inorganic &

Acid Gases, Ammonia, Methylamine &

Particulates (A2B2E2K2P3)

1 pair/pack

16 pairs/case

™

Gas & Vapour Cartridge Filters

The 3M

™

Gas & Vapour Cartridge Filters 6000 Series attach

to 3M

™

Half and Full Face Respirators to provide gas and

vapour protection.

• Lightweight

• Well balanced when fitted to a mask

• Provides excellent field of vision as a result of the

unique trapezoidal shape

• 3M

™

Bayonet Filter Fixing System ensures precise

and secure locking

9 10