A field test for determining respirator filter efficiency

Details

• Personal Author:
  Clegg J ; Moyer E ; Sandy M
• Description:
  The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) certifies negative-pressure particulate respirator filters according to 42 CPR 84. Filters are categorized N, R and P, depending on their resistance to fIlter degradation. N-series fIlters are not resistant to oil, and R-series and P-series filters are recommended for use in all enviromnents. Within each series of filters, there are three levels of filter efficiency, namely 95, 99, and 100 (99.97) percent. NIOSH studies have investigated filter media efficiency reduction resulting from constant and intermittent aerosol exposures. Thus, it would be advantageous to have a field method for testing filter performance. A method using the TSI Portacount Plus is presented which allows filter performance to be determined. N-, R-, and P-series filter efficiency was reduced by chemical treatments and/or aerosol loadings followed by testing with the Portacount Plus. Instantaneous filter efficiency testing was also conducted on these filters using the 42 CPR 84 certification test aerosols. Further, a set of 40 high efficiency filters used at a battery plant were tested using the Portacount Plus and/or 42 CPR 84 certification test. Two filters showed elevated penetration by the 42 CPR 84 test and also the Portacount Plus method. Data comparing the two methods show that the TSI Portacount Plus could be used to monitor the degradation of respirator filters in the field. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Occupational Health Particulate Matter Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protective Devices Safety
• Keywords:
  Analytical-processes Exposure-levels Filter-materials Filters Particulate-dust Particulates Personal-protective-equipment Respirators Respiratory-protective-equipment
• Publisher:
  American Industrial Hygiene Association
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  34
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20041364
• Citation:
  American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, June 2-7, 2001, New Orleans, Louisiana. Fairfax, VA: American Industrial Hygiene Association, 2001 Jun; :34
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2001
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, June 2-7, 2001, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:41775053aeb35ea99360e792978c355ba5a377f93af7d38a9903458f7d7bf7de21911f116c1e02edac7414ac2cb186266cdb75fd6a17580a864785e992fbc2bf
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/193951/cdc_193951_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 190.13 KB ]