Characteristics of face seal leakage in filtering facepieces

Details

• Personal Author:
  Chen CC ; Willeke K
• Description:
  Characteristics of face seal leakage in filtering facepieces were examined, with emphasis on the effects of leak shape and filter resistance on the fit factor. Aerosol penetration was assessed using four leaks of different shape but the same cross sectional area. Dust mist (DM) and high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtering facepieces were chosen to provide different filter resistances at constant flow rates ranging from 5 to 100 liters per minute. An aerodynamic particle sizer and a laser aerosol spectrometer were used to measure particle size dependent aerosol concentrations inside and outside the respirators. Facepieces were sealed to mannequins; pressure drops across the masks were monitored with inclined manometers. Aerosol penetration decreased with increasing leak shape complexity. At any given pressure differential, slit like leaks and multiple circular leaks passed less aerosols than did single circular leaks of equal cross sectional area. The pressure drop was considerably higher for the HEPA respirator than for the DM respirator. The authors conclude that the HEPA respirator may provide less protection than the DM respirator if there is substantial lack of face seal fit and the workload is light; if the leak size is small, the HEPA respirator performs better. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protective Devices Respiratory System Safety
• Keywords:
  Air-filters Equipment-design Face-masks NIOSH-Grant NIOSH-Publication Personal-protective-equipment Respirators Respiratory-equipment Respiratory-protective-equipment
• ISSN:
  0002-8894
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  53
• Issue:
  9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00210155
• Citation:
  Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1992 Sep; 53(9):533-539
• Contact Point Address:
  Environmental Health University of Cincinnati Dept of Environmental Health Cincinnati, Ohio 45267
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1992
• NORA Priority Area:
  Respirator Research
• Performing Organization:
  University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19810701
• Source Full Name:
  American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
• End Date:
  19920831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0c76d2732196ca9afed120161216e185c98411b1d4c3194acc1a18bad7a085f949afc51095e2f7b133cc4adb69bacfb69b1a5350843ca614ff21b8bbc1e8a985
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/204304/cdc_204304_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 820.72 KB ]