FILTERS AND CARTRIDGES

While these cartridges and filters are made to the highest standards and meet all the applicable OSHA standards, each of them has a specific application and a range of protection. For example, the 3M 6001 Organic Vapor Cartridge is NIOSH-approved for a wide variety of organic vapors. Check out the full line of reliable 3M respirator products that we offer.

NIOSH Items: We only sell brand-new respirators, filters, and dust masks from US-based manufacturers. Since it can be difficult to determine if a respirator or mask has been used or even just tried on, for the protection of our customers, we do not accept NIOSH returns.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference in respirator filters?

All true respirator masks are designed to protect your face from airborne particulates and liquids. Respirators feature disposable half-face styles (with and without valves) and reusable styles.

The filters are rated by NIOSH based on the types of protection they provide and optimal operating conditions. These filters will have ratings that consist of a letter followed by two or three numbers. 

The number (which can be 95, 99, or 100) represents the percentage of airborne particulates, most of which you can’t see with the naked eye, that the mask can remove from contaminated air. Masks rated 100 will filter at least 99.7 percent of particles. 

N rated fiters are not oil-resistant, but they will protect against dust, mists, and fumes that don’t have oil aerosols. R filters are oil-resistant for occasional oil exposure but will lose effectiveness over time and need to be replaced after 8 hours. 

P filters are oil-proofed, explicitly providing protection against oil-based (like lubricants, cutting fluids, glycerin, pesticides, and solvents) as well as non-oil-based particles, mold, and asbestos. Understanding respirator filter ratings will help you to select the appropriate PPE for your job.

Respirator cartridges are a somewhat different form of protection. Where particulate filters provide protection from many dusts, fibers, fumes, or mists, gas and vapor cartridges protect against different gases and vapors. If your job site contains a combination of these hazards, a combination filter and cartridge is necessary.

What is a respirator filter made of?

Many respirator masks are made of polypropylene, which is a synthetic plastic that also gets used in clothing like rain jackets and yoga pants. Thousands of thin strands of fibers are melted together into a layer of web-like filter particles to trap microbes and particulates. 

The fiber is given an electrostatic charge as well for even more efficiency in capturing smaller microbes and particles. This construction features lightweight, efficient, and can stand up to warm or hot water without leaching plastics (although they shouldn’t be exposed to extreme heat, including for decontamination purposes).

While the cartridges are filled with activated carbon or oxidized charcoal. This is typically made from coal or renewable carbon-based resources that are heated into a material that can absorb organic odors. 

The toxins or odors that pass through the cartridge become bonded to or caught in the holes in the carbon and won’t move into the mask and therefore your mouth, nose, throat, or lungs. Each set of cartridges features this advanced filtration technology.

How often should you change respirator filters?

If your respirator filter becomes difficult to breathe through, affecting comfort and performance It’s a good idea to establish a changing schedule based on OSHA’s standards, common change calculators, or schedules. 

Cartridges are exhausted when you start to smell or taste the vapors, solvents, for instance. Also, leave a contaminated area immediately if you smell or taste chemicals or experience irritation from them. Replace the cartridges and perform a seal check before returning to work. It’s better to be safe than sorry. 

If you’re using a filter and cartridge and notice a difference in performance, replace both components rather than just one. Keeping a spare set on hand is always recommended.

As for your reusable respirator itself, look over it before each use to make sure it’s still in good condition. This means looking over the facepiece, plastic parts, and exhalation valve. The respirator and its parts should not be cracked, torn, dirty, distorted, or inelastic. A proper seal is the only way that your respirator can properly protect you, and if your mask isn’t able to do that essential job, it needs to be replaced.

Luckily, PK Safety offers a one-stop online shop for your particulate filter and cartridge needs. We carry trusted brands like 3M, which adds convenience to outfitting your worksite because of how interchangeable the parts are.

Our filters and cartridges can fit into more than one 3M respirator model, which provides greater flexibility and convenience in a pinch. For instance, 3M filters and cartridges fit the 3M 6000 respirator and the 3M 7500 Respirator, both full face and half face respirator styles. 

These filters and cartridges are also reasonably priced, making it easy to make sure that you’re stocked up on everything you need to breathe easier. 

Whether you're working on construction projects or DIY home renovations, having quality filters stored properly ensures optimal protection.

For more information on individual respirators, cartridges, filters, and other respirator accessories, follow the links to read the individual pages. For more specific worksite safety or equipment questions, contact one of PK Safety’s safety experts online or by phone.

What should I do if I open a filter or cartridge but don't use it immediately?

Even unopened cartridges and filters have a shelf life. If a filter is opened from its package, it should be replaced within 6 months, even if unused, because it will absorb contaminants from the environment. Unopened filters stored safely can last up to 5 years.

Why do R-Series and P-Series filters have different time limits in oily environments?

R-Series filters are oil-resistant for occasional oil exposure but lose effectiveness over time, requiring replacement after 8 hours in oily mist environments. P-Series filters are oil-proofed for continuous protection against oil-based particles like lubricants and cutting fluids, lasting up to 40 hours or 30 days (whichever comes first) in the same conditions. 

The difference reflects the durability of the materials used in each filter type.