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to Chemical Cartridge Respirators
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Do NOT use chemical cartridge
respirators/gas masks when:
>The
concentration level of oxygen is unknown or less than 18%.
Use of the respirator may result in death due to
lack of oxygen. Use pressure-demand SCBA or pressure-demand
airline mask with changeover alarm for emergency air supply
in the oxygen-deficient environment.
>The type or concentration
level of the toxic gas is unknown.
Chemical cartridge respirator/gas mask cannot
be used when the type of gas is unknown, as appropriate
cartridge cannot be selected. And the use of chemical cartridge
respirator/gas mask is limited within the regulation predefined.
>There
is no chemical cartridge/canister that can
remove the toxic gas existing in the environment.
Chemical cartridge/canister can remove
only the gas that the cartridge/canister are
designed to remove. Make sure that the cartridge/canister
are appropriate for the working environment
prior to each use.
>The
mixture of gases with different characteristics
exist.
Use pressure-demand SCBA
or pressure-demand airline mask (for
environment with the concentration
level of oxygen is more than 14%).
>The
concentration level of toxic gas
existing at the working environment
exceeds the upper limit where the
use of chemical cartridge respirator/gas
mask is permitted. |
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>Make
sure that facepiece is well fit on the face.
>Do NOT use the
respirator if there is beard, sideburns, and/or forelock
that come between
face and facepiece, or mustache or chin beard that interferes
the operation of
the exhalation valve, or toxic gas or particulates could
leak as airtight would not be
maintained.
>Do NOT use the
respirator if the wearer has a disorder in respiratory
or circulatory
system, or is claimed inappropriate by a doctor.
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| Selection of Cartridges/Canisters |
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For toxic
gas/particulates co-existing environment |
Japanese National Standard sets
standards and testing procedures for cartridges/canisters designed
to remove
halogen gas, organic vapors, carbon dioxide, ammonia
and sulfur dioxide, and combination cartridge of particulates
and the 5 gases/vapors. No effect may be obtained if
cartridges/canisters not appropriate for the working environment
are used. Make sure to select and use cartridges/
canisters designed to remove target gas. |
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In toxic gas environment with
the presence of particulates, fume and/or mist, use approved
particulate pre-filters appropriate
for the harmful effects as shown on the table below. |
Particulate filtering efficiencies and categories
|
Test
Particulates |
Sodium
Chloride (NaCl) |
Dioctyl
phthalate (DOP) |
Filtering
Efficiency |
S1 |
Over 80.0% |
L1 |
Over 80.0% |
S2 |
Over 95.0% |
L2 |
Over 95.0% |
S3 |
Over 99.9% |
L3 |
Over 99.9% |
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Examples of the selection of chemical cartridges/gas masks with the
use of pre-filter |
| Description of particulates
and Corresponding Works |
Working environment
without oil mist |
Working
environment with oil mist |
| Working
environment with a possibility of exposure to highly-toxic
particulates such as radioactive materials, dioxins, etc |
S3 , L3 |
L3 |
| Working
environment with a possibility of exposure to highly-toxic
particulates |
S3 , L3 , S2 , L2 |
L3 , L2 |
| Working environment with a possibility
of exposure to less toxic
particulates |
S3 , L3 , S2 , L2 , S1 , L1 |
L3 , L2 , L1 |
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