Reusable P100 Respirators

If you sand, scrape, tear out or paint more than once in a while, a reusable respirator earns its place on the shelf. The facepiece lasts; you replace the filters or cartridges as they wear out. And because the filters and cartridges are separate pieces, one mask can be set up for dust, for fumes from paint and solvents, or for both.

Reading the label: P100, OV and the colors

Everything a reusable respirator protects against is on its filters and cartridges, and it’s printed on them.

• P100 is the top particle rating: at least 99.97 percent of airborne particles, the same level as a HEPA filter. The P means it holds up around oil mist as well as dry dust. P100 filters are color-coded magenta.
• N95 and P95 filter 95 percent. N isn’t for oily mists; P is.
• OV on a cartridge means organic vapors, the solvent fumes from oil-based paints, stains, adhesives and cleaners. AG means acid gases.
• A combination like OV/P100 handles both fumes and fine dust.

One trap: some filters add “nuisance-level” odor relief. That takes the edge off smells; it is not protection against real vapor exposure. Real vapor protection is a cartridge approved for the specific chemicals you’re working with, like an OV cartridge for many solvent fumes.

WBC’s respirators

WBC carries four reusable respirators, each set up and labeled for a kind of job:

• Household respirator: for home projects, the sanding, cleaning and finishing jobs most people do a few times a year.
• Demolition respirator: for tear-out dust, drywall, plaster and old framing coming down.
• Multi-purpose pro respirator: for the person whose work moves between dusty and fume-producing jobs.
• Pro respirator with drop-down: the facepiece drops down off your face without taking the head harness off, so you can talk, drink or take a break and put it back on in a second.

Before you buy, read the package for the filters and cartridges that come installed and what they’re approved for, and match that to your job: P100 for fine dust, OV for solvent fumes, both for jobs that make both.

Getting a good seal

A respirator only protects you if the air goes through the filters instead of around the edges.

• Tighten the straps evenly, top and bottom.
• Do a seal check every time you put it on, the way the instructions show. If you feel air leaking at the edges, adjust it.
• Shave. Stubble under the seal leaks.
• Check it with your glasses on, and with a hard hat if you wear one.

On a job where an employer requires a respirator, there’s also a medical evaluation, training and a formal fit test.

Caring for it

• Particle filters: replace them when breathing gets harder, or when they’re damaged or dirty.
• Vapor cartridges: they quit absorbing long before they look used. Follow the change schedule in the instructions, and don’t wait to smell fumes; some chemicals get dangerous before you can smell them.
• Watch the dates. Filters and cartridges carry expiration dates, and some makers limit how long they last once out of the sealed bag.
• Store it clean and dry, sealed in a bag, out of the dust between jobs, not hanging in the shop.

Jobs to leave alone or step up for

• Vermiculite insulation. Around Libby, and in older homes across Montana, attic vermiculite may contain asbestos. Leave it undisturbed. A P100 rating alone doesn’t make disturbing it safe; asbestos work is regulated and takes more than a mask.
• Lead paint. P100 filters are used for lead dust, but scraping and sanding old paint also takes dust control and cleanup, not just a respirator.
• Spray paint with isocyanates, like some two-part automotive and floor finishes. These call for the specific respiratory protection the coating’s label and safety data sheet require, often more than a cartridge respirator; some cartridge makers rule them out entirely.

The Pick

For a few home projects a year, the household respirator. For tear-out, the demolition respirator. For work that switches between dust and fumes, the multi-purpose pro, or the pro with drop-down if you’re taking it off and on all day. Check the label for P100 and OV against your job.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does P100 mean?

The filter stops at least 99.97 percent of airborne particles, and the P means it works around oil mist too. P100 filters are magenta.

Will a P100 respirator protect me from paint fumes?

Not by itself. P100 is a particle rating. Fumes need a cartridge approved for those chemicals, often an OV (organic vapor) cartridge for solvent-based paints; check the paint’s label and the cartridge’s approvals. An OV/P100 combination handles both dust and covered vapors.

When do I replace the filters?

Particle filters when breathing gets harder or they’re damaged or dirty. Vapor cartridges on the schedule in the instructions, not when you start smelling fumes.

Can I use a P100 respirator for asbestos?

The rating alone doesn’t make it suitable. Asbestos work is regulated and takes more than a mask. If you suspect vermiculite or other asbestos material, leave it undisturbed.