A qualitative or quantitative respirator fit test must be carried out for each wearer of this respirator to determine the amount of
protection it will provide. Respirator fit tests are explained fully in ASTM F3387 - Latest edition, Standard Practices for
Respiratory Protection, ASTM International https://www.astm.org/Standard/standards-and-publications.html (ASTM F3387
formerly known as ANSI Z88.2).
Quantitative Test
— If a quantitative fit test is used, a fit factor that is at least 500 shall be obtained before that respirator is
assigned to an individual.
Qualitative Test
— If a qualitative fit test is used, only validated protocols are acceptable. The individual must pass a test
designed to assess a fit factor of at least 100.
Powered Air-Purifying Respirators must be qualitatively or quantitatively fit tested in a negative-pressure mode (with blower
off). This will cover use of the respirator in the powered air-purifying mode operation.
2.3
Exposure Limits
A listing of acceptable exposure limits from the following sources:
•
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
•
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
•
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
•
American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)
Contact MSA at 1-800-MSA-2222 for information.
2.3.1
Exposure Limits for Mixtures
The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) publishes the following information to determine the
TLV of a mixture. First determine the total concentration of the chemical mixture (CMixture) from the individual contaminant
concentrations (C1, C2, C3,…) using the following formula:
CMixture = C1 + C2 + C3 + …
The TLV of the mixture is found by using the following formula where T1, T2, T3,… are the individual contaminant TLVs and
C1, C2, C3,… are the individual contaminant concentrations:
Only use these equations if the contaminants present are actually mixed. Some substances do not mix and may be present
separately, for example, in pockets or at different levels. In that case, the lowest TLV of the substances present must be used
to determine the appropriate respirator category for protection against all contaminants present.
8
OptimAir® MM PAPR
2 Description
US
