Evan Simko-Bednarski ’07 has got some advice for y’all:
in an earlier post, people started talking about protective equipment and respirators (with regard to spraypaint and enclosed spaces) and people started asking about the filter rating system. so. here’s what I know.
filters are rated with a letter then a number, like P100 or N95. the number represents the tightness of the weave, so to speak. i.e., the higher the number, the smaller the particles it captures. the N and the P designate whether or not oil based aerosols can get through the filter. N does *not* block them, P does.
So. Hospitals carry a lot of N95’s, because an N95 is sufficient to block the transfer of certian microbes, e.g. Tuberculosis. But a P100 will also block these. For asbestos, for another example, you want a 100 rating.
I rock a P100 because, why not? They’re a little more expensive, but it’s worth it because the protection is more comprehensive.But that ratins system only covers the filter element itself. There are also pre- and post- filter elements that come into play. The filters I use most often are called GME-P100. No idea why the GME nomenclature, but in addition to a p100, it has a layer of activated charcoal. The kind of stuff they give you if you swallow poison or OD–activated charcoal can neutralize a lot of organic toxins (wikipedia it, it’s cool stuff). In a respirator filter, this is most often marketed to petroleum refinery workers and the like–people exposed to toxic hydrocarbon vapors. They also prevent smells from getting through (which was a fucking god-sent in NOLA).
In non industrial conditions, you can probably rock a filter for a few weeks of use before you have to retire them. Filters are replacable, so, my NOLA respirator is not toxic, just needs new filters.FIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF A RESPIRATOR. make sure that if you cover the air-intake-holes, you’re unable to breathe. otherwise you have a leak.
3M makes a nice cheap series of respirators. I have a thin face, so the 3M’s dont fit. I have a slightly more expensive but worlds more comfortable respirator made by MSA, and it’s probably saved my life, or at least my lungs. It’s also a fashonable shade of blue.
If you’re interested in buying a respirator, www.professionalequipment.com has decent deals. Hardware stores also carry them sometimes.When do you need a respirator?
if you go into the maitenence tunnels, you should have a p100. some but not all of that tunnel system has a lot of asbestos. If you’re doing a lot of spray painting in an enclosed area, rock a pXX. If you’re using solvents and the like in an enclosed area, err on teh safe side and get some activated charcoal P-somethings.
Seriously. I do stupid shit all the time. I should know.