3M™ Respirators are designed to reduce the potential exposure of the wearer to airborne hazardous contaminants. 3M unvalved and the shrouded valve respirators also protect patients from the healthcare professionals exhaled breath.
All 3M™ Disposable Respirators are made from 3M™ Advanced Electret Filter Material that has low breathing resistance with effective protection against: sub-micron particles, fine dusts, non-volatile liquid mists and biological agents e.g. TB, SARS, Pandemic influenza. 3M™ Cool Flow™ Valve provides effective removal of heat and moisture for a cooler and more comfortable wear whilst also minimising the risk of misting eyewear.
3M™ 1800 Series Respirators
The 1800 Series Respirators offer comfortable and reliable protection:
Foldable 3 panel design accommodating facial movement providing a good fit with eyewear
Sweat absorbent nose foam material is soft on the skin
Individual packaging
FFP1, FFP2 and FFP3 options available
Valved, unvalved and shrouded valve options available
3M™ 8835H and 8833H Respirators
Excellent fit over a wide range of face sizes provided by convex shape, nose clip and twin-strap design
Robust collapse-resistant cup shape
Soft inner face-seal provides good face-fit and increases wearer comfort
8835H Respirator features adjustable straps
8833H Respirator features M nose clip for better fit
The 7500 series half masks offer unrivalled comfort and fit due to the exceptionally soft silicone face seal. When fitted with 3M™ 6035 Filters they provide an alternative option to disposable FFP3 respirators and can be decontaminated between uses.
Powered Air Respirators
The 3M™ Jupiter™ Powered Air Respirator System is an easy-to-use, versatile, respiratory solution. Simply attach the turbo via a breathing tube to the head top of your choice. This flexible approach allows you to select the right head top to perform your chosen task. The complete system provides an Assigned Protection Factor (APF) of 40.
Video Demonstration : Fitting the 3M™ 1863 FFP3 Respirator
How to fit and remove the 3M 1863 FFP3 Respirator.
(FLV, 12.2MB)
Video Demonstration : Fitting the 3M™ 1873V FFP3 Respirator
How to fit and remove the 3M 1873V FFP3 Respirator.
(FLV, 11.8MB)
Video Demonstration : Fitting the 3M™ 8835 FFP3 Respirator
How to fit and remove the 3M 8835 FFP3 Respirator.
(FLV, 9.7MB)
Video Demonstration : Fitting the 3M™ 8833 FFP3 Respirator
How to fit and remove the 3M 8833 FFP3 Respirator.
(FLV, 7.2MB)
Video Demonstration : Fitting and cleaning the 3M™ 7500 Series Reusable Respirator
How to fit, remove and clean the 3M 7500 Series Reusable Respirator.
(FLV, 16.8MB)
Fitting the 3M™ 1800 Series Respirators
A step-by-step visual guide to fitting the 3M™ 1800 Series Respirators. Shows the correctly fitted respirator and gives instructions on how to remove it safely.
(PDF, 2.2MB)
Poster: Fitting and cleaning the 3M™ 7500 Series Reusable Respirator
A step-by-step visual guide to fitting the 3M™ 7500 Series Respirator and filters. Shows the correctly fitted respirator and gives instructions on how to clean the facemask and filters.
Some micro-organisms are naturally infectious by the airborne route; other microorganisms can be transferred through the air when attached to other particles, such as droplets of blood (hepatitis B) or mucous (influenza).
When in the air, micro-organisms are considered a particulate hazard.
This means that they can be efficiently filtered using a particulate respirator, such as a disposable respirator approved to EN149:2001+A1:2009 or a reusable half mask fitted with P3 filters.
For more information, please see the Health and Safety Executive’s Respiratory protective equipment at work, a practical guide, HSG53. Appendix 2: Special guidance relating to biological agents, is particularly relevant.
Primary purpose is to prevent particles being expelled by the wearer into the environment.
Are not Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Are not necessarily designed to seal tightly to the face, therefore air leakage around the edges is likely.
Some surgical masks are also designed to be fluid resistant to splash and splatter of blood and other infectious materials.
Surgical masks do not require a fit test.
Disposable Particulate Respirators (Filtering Facepieces) approved to EN149:2001+A1:2009
Designed to reduce the wearer’s exposure to airborne particles.
Different classes offer different levels of protection. FFP3 disposable respirators offer the highest level of protection available from this type of device. When properly used by trained wearers they are expected to reduce exposure to particles by at least a factor of 20.
FFP3 respirators are suggested for use against airborne viruses in occupational settings.
Some respirators are designed to have the characteristics of both an approved respirator and a surgical mask.
Respirators are Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Disposable particulate respirators require a fit test.
Fit and Fit Testing
Disposable respirators are only effective when an adequate seal is established between the wearer’s face and the product.
Disposable respirators must only be used by clean shaven wearers.
Occupational users should be fit tested in accordance with the requirements of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH).
An N95 respirator is a class of respirator approved to an American standard, not a European standard.
It is difficult to compare this type of respirator to European respirators approved to EN149:2001 as the test requirements are very different.
In the UK, healthcare professionals have been advised by the Health Protection Agency1, Department of Health2 and the Health and Safety Executive3 to wear a respirator with the highest filtration efficiency available (FFP3 or P3) in the case of pandemic influenza.
Likewise other occupational users have been advised by the Health and Safety Executive to wear a respirator with the highest filtration efficiency available (FFP3 or P3) for protection against biological agents.
2. Department of Health, Health Protection Agency, “Guidance for Pandemic Influenza: Infection Control in Hospitals and Primary Care Settings” – October 2005.
3. HSE, HSG53 “Respiratory protective equipment at work, A practical guide”.
Both valved and unvalved disposable respirators are tested under the standard EN149:2001.
A valved or unvalved respirator of the same class (EN 149:2001 FFP1, FFP2 or FFP3) will offer the same level of protection to the wearer.
No respirator is 100% efficient, as there will be leakage around the face seal, around the valve (if applicable) and through filter penetration.
A properly used FFP3 unvalved respirator will give an Assigned Protection Factor (APF) of 20, an FFP3 valved respirator will also give an Assigned Protection Factor (APF) of20. Both will help to protect the wearer against airborne micro-organisms.
Both valved and unvalved respirators are designed to help reduce the wearer’s exposure to airborne particles.
Some 3M unvalved respirators are tested and approved as both a respirator and a surgical mask, protecting both the wearer and the environment.
Shrouded valved products which combine the benefits of both valved and unvalved respirators also exist.
Disposable respirators approved to EN149:2001+A1:2009 are marked either "R" or "NR".
Disposable respirators marked "NR" are designed to be used for a single shift only.
Disposable respirators marked "R" are designed to be re-used for a limited period. These respirators, however, cannot be decontaminated and may present an infection risk in a healthcare setting – the reuse of a disposable respirator in a known or potential swine flu application/environment is not recommended.
Viruses cannot multiply outside of a living organism. Therefore, they cannot multiply on filter media or any surface of a respirator.
Particles, including viruses, are collected on filter media. They are held there very strongly.
For filtering facepiece respirators, the filter media is between layers of cover web and the user is not directly exposed to organisms trapped in the filter media. However, organisms contained in droplets may be on outside surfaces of the respirator.
Respirator users should wash their hands before putting on a respirator and after taking one off.
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3M™ Surgical Masks, Respirators and Eyewear Brochure
