Performance of dust respirators with facial seal leaks. I. Experimental

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5386429

Hinds, W C; Kraske, G

The ability of representative half-mask and single-use respirators with facial seal leaks to provide protection against aerosols was evaluated by experimental measurement. Respirators were mounted on a manikin in a test chamber and operated at seven steady flow rates over the range of 2 to 150 L/min. Samples of polydisperse and monodisperse aerosols were taken from inside and outside the respirator and analyzed by a calibrated optical particle counter over the particle-size range 0.1 to 11.3 ..mu..m. Measurements were made separately for filter performance as a function of particle size and flow rate, and simulated leak performance as a function of particle size, pressure drop, and leak size. Flow rate vs. pressure drop measurements were made for all filters and leaks tested. For a given leak condition the percentage of the total flow traversing the leak varied several fold over the usual range of airflow rates through a respirator. Aerosol penetration was found to depend strongly on particle size and flow rate for filters, and to depend strongly on particle size and less strongly on pressure drop for leaks. One can conclude from these measurements that the aerosol-size distribution inside a respirator will nearly always be significantly different from that outside the respirator.

• OSTI ID: 5386429
• Journal Information: Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.; (United States) Vol. 48:10; ISSN AIHAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420202* -- Engineering-- Protective Structures & Equipment
500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOLS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
EXPOSURE CHAMBERS
FILTERS
FLOW RATE
LEAK TESTING
LEAKS
PARTICLE SIZE
PERFORMANCE TESTING
RESPIRATORS
SIZE
SOLS
TESTING