Developing a test method and criteria for assessing respiratory protective devices against simultaneous operation of aerosols and vapours of organic substances

Project manager: Agnieszka Brochocka Ph.D. (Eng.)

Project summary:

The task consisted in developing a method of testing loading of combined materials and combined filters that would make it possible to assess the influence of simultaneous operation of vapours of organic substances and aerosol particles - sodium chloride and paraffin oil mist - on the protective properties of those materials. Tests involved loading combined filters: - with a solid-particle aerosol (NaCl) or an aerosol of paraffin oil mist, then with vapours of cyclohexane - a mixture of an aerosol of sodium chloride or paraffin oil mist and with vapours of cyclohexane. Three values of volume of aerosol flow intensity - volume exposure air flow - were used: 47.5, 30 and 15 L/min The tests showed that the presence of the aerosol and vapours of organic substances in the air that was cleaned, at different values of volume of aerosol flow intensity through the combined filters, did not mutually affect na processes of filtration and adsorption. This could affect the protective properties of the cleaning elements that are used in respiratory protective devices. A procedure was also developed for determining the procedure in testing combined materials and combined filters that aim at an assessment of the efficient operation during the operation of aerosol particles or vapours of organic substances.

Unit: Department of Personal Protective Equipment

Duration: 01.01.2008 – 30.05.2010