Respirator cartridges and canisters don’t last forever, and replacing them at the appropriate time is an essential element of protecting employees from respiratory hazards.
Paragraph (d)(3)(iii)(B)(2) of OSHA’s respiratory protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134) says that if your employees use air-purifying respirators, you must develop a cartridge/canister change schedule.
The useful service life of a respirator cartridge is measured by how long it provides adequate protection from harmful chemicals in the air. The service life of a cartridge depends upon many factors, including
- Environmental conditions
- Breathing rate
- Cartridge filtering capacity
- Amount of contaminants in the air
How to Estimate Service Life
OSHA says that there are three valid ways to estimate a cartridge’s service life:
- Conduct experimental tests.
- Use the manufacturer’s recommendation.
- Use a math model.
You’ll find the details on these methods in OSHA’s Respiratory Protection eTool.
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Change Schedule Requirements
Your change schedule should be part of your written respirator program, and it should clearly indicate how often cartridges should be replaced and what information was relied upon to make this judgment. Such information might include:
- Exposure assessment and information based on breakthrough test data;
- Mathematically based estimates; and/or
- Reliable use recommendations from your respirator and/or chemical suppliers.
Note that reliance on odor thresholds and other warning properties is not permitted under the standard as the primary basis for determining the service life of gas and vapor cartridges and canisters.
Conservative Approach
OSHA emphasizes that a conservative approach is recommended when evaluating service life testing data. Temperature, humidity, air flow through the filter, the work rate, and the presence of other potential interfering chemicals in the workplace all can have a serious effect on the service life of an air-purifying cartridge or canister.
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