Filters & Cartridges

3M filters and cartridges are engineered to remove harmful particles and contaminants from the air, including dust, fumes, gases, and vapors. Shop our full selection of high-efficiency filters for fine particles, organic vapor cartridges for chemical protection, and acid gas cartridges for protection against acidic gases.

What Can Respirator Cartridges Protect Against?

In many industrial work climates, the responsibility for worker safety is set forth with strict requirements given by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Respirator Guidelines. This variety of breathing equipment can often exist as part of those guidelines toward worker safety. Needless to say, the correct type of respirator cartridge depends upon the type of inherent hazard. For example, both full-face and half-face 3M 6000-series respirators offer cartridges for shielding from a range of dangers, including:

• Organic vapors
• Multi gas/vapors
• Acids and vapor/acids
• Ammonia methylamine
• Formaldehyde/organic vapors
• Mercury/chlorine

Uses for Respirator Cartridges

These products also assist with providing up to 10 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) with half-face pieces or up to 50 times PEL with full-face pieces. With proper protection, a gasmask and filter combination can provide guarding against certain organic vapors, chlorine, hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide, or hydrogen sulfide (escape only) or hydrogen fluoride. These respiratory cartridges and the half or full-face respiratory masks are made for use in environments that are immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH cartridges & masks), and are often employed in the following industries:

• Pharmaceutical
• Petrochemical
• Utilities
• Aluminum reduction
• Chemical manufacturing
• Laboratories
• Pulp and paper

OSHA Respirator Guidelines

OSHA has established a set of criteria to help employers determine when to supply their crew with respirators. If the proper engineering to increase local airflow and reduce the amount of toxins in the air is not available in a given work environment, this type of breathing protection is required. Before sending workers into hazardous atmospheres, employers must ensure that every team member has the appropriate respirator and cartridge for the potential contaminants and that the gear is securely fitted.

3M 6000-Series Respiratory Cartridges

The 3M 6000-series respiratory cartridges assist in protecting workers who might be exposed to a wide range of harmful contaminants. The most popular cartridge is the 3M 6001 Organic. It is NIOSH-approved to provide protection against certain organic vapors. This model can also be used with 3M half and full-face pieces 6000 series and 3M half and full-face pieces 7000 series with bayonet-style cartridge holders. The 3M 60921 respirator cartridges, which are also NIOSH-approved, utilize a particulate filter that is permanently attached for easy, one-step assembly.

For environments that have multi-gas/vapors, 3M offers the 3M 6006 and 3M 60926/P100 respiratory cartridges. Both respiratory cartridges are NIOSH-approved against:

• Certain organic vapors
• Acid gases
• Ammonia
• Methylamine or formaldehyde

3M 6006

The 3M 6006 respiratory cartridge can be used with 3M 2000 series filters and 3M 7093 filters (both require the 3M 502 filter adapter) or 3M 5N11 and 5P71 filter (both require 3M 501 filter retainer).

3M 60926/P100

The 3M 60926/P100 model can be used with 3M half and full-face pieces 6000 series and 3M half and full-face pieces 7000 series with bayonet-style cartridge holders. This style includes a built-in particulate filter (P100), making set-up a cinch.

3M 6003

The 3M 6003 respiratory cartridge protects against organic and gas vapor. It is NIOSH-approved and can be used with 3M 2000 series filters and 3M 7093 filter (both require 3m 502 filter adapter) or 3M 5N11 and 5P71 filter (both require 3M 501 filter retainer). It fits all 3M half and full-face piece respirators.

3M 6002

For acid gas applications, 3M offers the 3M 6002 acid gas respiratory cartridge. It is NIOSH-approved for certain acids, and can be used with 3M 2000 series filters and 3M 7093 filter (both require 3m 502 filter adapter) or 3M 5N11 and 5P71 filter (both require 3M 501 filter retainer).

Other 3M 6000-Series Respiratory Cartridges

3M also offers respiratory cartridges that are used in areas where there is ammonia and methylamine (3M 6004), formaldehyde (3M 6005), and mercury vapor or chlorine (3M 6009). All three of these options are NIOSH-approved and can be used with 3M 2000 series filters and 3M 7093 filters (both require 3m 502 filter adapter) or 3M 5N11 and 5P71 filter (both require 3M 501 filter retainer). These respiratory cartridges fit all 3M full and half-face piece respirators.

3M Mask Filters: Reliable Defense Against Contaminants and Hazardous Particles

3M mask filters are an essential choice. Whether you opt for 3M face mask filters or 3M respirator pre-filters, these reliable products provide excellent defense against various contaminants. For instance, the 3M paint filter cartridge is specifically designed to filter out harmful fumes and dust particles during painting tasks. Additionally, 3M replacement filters offer long-lasting performance and ensure your safety in environments with pet dander, mold spores, pollen, bacteria, and other large particles. When considering your health, having effective filtration is an important factor, and 3M filters deliver the peace of mind you need in any hazardous situation.

3m Respirator Cartridge Selection Guides

Choosing the right respirator cartridge for your workplace is essential to protecting your employees from harmful airborne contaminants. 3M offers a variety of cartridges and filters that can be used with different types of respirators, depending on the type, concentration, and hazard of the contaminants. To select the appropriate cartridge and filter, you need to identify and quantify the contaminants in your workplace and use the 3M™ Select and Service Life Software and Respirator Selection Guide to find the recommended respirator for each exposure situation. The software and guide include data on over 800 chemicals, including gases, vapors, and particulates. In addition, this guide also explains how to select the correct cartridge based on the NIOSH color coding system, which indicates the type of protection offered by each cartridge. For example, a black cartridge is used for organic vapors, a yellow cartridge is used for acid gases, a magenta cartridge is used for particulates, and so on.

One of the factors that affects the respirator cartridge selection is the quality of the indoor and outdoor air. Indoor air quality refers to the condition of the air within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of occupants. Outdoor air quality refers to the condition of the air outside, which can be influenced by various sources of pollution, such as traffic, industry, agriculture, and natural events. Both indoor and outdoor air quality can have an impact on the respiratory health of workers and require different levels of protection.

By following the 3M respirator selection guide, users can ensure that they are using the best cartridge for their specific needs and that they are protecting themselves from the potential health risks associated with poor indoor and outdoor air quality.