Purifying Elements Chart
Line

LEGEND TO PURIFYING ELEMENT SYMBOLS

The symbols shown here will help you cross-reference between the Product MiniGuide and
the Purifying Element Charts. In the MiniGuide, most air-purifying respirator descriptions will show
one of the symbols. This is to help you locate the family of purifying elements for the given respirator
when you review the Purifying Element Charts.

Symbol

Respirator is used with:

Symbol

Respirator is used with:

 

Advantage Respirator Cartridges

 

OptimAir 6 PAPR Filters

 

Comfo Respirator Cartridges

 

Chin Type Gas Mask Canisters

 

OptiFilter Respirator Cartridges

 

Industrial Gas Mask Canisters

 

Type H OptiFilter Cartridge(s)

 

Super Size Gas Mask Canisters

 

Rectangular Ultra-Filter Cartridges

 

Type N Gas Mask Canisters

This chart does not provide the complete details and limitations of MSA Purifying Elements. Please refer
to respirator data sheets and product instructions for more thorough explanation of MSA filters and cartridges.

LEGEND TO PURIFYING PROTECTION CODES

The Purifying Protection Codes listed here appear in both the Hazard Identification Section and the
Purifying Elements Charts. Once you familiarize yourself with these ``shorthand descriptions," you will
be able to quickly understand the type of cartridge that is reccommended for your application. When
you review the Purifying Element Charts, the codes can also help you identify alternates to the
``primary" MSA purifying element recommended in the Hazard Identification Section for your contaminant.

Abbreviation

Description

Abbreviation

Description

AG

Acid Gas

HF

Hydrogen Flouride

AM

Ammonia

H2S

Hydrogen Sulfide

CL2

Chlorine

I2

Iodine Vapor

CLO2

Carbon Dioxide

MA

Methylamine

CO

Carbon Monoxide

MERC

Mercury Vapor

DFM

Dust/Fumes/Mist

OV

Organic Vapor

DM

Dust/Mist

OV/AG

Organic Vapors & Acid Gases

ETO

Ethylene Oxide

PAINT

Paint, Lacquer & Enamel Mist

FORM

Formaldehyde

PEST

Pesticides

HCL

Hydrogen Chloride

PHOS

Phosphine

HEPA

High Efficiency (Dust/Fume/Mist/
Radionuclides)

SO2

Sulfur Dioxide
   

VYCL

Vinyl Chloride

The Charts

Picture 

Advantage &

 

Picture 

Comfo Cartridges

 

Picture 

denotes cartridge availability)

 

Rectangle 

Vapors:Only

 

Rectangle 

Particulates Only

 

Rectangle 

Vapors & Particulates

 

For Respirators that use:

Color Key to Purifying Capabilities:

Respirator Cartridge Code

MSA Purifying Element Type

Purifying Protection Code

Protection Offered

 

      

 

 
 

GMA

OV

Organic Vapors

 

 
 

GMB

AG

Acid Gases*

 

 
 

GMC

OV/AG

Organic Vapors and Acid Gases*

 

 
 

GMD

AM

Ammonia, Amines**

 

 
 

GME

OV/AG/AM/MA/FM/HF

Organic Vapors and Acid Gases*, Ammonia, Amines*, Formaldehyde and Hydrogen Flouride

 

 
 

GMF

FM/OV/AG

Formaldehyde, Organic Vapors and Acid Gases*

 

 
 

N95 Prefilter

DFM

95% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists). Free of oil; time use restrictions may apply. (Note: This replaceable filter may be used only with the above cartridges).

 

 
 

R95 Prefilter

DFM

95% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists); time use restrictions may apply. (Note: This replaceable filter may be used only with the above cartridges).

 

 
 

Mersorb

MV/CL2

Metallic Mercury Vapor, Chlorine

 

 
 

N95 Filter

DFM

95% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists) free of oil. Time use restrictions may apply. (Note: This replaceable filter is used alone.)

 

 
 

R95 Filter

DFM

95% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists): time use restrictions may apply. (Note: This replaceable filter is used alone.)

 

 
 

P100 Filter

HEPA

99.97% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists). (Note: This replaceable filter is used alone.)

* Effective against acid gases, but NIOSH/MSHA approval only covers protection against chlorine, hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide. chlorine dioxide and escape from hydrogen sulfide.

** Effective against armines, but NIOSH/MSHA approved for methylamine.

Picture 

Advantage &

 

Picture 

Comfo Cartridges

 

Picture 

denotes cartridge availability)

 

Rectangle 

Vapors:Only

 

Rectangle 

Particulates Only

 

Rectangle 

Vapors & Particulates

 

For Respirators that use:

Color Key to Purifying Capabilities:

Respirator Cartridge Code

MSA Purifying Element Type

Purifying Protection Code

Protection Offered

 

    

VAPOR

PARTICULATE
 

 

 
 

GMA-P100

OV/HEPA

Organic Vapors

99.97% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists).
 

 

 
 

GMB-P100

AG/HEPA

Acid Gases*

99.97% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists).
 

 

 
 

GMC-P100

OV/AG/HEPA

Organic Vapors and Acid Gases* and Hydrogen Flouride

99.97% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists).
 

 

 
 

GMD-P100

AM/MA/HEPA

Ammonia, Amines*

99.97% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists).
 

 

 
 

GME-P100

OV/AG/AM/MA/FM/
HF/HEPA

Organic Vapors, Acid Gases*, Ammonia, Amines**, Formaldehyde, Hydrogen Flouride

99.97% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists).
 

 

 
 

GMF-P100

FM/OV/AG/HEPA

Formaldehyde, Organic Vapors and Acid Gases*

99.97% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists).
 

 

 
 

Mersorb P100

MV/CL2 HEPA

Metallic Mercury Vapor, Chlorine

99.97% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists).
 

 

 
 

GMI-P100

I2/OV/HEPA

Iodine*** and Organic Vapors

99.97% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists).
 

* Effective against acid gases, but NIOSH/MSHA approval only covers protection against chlorine, hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide. chlorine dioxide and escape from hydrogen sulfide.

** Effective against armines, but NIOSH/MSHA approved for methylamine.

*** Effective but not NIOSH/MSHA approved for Iodine Vapor.

For Respirators that use:

Picture 

OptiFilter &

 

Picture 

Type H Cartridges

 

Picture 

denotes cartridge availability)

 

Rectangle 

Vapors:Only

 

Rectangle 

Particulates Only

 

Rectangle 

Vapors & Particulates

 

Color Key to Purifying Capabilities:

Respirator Cartridge Code

MSA Purifying Element Type

Purifying Protection Code

Protection Offered

 

      

 

  
 

GMA

OV

Organic Vapors

 

  
 

GMB

AG

Acid Gases

 

  
 

GMC

OV/AG

Organic Vapors and Acid Gases*

 

  
 

GMD

AM/MA

Ammonia and Amines**

 

 
 

Type H

HEPA

99.97% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists).

 

  
 

GMA-H

OV/HEPA

Organic Vapors - 99.97% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists).

 

  
 

GMB-H

AG/HEPA

Acid Gases* - 99.97% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists).

 

  
 

GMC-H

OV/AG/HEPA

Organic Vapors and Acid Gases - 99.97% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists).

 

  
 

GMD-H

AM/HEPA

Ammonia and Amines** - 99.97% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists).

 

  
 

MERSORB-H

MERC/HEPA

Mercury Vapor and Chlorine - 99.97% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists).

* Effective against acid gases, but NIOSH/MSHA approval only covers protection against chlorine, hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide. chlorine dioxide and escape from hydrogen sulfide.

** Effective against armines, but NIOSH/MSHA approved for methylamine.

For Respirators that use:

TypeH_dot 

the OptiFilter cartridge or

OptiAir6_dot 

OptiAir 6 PAPR Filters:

MSA Purifying Element Type

Purifying Protection Code

Protection Offered

TYPE H

HEPA

99.97% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists).

For Gas Masks using Chin-Type

Industrial

Super Size

or Type N Canisters

chin_dot 

industrial_dot 

Super_dot 

TypeN_dot 

Rectangle 

Vapors:Only

 

Rectangle 

Particulates Only

 

Rectangle 

Vapors & Particulates

 

Color Key to Purifying Capabilities:

Gas Mask Code and MSA Canister Type

Purifying Protection Code

Protection Offered

chin_dot 

industrial_dot 

Super_dot 

TypeN_dot 
 

  

VAPOR

PARTICULATE
 

GMA-Cchin_dot

GMAindustrial_dot

 

 
 

OV

Organic Vapors

95% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists) free of oil; time use restrictions may apply.
 

GMC-Cchin_dot

 

 

 
 

OV/AG

Organic Vapors and Acid gases

95% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists) free of oil; time use restrictions may apply.
 

GMD-Cchin_dot

 GMDindustrial_dot

 

 
 

AM/MA

Ammonia and Amines*

95% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists) free of oil; time use restrictions may apply.
 

GML-Cchin_dot

 GMLindustrial_dot

 

 
 

CL

Chlorine

95% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists) free of oil; time use restrictions may apply.
 

GMDL-Cchin_dot

 

 

 
 

OV/CL/AM/MA

Organic Vapors, Chlorine Ammonia, and Amines*

95% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists) free of oil; time use restrictions may apply.
 

GMF-Cchin_dot

 

 

 
 

AG/PH/FM

Acid Gas, Phosphine or Formaldehyde

95% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists) free of oil; time use restrictions may apply.
 

 

 

 GMEO-
SSSuper_dot

 
 

EO/DM

Ethylene Oxide

95% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists) free of oil; time use restrictions may apply.
 

 

 

GMHS-
SSWSuper_dot

 
 

OV/PH/CD/CL/HS

Organic Vapors, Phosphine, Chlorine, Chlorine Dioxide, Hydrogen Sulfide

95% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists) free of oil; time use restrictions may apply.
 

 GMP-Cchin_dot

GMP  industrial_dot

  

 
 

OV/PEST

Organic Vapors, Phosphine, Chlorine, Chlorine Dioxide, Hydrogen Sulfide

99.97% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists).
 

GMR-Ichin_dot

  

 

 
 

OV/I2

Organic and Iodine** Vapors and Organic Iodides**

99.97% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists).
 

GMHF-Cchin_dot

  

 

 
 

HF

Hydrogen Flouride

99.97% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists).
 

 

  

 

 Type NTypeN_dot
 

OV/AG/CO/AM/MA

Organic Vapors, Acid Gas, Carbon Monoxide, Ammonia and Amines*

99.97% efficient against particulate aerosols (dusts, fumes, and mists).
 

* Effective against but not NIOSH/MSHA approved for amines.

** Effective against but not NIOSH/MSHA approved for Iodine Vapor and Organic Iodides.
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Mine Safety Appliances Company (MSA) makes no warranties, understandings or representations, whether expressed, implied, or statutory regarding this response respirator selector. MSA specifically disclaims any warranty for merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. In no event shall MSA, or anyone else who has been involved in the creation, production or delivery of this respirator selector be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of or inability to use this respirator selector or for any claim by any other party. ©MSA 2005