Respirator Recommendations Mercury vapor: NIOSH Up to 0.5 mg/m3: (APF = 10) Any chemical cartridge respirator with cartridge(s) providing protection against the compound of concern† (APF = 10) Any supplied-air respirator Up to 1.25 mg/m3: (APF = 25) Any supplied-air respirator operated in a continuous-flow mode (APF = 25) Any powered, air-purifying respirator with cartridge(s) providing protection against the compound of concern†(canister) Up to 2.5 mg/m3: (APF = 50) Any chemical cartridge respirator with a full facepiece and cartridge(s) providing protection against the compound of concern† (APF = 50) Any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator (gas mask) with a chin-style, front- or back-mounted canister providing protection against the compound of concern† (APF = 50) Any supplied-air respirator that has a tight-fitting facepiece and is operated in a continuous-flow mode (APF = 50) Any powered, air-purifying respirator with a tight-fitting facepiece and cartridge(s) providing protection against the compound of concern(canister) (APF = 50) Any self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece (APF = 50) Any supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece Up to 10 mg/m3: (APF = 1000) Any supplied-air respirator operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode Emergency or planned entry into unknown concentrations or IDLH conditions: (APF = 10,000) Any self-contained breathing apparatus that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode (APF = 10,000) Any supplied-air respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode in combination with an auxiliary self-contained positive-pressure breathing apparatus Escape: (APF = 50) Any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator (gas mask) with a chin-style, front- or back-mounted canister providing protection against the compound of concern Any appropriate escape-type, self-contained breathing apparatus Other mercury compounds: NIOSH/OSHA Up to 1 mg/m3: (APF = 10) Any chemical cartridge respirator with cartridge(s) providing protection against the compound of concern† (APF = 10) Any supplied-air respirator Up to 2.5 mg/m3: (APF = 25) Any supplied-air respirator operated in a continuous-flow mode (APF = 25) Any powered, air-purifying respirator with cartridge(s) providing protection against the compound of concern†(canister) Up to 5 mg/m3: (APF = 50) Any chemical cartridge respirator with a full facepiece and cartridge(s) providing protection against the compound of concern† (APF = 50) Any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator (gas mask) with a chin-style, front- or back-mounted canister providing protection against the compound of concern† (APF = 50) Any supplied-air respirator that has a tight-fitting facepiece and is operated in a continuous-flow mode (APF = 50) Any powered, air-purifying respirator with a tight-fitting facepiece and cartridge(s) providing protection against the compound of concern(canister) (APF = 50) Any self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece (APF = 50) Any supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece Up to 10 mg/m3: (APF = 1000) Any supplied-air respirator operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode Emergency or planned entry into unknown concentrations or IDLH conditions: (APF = 10,000) Any self-contained breathing apparatus that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode (APF = 10,000) Any supplied-air respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode in combination with an auxiliary self-contained positive-pressure breathing apparatus Escape: (APF = 50) Any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator (gas mask) with a chin-style, front- or back-mounted canister providing protection against the compound of concern Any appropriate escape-type, self-contained breathing apparatus Important additional information about respirator selection |