Re: Best Full-face Respirator and Filter

[Guest guest]

Pam,

Good question and there are other concerns that are equally

important.

Is the supervisor (your friend) experienced in mold remediation? Will

he be supervising people he knows (or not) and are they experienced?

If they are working for him he may have to comply with OSHA

regulations to protect the workers. Does he have a working knowledge

of EPA Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings? Or the

IICRC S500 water damage restoration standard or the IICRC S520 mold

remediation standard? Has he attended any of the multitude of

training classes, whether legit or just money mills, available in

classes or on the Web?

Just as important as the Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) of which

the P100 is only one of several components (eye and skin protection

to begin with), is the avoidance of cross-contamination of the rest

of the building while removing the mold growth. Is he familiar with

containment and air flow control? Does he know how to identify and

stop the moisture source?

Because workers are involved, OSHA requires that mold contamination

inside the containment should be controlled first by engineering

controls and work practices, relying on respirators and other PPE as

a last step. In other words, don't rely only on the P100 to comply

with OSHA worker protection regulations or, more importantly, to

actually protect the workers.

Next, to directly address your question if there are respirators

better than P100, the answer is a definite " yes " for several reasons.

One reason (below) is that P100 stops most particle components of

mold growth but not the chemical components. But first, suggest that

your friend to start with the NIOSH Web site titled NIOSH Respirator

Selection Logic (notice the Assigned Protection Factors or APF of the

different types) at:

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2005-100/

Also consider that OSHA requires a fit test for workers using a P100.

(No beards, large mustaches, eye glasses or other physical factors

that break the seal between the face and the mask). Which also means

a medical exam to determine if they are sufficiently physically fit

to sustain the rigours of a P100. (They are hard to breath through,

especially when working with exertion).

There are other types of respirators that filter the air through the

back of a helmet and then move it across the face from the top of the

head and then out the bottom behind a shield. There are also Self

Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). Just like SCUBA with its own

tank of air except for the underwater part. Google SCBA for more

info.

Finally, the fact that Stachybotrys is present is somewhat irrelevant

because many other molds have " risky " components equal to or greater

than Stachy. (Depending on the environment of the mold growth,

competition from other molds, the bacterial component of the damp

area, etc, etc). These include the chemical components of mold growth

that will go right through a P100 (which is really 99.97% at 0.3

microns, in other words a HEPA) because molecules are hundreds or

thousands of times smaller than what the P100 (HEPA) is capable of

removing. Compare it to a window screen that allows air molecules

though but stops some dust particles and all large ones like leaves

and insects.

If your friend is supervising to ensure proper and successful

remediation, he needs at least the minimum of the above to support

the chances of success.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

> A friend who will be supervising the remediation of his basement (for

> stachybotrys) has been told that the full-face respirator with P100

> filters is the best. He would like to know if something better is

> available.

>

> Thanx much, Pam

[Guest guest]

Carl, thanx so much for your detailed reply. I forwarded my friend the

message and suggested that he contact you direct if he needs additional

clarification. Pam

--- In , " Carl E. Grimes " <grimes@...>

wrote:

> Pam, Good question and there are other concerns that are equally

> important.