3M N95 Setup guide

3M is a trademark of 3M. Used under license in Canada. Please recycle. Printed in Canada. © 2020, 3M. All rights reserved. 2009-18167
STARTER TIPS
N95
Flat-fold respirators may not look like traditional cup-style disposable respirators; however,
they help protect you the same way as a cup-style and also have some unique features.

faces — including smaller ones, and moves with your face as you talk.

airborne particles such as dusts and mists, but only if worn correctly.


TIPS FOR WEARING A


RESPIRATOR ON FIRST
Respirators should be put on rst before a hat, eyewear or
hearing protection. The straps should be directly against
your head.

The position of the straps is critical to help create a proper
seal of the respirator to your face. The top strap should be
placed above your ears high on the back of the head, and the
bottom strap should sit below your ears around your neck.
Straps should never be crisscrossed, twisted, or looped
around your ears. Both straps need to be worn for a secure t.

Pinching the nosepiece with one hand can result in a poor t
on the bridge of the nose, potentially allowing contaminated
air to leak in through the gap when you breathe in, and could
cause fogging of eyewear when you breathe out. Instead, use
your ngers from both hands to completely mold the
nosepiece to your face.

There are many dierent types of disposable respirators that
have a variety of features, such as more comfort, easier
breathability, adjustable straps, and dierent sizes. If you do
not nd one very comfortable or you do not get a good seal
with one, try another respirator model.

Facial hair such as a beard can compromise the seal between
your 3M at-fold disposable respirator and your face, which
may reduce its eectiveness. Even stubble can have an eect
on the respirator seal. You must be clean shaven when using
respirators. However, facial hair entirely within the respirator
(e.g., a small goatee or mustache that doesn’t interfere with the
respirator seal) is OK.

Long, dangling hair can also pose problems with strap t at
the back of the head or with the seal to the face. Hair should
be secured in a ponytail or bun between the upper and
lower straps.
s
If your respirator becomes dirty, damaged or dicult to
breathe through, it should be discarded and replaced.
Any N95 respirator that has come into contact with virus
particles should be carefully removed and appropriately
handled after use.

Do not use your respirator past its shelf life, typically 3 to 5
years from date of manufacture*. The expiration date can be
found on packaging. Respirators should be stored according to
the storage instructions, including at temperatures no colder
than -4 degrees F (-20 degrees C), no hotter than 86 degrees
F (30 degrees C), and a relative humidity of less than 80%.

 Use ONLY in NON-HARMFUL environments.
 Use under a regulated government (e.g. OSHA) respiratory protection program.
 Limitations apply.  See product packaging and insert,
or call 3M in Canada at 1-800-267-4414 or in the U.S. call 1-800-243-4630.
*If you have questions, call the 3M technical service line in Canada
at 1-800-267-4414 or in the U.S. call 1-800-243-4630.
Always read and follow product-specic user instructions.
3M is a trademark of 3M. Used under license in Canada. Please recycle. Printed in Canada. © 2020, 3M. All rights reserved. 2009-18167


POP IT OPEN
Use both hands to separate the respirator panels and form a cup shape, bending slightly at
the center of the nosepiece to help it hold its shape.

Place both straps on the outside of the top panel. Hold the respirator in one hand, place the
opened respirator under your chin with the nosepiece across the bridge of your nose.
POSITION STRAPS
While holding respirator in place, take both straps in your other hand and pull over your
head. Adjust the top strap so that it is high on the back of your head and then position the
bottom strap around your neck below the ears. Untwist the straps.

For a comfortable t, pull the top panel toward the bridge of your nose and the bottom
panel under your chin. Make sure the panels are not folded in.

To get a good seal around the nose, you need to mold the nosepiece carefully to help
prevent air leakage. To do this, use two ngers from each hand to mold the nosepiece to the
shape of your nose. Push inwards and down while moving your ngers down both sides.

To perform a User Seal Check on a non-valved respirator, cover the respirator with both hands
and inhale sharply or exhale sharply. Be careful not to disturb the position of the respirator. No
air leaks should be felt between the face and the respirator edges. If air does leak, readjust the
nosepiece, work the straps back along the sides of your head and repeat the seal check. If you
cannot achieve a proper t without air leaks, try another respirator model.

To remove, cup the respirator in one hand to hold it on your face. With your other hand,
pull bottom strap overhead, then pull top strap overhead and remove respirator.
An alternative way to remove the respirator without touching it is to rst pull the
bottom strap over your head and then pull the top strap over your head.