North 5500 series Manual

5500 & 7700 Series
Half Mask Air
Purifying
Respirator
Operating and
Maintenance
Instruction Manual
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©2001 North Safety Products Printed in U.S.A. Part No. 46000375 Rev. C
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CONTENTS PAGE
1 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
1.1 IMPORTANT INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
1.1.1 TERMINOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
1.1.2 GENERAL WARNINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
1.1.3 USER REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
1.1.4 TRAINING PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
1.1.5 FIT TESTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
1.1.6 PERIODIC SEAL CHECKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
1.2 RESPIRATOR DESCRIPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
2PRE-USE INSTRUCTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
2.1 FACEPIECE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
2.2 FILTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
2.3 ASSEMBLING THE RESPIRATOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
3 TO PUT ON THE RESPIRATOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
4USE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
4.1 SERVICE LIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
4.1.1 CARTRIDGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
4.1.2 PARTICULATE FILTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
5TO TAKE OFF THE RESPIRATOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
6TURNAROUND MAINTENANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
6.1 AIR-PURIFYING ELEMENTREPLACEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
6.1.1 FILTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
6.1.2 CARTRIDGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
6.2 INSPECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
7STORAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
8PERIODIC MAINTENANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
8.1 CLEANING AND SANITIZING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
8.2 PREPARE FOR USE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
9REPLACEMENT PARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
10 ACCESSORIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
11 KEY TO CAUTIONS AND LIMITATIONS CONTAINED IN NIOSH APPROVALLABELS . . . .23
11.1 SPECIALUSER’S INSTRUCTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
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North Safety Products
2000 Plainfield Pike
Cranston, RI 02921
U.S.A.
Telephone [phone]
Facsimile 800 572-6346
www.northsafety.com
North Safety Products North Safety Products
10550 Parkway Blvd. Noordmonsterwegl
Anjou, Quebec 4332 Sc Middleberg
Canada H1J2K4 The Netherlands
Telephone [phone] Telephone [phone]
Fascimile 514-355-7233 Telephone [phone]
021-66346459
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1 INTRODUCTION
North Air-Purifying respirators are intended to be used for respiratory protection against haz-
ardous vapors, gases and/or particulate matter, depending on the air-purifying elements used
and the contaminant concentration and/or toxicity; but only if there is sufficient oxygen present
in the contaminated atmosphere to support life. These respirators are approved by the National
Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and are suitable for use in workplaces
regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). If you have converted
this respirator to a supplied air respirator, use the Instructions for Use that accompanied the
Airline Accessory.
1.1 IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This Operating and Maintenance Instruction Manual contains important information and must
be completely read and understood by all persons who may use or maintain this respirator.
This Respirator should be used or maintained only by persons who understand the instructions
contained within this manual.
1.1.1 TERMINOLOGY
Warnings, cautions and notes used in this manual have the following significance:
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Procedures and techniques which, if not
carefully followed, will result in damage
to the equipment.
NOTE CAUTION
Procedures and techniques that are con-
sidered important enough to emphasize.
Procedures and techniques which, if not carefully followed, will expose
the user to the risk of serious injury, illness or death.
WARNING
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1.1.2 GENERAL WARNINGS
1. Do not use this Operating and Maintenance Instruction Manual if you have converted this respi-
rator to a supplied air respirator, use the Instructions for use that accompanied the Airline
Accessory.
2. Failure to properly select the appropriate respirator for all the contaminants and their concentra-
tions against which protection is required, or a failure to follow North’s instructions and warnings,
may result in exposure to the hazardous materials, exposing the user to the risk of serious
injury, illness or death.
3. Do not use this respirator for protection against air contaminants other than those listed on the
air-purifying elements and on the NIOSH Approval Label which is supplied with each respirator
and/or replacement air purifying element.
4. Do not use this respirator under any of the following conditions:
• While performing or observing abrasive blasting (sandblasting) operations.
•For fire fighting.
•In oxygen-deficient atmospheres (any atmosphere having less than 19.5 % oxygen by volume
at sea level).
•In atmospheres where the concentrations of toxic contaminants are unknown, or are
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH). An IDLH atmosphere is any atmosphere
which has a concentration of any toxic, corrosive or asphyxiant substance that poses an
immediate threat to life, which would cause irreversible debilitating effects on health, or which
would interfere with the ability to escape from a dangerous atmosphere.
• In atmospheres where the concentration of the contaminant exceeds the respirator’s
Maximum Use Concentration. That is, where the concentration of the contaminant exceeds:
i. 10 times the contaminant’s permissible exposure limit (the maximum permissible 8-hour
time weighted average (TWA) concentration) established by applicable OSHAor other
government regulations, or by NIOSH or ACGIH publications; or
ii. any lower Maximum Use Concentration for that contaminant (when using a half mask air
purifying respirator) established by such OSHAor other government regulations (as in the
case of asbestos) or NIOSH or ACGIH publications, or shown in the contaminant’s
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), in a pesticide label, or in the current edition of the
North Respirator Selection Guide.
WARNINGS
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•In poorly ventilated areas, or confined spaces such as tanks, small rooms, tunnels or vessels,
unless the confined space is well ventilated and the concentration of toxic contaminants is
known to be, and will continue to be, below the Maximum Use Concentration recommended
for the respirator.
•In atmospheres containing oil unless a NIOSH "R" or "P’ class filter is used.
•For protection against gas or vapor contaminants unless the air-purifying elements are
equipped with End-of-Service-Life-Indicators for that contaminant; or a cartridge change
schedule is implemented based on objective service data.
• For protection against gases or vapors which generate high heats of reaction with the sorbent
material in the cartridge.
•For protection against gases or vapors which are not adsorbed by the sorbent material in the
cartridge (e.g. Methanol).
5. Do not use any air purifying respirator when conditions prevent a good facepiece-to-face seal.
Examples of such conditions are:
i. the growth of beards, mustaches or sideburns which will pass between the facepiece seal-
ing area and the face;
ii. the use of spectacles, goggles or other devices which interfere with the respirator;
iii. the use of head or face coverings which contain materials which will pass between the
facepiece sealing area and the face; and
iv. missing teeth or dentures, facial deformities or deep scars.
6. Immediately leave the contaminated area if:
i. breathing becomes difficult;
ii. dizziness or other distress occurs;
iiii. you smell, taste or sense irritation from the contaminants;
iv. the air purifying element is equipped with an End-of-Service-Life Indicator which has
changed color to indicate expiration, or
v. the respirator becomes damaged.
WARNINGS (CONTINUED)
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1.1.3 USER REQUIREMENTS
To use this respirator you must know;
1) The contaminants and their concentrations. (Ask your Safety Director or Industrial
Hygienist, or follow the hazard determination steps as outlined in paragraph 7.2.2.1 of
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard Z88.2-1992, American National
Standard for Respiratory Protection.)
2) That this is the respirator approved for use against those contaminants and at those con-
centrations. (Carefully read the NIOSH Approval Summary booklet included with this face-
piece. Make sure the part numbers on the respirator components match the component
numbers on the NIOSH Approval Label or on the configuration chart. If you have any
doubts, prior to using the respirator consult an Industrial Hygienist, or North Safety
Products Customer Service in the United States at 1-800-430-4110 or 1-401-943-4400.)
3) That the contaminated atmosphere is not Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH).
For the definition of IDLH see Warning #4 of the preceding list of General Warnings.
4) That this respirator fits you properly. (See Warning #5 of the preceding list of General
Warnings.)
7. Any air purifying respirator, when properly selected and fitted, will significantly reduce, but will
not completely eliminate, the breathing of contaminant(s) by the respirator wearer. When work-
ing in atmospheres containing substances which are reported to cause cancer in amounts below
their permissible exposure limit, you will obtain better protection from a continuous flow or posi-
tive pressure air supplied respirator or self-contained breathing apparatus (an SCBA).
8. This respirator does not provide protection to exposed areas of the body. If the contaminated
atmosphere contains vapors, gases or airborne particulate matter which may either irritate or
burn the eyes or the skin, or can be absorbed by the body through penetration of the skin, the
use of specialized eye, hand and/or body coverings may be required for protection.
WARNINGS (CONTINUED)
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5) That you do not have any physical limitations or illness which would preclude you from
using this respirator or be aggravated by an increase in breathing resistance. (Ask your
Safety Director or physician.)
You should not enter any potentially contaminated atmosphere unless you have
confirmed all of these factors.
1.1.4 TRAINING PROGRAM
These brief written instructions cannot substitute for a formal Respirator Training Program.
Such training should include an opportunity for you to handle the respirator, learn how to
inspect it, have it properly fitted, test its facepiece-to-face seal, wear it in normal air for a long
familiarity period, and finally, to wear it in a test atmosphere. The Training Program should be
based on ANSI Z88.2-1992, and should familiarize you with OSHARegulation 29CFR Section
1910.134 and other regulations promulgated by various Regulatory Authorities
.
1.1.5 FIT TESTING
Arespirator should not be assigned to a person unless the person is given a qualitative or
quantitative respirator fit test and the results of the test indicate that the facepiece of the respi-
rator fits properly.
This respirator is available in three sizes; large, medium and small. Most faces can be fit with
the medium, however person with small faces may get a better fit with the small size, and per-
son with large faces may get a better fit with the large size.
Fit tests should be conducted at least annually and more frequently if there are factors such as
weight change or dental surgery which may affect the fit of the respirator.
Afit test adapter is available for conducting quantitative fit tests. (See Accessories.)
Instructions for carrying out qualitative and quantitative respirator fit tests are given in publica-
tions such as ANSI Z88.2-1992, and respirator manuals published by government agencies
such as NIOSH, ERDA, and NRC.
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1.1.6 PERIODIC SEAL CHECKS
Each time that the respirator is put on, before entering an area containing hazardous atmos-
pheres, and periodically while wearing the respirator in the contaminated area, the respirator
wearer should check the effectiveness of the seal of the facepiece to the wearer’s face by
carrying out a negative or positive pressure seal check. Instructions for carrying out user seal
checks on this respirator are given in Section 3 of this manual.
1.2 RESPIRATOR DESCRIPTION
This device is an air-purifying respirator consisting of a half mask facepiece assembly and
a pair of replaceable air-purifying elements which provide respiratory protection against
hazardous vapors, gases and/or particulate matter, depending upon the type of air-purifying
element used.
When the respirator wearer inhales, the contaminated air is drawn through the air-purifying
elements, which, depending upon their type, remove the hazardous vapors, gases and/or par-
ticulate matter from the air before it enters the lungs. During inhalation, the inhalation valves in
the facepiece open and the exhalation valve closes to prevent contaminated air from entering
the facepiece. During exhalation, the exhalation valve opens, and the inhalation valves close
to prevent exhaled air from passing back through the air-purifying elements.
This respirator is approved by NIOSH to protect against, and reduce exposure to the type of air
contaminants specified on the air-purifying elements and in the approval label supplied with the
respirator or the air-purifying elements. Use of the Back Pack accessory allows the wearer to
place the air-purifying elements on his back.
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2 PRE-USE INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING
2.1 FACEPIECE
Remove the facepiece assembly from its container and visually check the facepiece to make
sure that the sealing flange is not distorted, and that all components including the exhalation
valve flap are in place, in good condition and secure.
2.2 FILTERS
If replaceable pad style filters are required, they should be assembled to the cartridges or filter
holders before the cartridges or filter holders are attached to the facepiece. Follow the direc-
tions on the filter for proper orientation. Place the filters in the appropriate filter covers so that
the entire outer edges of the filters are seated evenly and securely against the inner wall of the
filter covers. (See Figure 1.) Snap the filter covers, with the filters seated evenly and securely,
to the cartridge or filter holders. (See Figure 2.)
FIGURE 1: Assembling the Filter FIGURE 2: Attaching the Cover
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The respirator facepiece and air-purifying elements may be sold separately. Do not use
this respirator unless the proper air-purifying elements are attached. See the NIOSH
Approval label included in the air-purifying element packaging for a list of the approved
components, or check with your Safety Director or Industrial Hygienist or North Safety
Products Customer Service in the United States at 1-800-430-4110 or 1-401-943-4400.
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2.3 ASSEMBLING THE RESPIRATOR
If using the Back Pack Accessory, assemble the respirator facepiece by screwing the breathing
tubes to the inhalation connectors mounted on the facepiece. Assemble the respirator by
screwing the two appropriate air-purifying elements onto the inhalation connectors mounted on
the facepiece, or onto the metal connectors which are located on the Back Pack mounting
plate. Check to be sure that each air-purifying element is effectively sealed against the face-
piece or against the rubber gasket attached to each metal Back Pack connector. (See Figure 3)
FIGURE 3
Attaching Air-Purifying Elements
After assembling the respirator facepiece and air-purifying elements, inspect the respirator to
make certain that the respirator has not been damaged.
3 TO PUT ON THE RESPIRATOR
The following should be performed in an area with uncontaminated air.
1) 1) Remove your eyewear (if worn), then grasp the front of the respirator with one hand
and the upper headband with your other hand. Then place the Back Pack breathing tubes
(if so equipped) over your head and the portion of the facepiece containing the exhalation
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Arespirator must be inspected by the wearer before and after each use to insure that it is
in good working condition.
CAUTION
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