Putting the hot air about respirators to the test

3M develops cool respirator with your comfort in mind.

Until now the usual way for wearers or specifiers to determine how hot a respirator feels on the face (one of the key aspects of wearer comfort) has been to buy and wear it.

By devising a test that can accurately capture temperature data, 3M is now enabling you to make a quick, educated choice ahead of purchase. This test measures the temperature inside the respirator to simulate user experience.

The test, developed internally by 3M, is performed using a breathing machine. With sophisticated sensors, it tracks the temperature in the space between a respirator and a mannequin head specifically adapted to mimic human breathing (by supplying humidified warm air similar to exhaled breath in temperature and humidity).

The test protocol, data generation, and conclusions were reviewed and approved by an expert from the University of Minnesota.