Technical Bulletin
July, 2020
Inspection, Cleaning and Storage Procedures for 3M™ Versaflo™
M-Series Headgear Assemblies
Introduction
The 3M™ Versaflo™ M-Series Headgear are designed to be used with certain 3M breathing tubes and air sources to form a
complete respirator system.Occupational use of respirators must be in compliance with applicable health and safety
standards. By United States regulation employers must establish a written respirator protection program meeting the
requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Respiratory Protection standard 29 CFR
1910.134 and any applicable OSHA substance specific standards. OSHA 1910.134 states that employers shall ensure that
respirators are inspected, cleaned, and properly stored.This Technical Bulletin will review the 3M suggested cleaning
procedures as well as inspection and storage guidelines. Refer to the M- Series Headgear User Instructions as well as the
User Instructions for your specific air source for proper assembly, use and limitations of your specific respirator system.
Inspection
The 3M™ M-Series Headgear must be inspected before each use to ensure good operating condition. Inspect entire
headgear for signs of damage or wear including dents, rips, cracks, color changes, chalking, fading, flaking and penetration.
Carefully inspect all headgear components including the following. If any signs of wear and/or damage are discovered
during the inspection, remove the headgear from use and service or replace as appropriate. Failure to do so may affect
respirator performance and reduce the degree of protection provided. Consult the M-Series Headgear User Instructionsfor
information on available spare parts.
Visor and visor frame
• Look for scratches or other visual distortions that could make it difficult to see through the visor.
• Look for signs that the visor has warped or cracked. A warped visor may not fit properly into the headgear and on the
M-400 series may not seal against the jaw.
• Ensure the visor stays firmly in the up (open) and down (closed) positions.
• Ensure visor buttons are present, firmly secured, and flush to the visor frame.
• Examine the visor gasket for tears or other damage. Gasket should be pliable and not brittle.
• Ensure the visor gasket makes contact with the headgear shell when the visor is the closed position.
Head suspension
• Look for cracks, rips, fading, or other damage.
• Ensure head suspension ratchet operates properly.
• Inspect the web straps for rips, tears, fraying, or fading.
• Look for worn stitching.
• Ensure straps are properly attached.
Faceseal or inner/outer shroud
• Look for tears, holes, stretched elastic, gaps in seams, damage to stitching or other damage.
• Examine the gasket for tears or other damage.
• The gasket should be pliable and not brittle.
• Ensure faceseal or inner and outer shroud is securely and properly attached.
• Inspect the zipper of the inner shroud and ensure it is completely attached to the outer shroud.
3M Personal Safety Division
Headgear shell
• Look for visible damage including dents, cracks, color change, chalking or fading.
• Any M-300/M-400 headgear subjected to severe impact should be removed from service and replaced even if
damage is not readily apparent.
Forehead seals
• Ensure they are properly and securely attached and are free from damage including rips, tears, and holes.
Inspect date codes on sticker located inside helmet shell and ensure helmet assembly has not exceeded the recommended
maximum life. The “in use” or “operational” life will vary with frequency and conditions of use. Headgear subjected to more
wear and tear or use outdoors in direct sunlight may need to be replaced more frequently than headgear used indoors. Any
headgear showing signs of damage should be removed from use and serviced or replaced as appropriate. 3M recommends
a maximum life of 5 years from the date of manufacture.
Cleaning
The M-series headgear should be cleaned regularly. Follow the hygiene practices established by your employer for the
specific contaminants to which the respirator assembly has been exposed.
A clean cloth, sponge or soft brush dampened with a mild solution of soapy water may be used to wipe down the M-series
visors, headgear shells, head suspensions (including the webbing), and all other plastic parts. Rinse with clean water. Washing
temperature should not exceed 120 ºF (49 ºC). Air dry all parts inside and out thoroughly before storage or reuse.
The comfort pad/sweat pad (M- 957) may be hand washed or laundered with a solution of soapy water.
Commercial respirator washers and driers
The M-Series Headgear may be washed in a commercial respirator washer and dryer. 3M washed a small number of M-Series
samples in a washer (Georgia Steel model GS1200) and dried them in a dryer (Georgia Steel model GS3000).
The wash agents used in the washer were as follows:
• Detergent: FK270-G low foam detergent
• Disinfecting agent: FG350
• Rinse aide: RP355
Samples were partially dissembled for washing. The visor frame and suspensions (including the webbing) were removed and
placed separately in the washer and dryer. Faceseals and/or shrouds were removed and were NOT washed and dried as part
of this test. See page 5 of this bulletin for information on cleaning faceseals and/or shrouds.
All samples were cycled through the washer and then dried (20 min at 120 ºF, 49 ºC) 52 times. Every 10th cycle the
product was reassembled and an inspection and qualitative assessment of general function was performed.
After 52 cycles, the M-Series Headgear was not significantly affected. Users choosing to clean the M-Series Headgear in a
respirator washer and dryer should thoroughly inspect the headgear following the cleaning cycle before storage and next
use and replace any damaged components. For a listing of available spare parts, consult the M-Series Headgear User
Instructions.
2
3M Personal Safety Division
Cleaning with solvents
Cleaning with solvents can cause damage to plastic components including cracking, crazing, fogging, fading, and decreased
strength and capability to withstand impact and penetration. In order to determine the effect of cleaning with solvents and
cleaners on the M-Series Headgear, 3M wiped a small number of visors and M- 300/400 headgear shells with a limited
number of materials and examined them for signs of damage and changes in performance.
The materials used are listed in Table 1. Two controls were used in the testing. The first control samples were not wiped with
any materials. The second control samples were wiped with soap and water.
Each headgear shell sample was wiped 200 consecutive times in a laboratory fume hood with one of the test materials
using a rag dipped in the test material such that is was wet but not dripping.Visors were wiped 100 consecutive times.
Minimal force was used during wiping. The samples were allowed to air dry completely after the last wipe.
Wiped samples were visually inspected for signs of damage such as cracking, crazing, fogging, and hazing. Following visual
inspection, the capability of the samples to withstand impact and penetration were evaluated by testing them against elements
of their relevant performance regulation(s) for eye and face protection or head protection. The objective of this testing was
not to show compliance to the regulation, but rather to gauge a significant decrease in performance when compared to the
control samples.
The results of the testing are summarized in Table 1.
• M-300/400 Headgear shell: Wiped samples performed similar to the controls in the impact and penetration testing.
There was no significant decrease in performance. Two of the chemicals, acetone and methyl ethyl ketone caused a
visual color change to the shell.
• Standard visor (M-925): Two of the test materials, acetone and methyl ethyl ketone, caused fogging of the visor. Wiped
samples performed similar to the controls in the impact testing. There was no significant decrease in performance.
• Hard coated visor (M- 927): None of the test materials caused any visual damage. Wiped samples performed similar to
the controls in the impact testing for most of the substances, however as noted in Table 1, visors wiped with acetone,
3M Citrus Cleaner, and 3M 504 Respirator Wipes exhibited decreased performance. In the case of acetone and the
Citrus Cleaner, there was a significant decrease in the ability of the visor to withstand impact. Some samples wiped with
the 504 respirator wipes exhibited some minor cracking that did not occur in the control samples.
The preferred method for routine cleaning of the M- Series Headgear is with soap and water followed by a bleach and water
wipe down if needed to help sanitize the headgear. If the M-300/400 Headgear shell or M-Series visors become
contaminated with dirt, debris, paint overspray, or other substances that cannot be removed with soap and water, Table 1 can
be used as a guide for selecting alternate cleaning agents for use on a limited basis. Routine cleaning of plastic components
with solvents or more aggressive materials can gradually cause plastics to weaken and lessen its ability to withstand impact.
Users should thoroughly inspect the headgear following the cleaning cycle, looking for signs of cracking, fading, fogging, and
other visual changes or damage before storage and next use and replace any damaged components.
3
3M Personal Safety Division
To help prevent build-up of paint overspray or other contamination on visors, 3M recommends use of the visor peels offs
(M-926 or M-928). To help keep the headgear shell clean, 3M recommends the headgear cover (M-972) or head, neck, and
shoulder cover (M-976).
M-300/400
Headgear
Sample
Test Material Visual
Acetone Color change No significant
Ethanol None
Isopropyl
Alcohol
Methyl Ethyl
Ketone
Mineral Spirits None
Shells
Change Impact/Penet
detected
None
detected
Color change No significant
detected
M-300/400
Headgear
Shells
ration Testing
effect on
performance
No significant
effect on
performance
No significant
effect on
performance
effect on
performance
No significant
effect on
performance
M-925
Standard
Polycarbonate
Visor
Visual
Change Impact/Penet
Fogging No significant
None
detected
None
detected*
Fogging No significant
None
detected
M-925
Standard
Polycarbonate
Visor
ration Testing
effect on
performance
No significant
effect on
performance
No significant
effect on
performance
effect on
performance
No significant
effect on
performance
M-927 Hard
Coated
Polycarbonate
Visor
Visual
Change Impact/Penet
None
detected*
None
detected
None
detected*
None
detected*
None
detected
M-927 Hard
Coated
Polycarbonate
Visor
ration Testing
Decrease in
performance*
**
No significant
effect on
performance
No significant
effect on
performance
No significant
effect on
performance
No significant
effect on
performance
3M 504
Respirator
Wipes
3M Citrus
Cleaner
Bleach (0.5%) None
Soap and
Water
(control)
None
detected
None
detected*
detected
None
detected
No significant
effect on
performance
No significant
effect on
performance
No significant
effect on
performance
No significant
effect on
performance
None
detected
None
detected*
None
detected
None
detected
No significant
effect on
performance
No significant
effect on
performance
No significant
effect on
performance
No significant
effect on
performance
None
detected
None
detected*
None
detected
None
detected
*While no damage was observed, the test material did leave a residue.
**Minor cracking exhibited in some samples that did not occur in control samples.
***Significant decrease in performance and capability of the visor wo withstand impact.
4
Decrease in
performance*
*
Decrease in
performance*
**
No significant
effect on
performance
No significant
effect on
performance
3M Personal Safety Division
Cleaning fabric components
Certain faceseals, headgear cover, and head neck and shoulder cover are intended to be disposable. Cleaning the flame
resistant faceseal (M- 937) or Headgear Cover (M- 972) may result in a loss of flame resistant properties. The
recommendation for cleaning other faceseals and shrouds depends on the specific faceseal or shroud being used.
• M-935 Standard Faceseal:This faceseal is generally considered to be disposable and should be replaced when worn,
damaged or soiled. A clean cloth or sponge dampened with a mild solution of water and liquid household soap may be
used to gently wipe down the surface and the shroud gasket. Thoroughly air dry before storage. Inspect closely before
reuse.
• M-936 Comfort Faceseal: A clean cloth or sponge dampened with a mild solution of water and liquid household soap
may be used to gently wipe down the surface and the shroud gasket. Do not use chlorine bleach or fabric conditioners.
Thoroughly air dry before storage. Inspect closely before reuse. Dispose of when worn or damaged.
• M-445 Standard Outer Shroud: This shroud is generally considered to be disposable and should be replaced when
worn, damaged or soiled. A clean cloth or sponge dampened with a mild solution of water and liquid household soap
may be used to gently wipe down the outer surfaces and the shroud gasket. Thoroughly air dry before storage. Inspect
closely before reuse.
• M-446 Comfort Outer Shroud: A clean cloth or sponge dampened with a mild solution of water and liquid household
soap may be used to gently wipe down the outer surface and the shroud gasket. Shroud may also be gently hand
washed or laundered at low temperature with mild detergent. Do not use chlorine bleach or fabric conditioners.
Washing temperature should not exceed 104 ºF (40 ºC). Thoroughly air dry before storage. Inspect closely before reuse.
Dispose of when worn or damaged.
• M-447 Flame Resistant Outer Shroud: This shroud is made from Nomex® IIIA fabric which is inherently flame resistant.
It may be hand washed or laundered in warm water with a mild detergent. Wash shroud separately from any other
fabrics to prevent contamination with lint from flammable fibers. Do not use chlorine bleach or soaps. Soap scum may
be flammable and could adversely affect the thermal protective performance of the material. Thoroughly air dry or dry
on low setting before storage. Inspect closely before reuse. Dispose of when worn or damaged.
• M-448 High Durability Outer Shroud: This shroud is made from Cordura® Nylon. It may be hand washed or laundered
at low temperature with mild detergent. Do not use chlorine bleach. Thoroughly air dry or dry on low setting before
storage. Inspect closely before reuse. Dispose of when worn or damaged.
• M-449 Leather Shroud: A soft bristled brush may be used to wipe off any debris on the outer surface. Shroud may be
wiped down with a damp cloth. Inspect closely before reuse. Dispose of when worn or damaged.
• M-444 Inner Collar: Hand wash or launder at low temperature with mild detergent. Washing temperature should not
exceed 104 ºF (40 ºC). Do not use chlorine bleach or fabric conditioners. Thoroughly air dry before storage. Inspect
closely before reuse. Dispose of when worn or damaged.
Storage/Disposal
Store headgear in a clean area that is protected from contamination, damage, dirt, debris, product distortion, and direct
sunlight or other sources of ultra-violet (UV) light. Do not store next to furnaces, ovens, or other sources of high heat. Do not
store outside the recommended storage temperature conditions (see Specifications Section) or above 90% humidity. Dispose
of product according to local regulations. Prior to first use the product should be stored unopened in its original package in
accordance with the recommended storage conditions.
Personal Safety Division
3M Center, Building 235-2W-70
St. Paul, MN 55144-1000
3M PSD products are
occupational use only.
In United States of America
Technical Service: 1-800-243-4630
Customer Service:
3M.com/workersafety
In Canada
Technical Service:
Customer Service:
3M.ca/Safety
1-800-328-1667
1-800-267-4414
1-800-364-3577
© 3M 2020. All rights reserved.
3M is a trademark of 3M Company and its affiliates.
Used under license in Canada. All other trademarks
are property of their respective owners.
Please recycle.
Loading...