3M Versaflo Technical Bulletin

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.

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