6 Ways The Next Generation Of Reusable Respiratory Protection Outperforms Your Current Solution

Breathing hazardous levels of particles, gases and vapors can be harmful to the health of your workforce, posing significant safety and liability risks for your entire organization. That's why environments with airborne dangers require respiratory protection that meets the highest standards. 3M is dedicated to continuously raising this bar, which is how the next generation of reusable respiratory protection was born.

Whether you're in heavy manufacturing, metalworking, transportation, chemical handling, mining, oil, gas or another similar industry, your workforce needs and deserves the utmost in respiratory protection. The 3M Secure Click™ Half Facepiece Reusable Respirator HF-800 Series outperforms the rest with an unmatched combination of protection, comfort, breathability and simplicity. Here are six important reasons why you should consider upgrading your workforce's respiratory protection to this next-generation solution designed with smart and intuitive features.

1. Reduced Exposure to Contaminants

When it comes to reusable respirators, effective protection is paramount. There's no more fundamental feature than the mitigation of safety risks from airborne hazards. The 3M Secure Click HF-800 Series meets this requirement head on by reducing exposure to many contaminants, including a wide variety of gases and vapors.

When properly fitted and used with approved 3M Secure Click filters and/or cartridges, this air-purifying respirator is NIOSH-approved and has an OSHA assigned protection factor (APF) of 10. It helps provide respiratory protection for concentrations up to 10 times the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL).

2. Enhanced Breathability

Your workforce is hard at work, so the ability to breathe freely and comfortably is a top priority. That's why this critical requirement has been integrated into the design of the 3M Secure Click HF-800 Series.

The Secure Click cartridges are dual-flow to allow easier breathing. Two dual-flow cartridges on each respirator combine to create the world's first quad-flow cartridge system with four airflow paths. Plus, the exhalation valve helps direct exhaled breath and moisture downward, affording wearers greater breathability.

3. Improved Comfort, Communication & Compatibility

Especially for workers who may be wearing their respiratory protection for long hours, comfort is key. And you always want to support effective communication when facepieces are solidly in place. The 3M Secure Click HF-800 Series has a silicone flex-joint faceseal that provides a softer feel for more comfort on the wearer's face. It is also designed with a speaking diaphragm to facilitate easier communication for users while they are working.

This series' low profile with a swept back filter/cartridge design offers compatibility with certain welding and grinding shields. And the head cradle is designed for customization to hard hats and eyewear on different faces. Users simply adjust the head cradle to position the buckle higher or lower:

  • Make the head cradle bigger by moving pin locks to a wider position, which drops the blue buckle lower to fall under the eyewear bar.
  • Make the head cradle smaller by moving the pin locks to a narrower position, which pulls the blue buckle higher to clear the eyewear bar.

4. A More Confident Fit & Installation

Your workers should have a reliable way to confirm that their respiratory protection is being worn properly so they can be confident that it's protecting them to the fullest extent.

The push button seal check on the 3M Secure Click HF-800 Series allows the user to conduct a negative pressure seal check prior to each use. This quick, easy, one-touch seal check enables wearers to feel highly confident in the respirator's fit.

Simple pressure seal checks are performed as follows:

  • Positive Pressure Seal Check: Cover the opening of the exhalation valve cover with your hand and exhale gently. If the facepiece bulges slightly and no air leaks are detected between your face and facepiece, a proper seal has been obtained.
  • Negative Pressure Seal Check: Lightly press the seal check button until you feel resistance. Hold the button in this position and inhale gently. If you feel the facepiece collapse slightly and pull closer to your face with no leaks between the face and facepiece, a proper seal has been obtained.
  • If any faceseal air leakage is detected, the user should simply reposition the respirator on their face and/or readjust tension of the straps to eliminate air leakage. Then repeat the user seal check until a proper seal is obtained.

Additionally, the Secure Click style enables a quick, simple connection of the filters and/or cartridges. Users can simply align the connections on the facepiece and cartridge and/or filter, and push into place until they hear a click. The innovative Secure Click connection provides wearers with added confidence that filters and cartridges are installed properly.

5. Greater Ease & Simplicity

Reusable respiratory protection that's difficult to put on and maneuver isn't an effective solution for your workforce. Rely on the innovative design of the 3M Secure Click HF-800 Series to make the effort quick and simple. Its head cradle buckles are easy to use with two-way adjustability: pull straps to tighten, and squeeze the buckle wings to loosen.

Here's what proper application of the half facepiece looks like:

  • Adjust head cradle, as needed, to fit comfortably on your head. Place the respirator over your mouth and nose, then pull the head harness over the crown of the head.
  • Grasp the straps, place them at the back of the neck and hook them together.
  • Pull the ends of the head cradle straps to adjust tightness.
  • Pull the ends of neck straps to adjust tightness. Neck strap tension may be decreased by pushing out on the back side of the buckles. Straps should feel secure but not over-tight.
  • Head harness strap tension may be decreased by squeezing the buckle tabs on the harness. Straps should feel secure but not over-tight.

6. Maximized Durability & Innovation

Last, but not least, it's important to opt for reusable respiratory protection that's built to last. The advanced silicone faceseal material of the 3M Secure Click HF-800 Series offers increased durability for extended facepiece life.

Know that every single piece in this collection is newly innovated with next-generation design, including:

  • The half facepiece
  • G&V cartridges
  • Combination cartridges
  • Replaceable filter and retainer
  • Particulate filters

If you are currently using a 3M respirator with a bayonet connection, check out this guide for conversion suggestions to help you transition to 3M Secure Click.

For detailed information about how this new line of 3M offerings can support your workplace's respiratory protection efforts, visit our product page or reach out to our team of experts.