Bought a Gas Mask

[Nabalfodrows]

So I picked up a Spikes 37mm launcher and a few CS canisters for it. Figured a gas mask was a good idea, so I picked up this one and a couple filters:

https://www.zoro.com/honeywell-survivair-opti-fit-tm-tactical-m-763000/i/G4278486/

Some of you may think it's overboard; nevertheless, it isn't an inconvenience to me to have it available, so why not? CS can be an excellent tool.

Also, we just got a pepperball gun and no one here has a mask, so I'll be the one to be doing the pepperballing for force cells :thumbup:

[barnetmill]

Normally respirators come in different sizes and one must make sure it fits. If you wear glasses you may need to change your eye wear. There are many types of filters. Make your have the correct ones and that they are stored properly. Once they are open there may be a limited life time to them. Some patters of facial hair are not compatible and some respirators are easier to use with shoulder arms than others.

[barnetmill]

I should keep one on hand with viable filters. I live within what people call the donut of death for a former air products plant that is under new ownership that has large ammonia storage tanks. I have a respirator that I was fit tested for many years ago, but I do not even know where it is at the moment.
If you live near railroad tracks there can be chemical spills from derailments; so there is that issue for some people.

[Ansbach]

You also want to test the mask somehow for a tight fit and that it was properly assembled. Not just the old block-the-intake-and-breath-deep-test. I went into a test chamber with a flat component (a voice emitter) reversed once, everything checked out until I was in that room full of CS.

Some hospitals test respirators using a hood over your head and spray a super-sweet aerosol in it so if you taste or smell it, you need to make an adjustment. But cooking some curry or other strong smelling food would probably work well enough as a test, since you are projecting the irritant instead of standing in a room full of it.

[Mark Hatfield]

Many masks have valves (small membranes) which need to be replaced as they age. Check yours. Also be certain that the filter(s) are the correct type for your purposes and that they are still good. A derivative of banana oil is used for fit tests.

[Nabalfodrows]

Thanks for the suggestions, all! I was able to use it today while disposing of a large trash bin filled with pepperball dust/agent. The people around me felt the effect (hacking, wheezing, burning eyes/skin, etc.), but I was fine. The mask fits well and appears to be put together correctly. I have a nice field of view in comparison to the gas masks I'm currently issued with the military. It has three different places to put a canister, and I have elected to keep it in the front as opposed to the sides. I also noticed that the canister has a shelf life until Feb. 2027! As for replacing the membranes, I have sent an email to the company requesting the proper part numbers for purchase, thank you.

I don't think I need to test it further, but am now looking at the full CBRN model.

[barnetmill]

Thanks for the suggestions, all! I was able to use it today while disposing of a large trash bin filled with pepperball dust/agent......
.....
Reminded me of a story.
Someone I know that does hazardous waste work locally was once offered a job to clean up an apartment that was part of a complex. The local LEOs had given it a generous application of CS gas, like more than 20 canisters or however they put that CS mixture into one apartment before they got it cleared and the complex was not habitable afterwards. He referred the job to another business. Point was that agent was really quite potent and people elsewhere in that complex were having problems afterwards.

[barnetmill]

You also want to test the mask somehow for a tight fit and that it was properly assembled. Not just the old block-the-intake-and-breath-deep-test. I went into a test chamber with a flat component (a voice emitter) reversed once, everything checked out until I was in that room full of CS.

Some hospitals test respirators using a hood over your head and spray a super-sweet aerosol in it so if you taste or smell it, you need to make an adjustment. But cooking some curry or other strong smelling food would probably work well enough as a test, since you are projecting the irritant instead of standing in a room full of it.
When I was in that business they used an irritating cough causing agent. IIRC You are suppose move your head and face about and do some deep breathing. You start to cough and you know it was not working. I think we used a hood. An occupational medical exam would say if you were physically fit to wear a respirator. Respirators are not to be used in IDHL
The term immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) is defined by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as exposure to airborne contaminants that is "likely to cause death or immediate or delayed permanent adverse health effects or prevent escape from such an environment."
I might use one for escape purposes when there was nothing else, but I would not voluntarily enter such an environment with one. If the area has no oxygen a filtering mask will not help you and some method for supplied air is required. For example if explosives are set off in a confined area it is possible if one enters right afterwards there might be a lack oxygen there until the air exchanges with the outside.