Hey guys,

After watching all of the 9/11 coverage today and seeing almost 1/2 of NYC choke to death as they fled the scene, out of no where I'd see regular civilians with heavy duty respirator masks and thought wow, somebody did some homework and stockpiled.

So my question to all of you is I need personal masks to protect my family in the event of some type of chemical accident with toxic fumes, a major crippling weather dust event, or at the extreme a chemical attack.  

Any recommendations for masks that will protect my family from the above as we flee to safety?  Links to purchase would be helpful plus any personal experience with this equipment that you guys can provide.  Just trying to cover one more base.

I will take a crack at it.
Looks like you are looking for 3 different masks:

1. 3M N95 Respirator masks are good to have around.
   Mostly this is a dust mask.
   I live out in the country and wear one when I am mowing (lots of dust where I live), or  sanding, working with insulation/drywall, etc.
   I believe they would also be good for swine/bird flu, etc.
   I buy mine at Home Depot

2.  3M Tekk Protection Paint -or- MSA Safety Works Respirator
    I use these when painting or staining or working with harsh chemicals.
    This mask will give you some protection against some harmful vapors.
    They do not provide any eye protection.
    Again, Home Depot - 3M -or- MSA

2a. - Something like this
        will give you more protection and is probably one step down from a military gas mask.

3. Military gas mask
   This last class, I do not really have in my preps.
   I may add it someday, but I think a bird flu pandemic is more likely than a chemical attack.
   If you are subjected to a chemical attack, by the time you know you need this mask, it's probably too late.
   Plus, unless you have a chemical protective suit on, the mask alone will not protect from a lot of chemical agents. (Some can be absorbed through your skin)
   There are lots of places to buy them, they are usually expensive for good (effective) ones.
   Buying cheap, old surplus masks (i.e. M10, M17, etc) is not going to be much better than the other masks listed above.
   If you do go this route, buy something current with standard (40mm) screw on filters.

There are probably people out there with better suggestions and more knowledge, but this is what I have and plan for.

ETA: You asked for experiences....   Military gas masks are HOT.
and don't get me started on the chemical protective suits.

Just get a good quality industrial respirator with a "multigas" plus P100 filter.  "Multigas" would be something rated for organic vapors, acid gasses, chlorine, and ammonia, in addition to the P100 particulate filter.  MSA designation would be "GME-P100" for example.  A "CBRN" rated filter would give you a longer working time in a chemically contaminated environment, but CBRN rated stuff tends to be very expensive - much cheaper to just get some spare filters.

Here are some brands to look at:
Scott Safety (Micronel, SEA, Kemira, SafetyTech Intl are all the same OEM)  full face, half masks, filters
Mine Safety Appliance (MSA) full face, half mask, CBRN
3M here and here
Draeger here

What I use most often for a full face mask is a Scott Pro 2000 mask, as the fit and comfort for me are both excellent.  They use a standard 40mm threaded filter just like military masks so lots of filters are available.  For a half-mask, I normally use the inexpensive MSA Advantage 200;  the MSA comfo elite fits better, but filters are less commonly available.

MSA makes a lot of good stuff but their "hycar" rubber formulation just has a really noxious odor to it and I detest wearing the hycar rubber masks.  The silicone stuff is fine though.

Military masks are usually either surplussed (read: damaged, old, unreliable) or exceptionally expensive when available new for commercial sale.  Contrary to common perception, there is nothing specially protective about the military masks beyond what the industrial ones will do, the industrial ones tend to have much better visibility because of the larger panoramic type lenses.  I'd rather have a new MSA Advantage full face mask off of ebay than a similarly priced surplus military mask, and I'm confident it would offer better protection.  The protection is mostly in the fit and the filters anyway.

I don't even bother with "dust masks" or the N95 types, an Advantage 200 with the low profile P100 filters is very light, seals up a lot better, and doesn't build up heat and moisture in the mask.

For filters you want something that is reasonably new/fresh, fits the masks (obviously), and is rated for all the common hazards.

Be aware that the phrase "gas mask" has a specific usage in industrial respirators which is not the same as the military use of the term "gas mask".  You do not need or want an industrial "gas mask".

Don't forget that you need to fit test a respirator.  There are different sizes and shapes.  One that does not fit you is worthless.

I carry N95 masks in all my kits and in multiple locations.  Cheap effective insurance.

Speaking from experience, I tested and fitted a mask today which failed me 15 minutes later.  DO NOT buy a used mask if you decide to go CBRN.  There is no real way to know 100% your mask will work until you enter a contaminated environment.  This is not something to skimp on.

If you're talking about heavy dust, like was generated when the buildings came down there's not much in the way of a mask that will last you very long.  The filter cartridges will become clogged pretty quickly, to the point that you won't be able to suck air through them.

It's also hard to plan exactly what you might want them for since certain things need different cartridges.  Personally, unless you suspect a specific contaminant, I think your best bet is to have some decent, cheap dust masks with the exhalation port.  Or at most an inexpensive half face with some dust, smoke, organic vapor cartridges.

But like was mentioned above, make sure it fits before hand.  And if you do go with a respirator get extra filter cartridges.

I have a CBRN mask, but I subscribe to the "the only ____ that matters is the one you have with you" logic, and I'm not keeping my CBRN mask in my car bag.

I will, however, keep some of these around.



They lay flat and as such are not prone to crushing like the preformed "dome" n95 masks, and they have a respirator flap that works pretty well.

They are also individually wrapped, which is nice.

At $15 for a 10 pack, there's really not reason not to have some.

Some good advice in this thread.  I'll just add that when you buy a mask or masks and filters you need to figure out what type of threats your trying to defeat, a copy of the NIOSH and ERG is helpful.  Also an understanding of different chemicals and what methods that they can access your body and if they are heavier than air or lighter is critical.  A mask and filter is great, but if you don't know what your mask will protect you from or how that chemical acts your liable to end up dead and not know why.


Some critical things to think about:  What particle size or range are you expecting?  Are you buying the mask for escape, or for extended operation in a contaminated zone?  How long are your filters good for once opened?  Once exposed to a contaminant?  What other types of PPE is required beyond just a mask to protect you?


ETA:  If your buying surplus or military type CBRN protective equipment you need to carefully research what it protects against.  Your standard M40 pro mask and filter will protect you against the full range of military grade chemical contaminants, but it will do you almost no good against chlorine gas.  Industrial chemicals and gasses are a different animal entirely from military grade chemicals, there is some overlap in the protection but unless you buy an SCBA there isn't really a one size fits all mask or filter (more the filter than the mask).

Those are a terrific value.

One thing to remember is a function of masks is to keep your filthy, contaminated hands away from your mouth and nose.  Think about it - even the cheapest, crappiest mask will help with this.  And they keep you from spraying your virus and bacteria laden sputum all over the neighborhood.

The take home message is that you need different masks for different needs depending on the threat.  No one mask can do it all and you need to decide what the most likely threat is.  That is particulate and biologicals hence the above mask is nearly ideal.

I debunked this in a previous thread... the 3M C2A1 cartridge and M40 mask combo is NIOSH approved for chlorine gas.  Most military stuff is never submitted for NIOSH testing since its not offered for commercial sale so there's no reason to spend the money on the approvals, but 3M wanted to go after first responder sales so they got them.

The premise that chlorine would not be protected against is almost preposterous, chlorine is one of the oldest and easiest chemical warfare agents.  Many of the WWI era chemical warfare agents are simple industrial chemicals like hydrogen cyanide, newer nerve agents are chemically similar to agricultural pesticides.

The common chemical hazard that some military filters don't offer much protection from is the ammonia group.  This was common years ago, but today there are available filters that protect against a tremendous spectrum of chemical hazards, at least to a degree that would allow enough time for escape from the hazard.  The C2A1 military filter isn't rated for ammonia, but "CBRN" filters sold for first responder and domestic preparedness like the 3M FR-15 are. There are european CE approved multipurpose filters that cover a full range of chemical hazards as well as mercury vapor, nitrogen oxides, and even carbon monoxide. See: Draeger filters.

Consider where you live and work.  if there is no interstate or major highway or backbone railroad within 1/2 mile, and if you aren't on the road connecting the local waterworks or chemical plant with the highway, the odds of you needing a mask for an accident are extremely slim.  As far as a bombing, that again is knowable.  While terrorists could target the 7-11 in Hahira, Ga, they are just as likely to target the one in Newton, NC, or one of a billion other low value targets that they have never tried to hit outside Israel.  Now if you are in an earthquake zone, thats a different animal, a N-95 mask (several actually) could be very useful there.  If there was some pandemic (natural or bioterrorism), there would be some value there. And they are damn nice around the home and farm.

Unless you work in some high value target, the odds of needing a CBRN mask are so small as to be non existent.  The only people I have seen who carry CBRN protection with them are the USSS, The US Capital Police, DSS,  and the WMATA (DC subway) police. ( I'm excluding industrial threats, such as chemical weapons depots, of course)  Other first responders only carry it with them in vehicles based on the likelihood of responding to an incident, not it happening arround them. My employer operates a number of high value targets, and we used to keep MOPP gear (including auto injectors and CANA), now we've switched to PAPRs with hoods.  The guards have mask style PAPRs, but no one carries them with them.

There might be some post SHTF logic to having the masks to protect against tear gas and OC.

BTW, I have a complete MOPP suit/gear assigned to me (plus I've been to the training at the old Ft McCellan), but I don't bother to keep it at the house, because I don't see the benefit.  If I worked on Wall Street, or had my office in DC, it would be there.  Hell, if I rode the subway in DC everyday, I'd consider one of those 5 minute escape masks.  But for typical Americans like me, I don't think it's worth it.

I'll have to take a look at the links later, but as far as I've been able to find in the regs its only rated with chlorine as "for escape only".

I will say that the primary concern with chlorine at least in the situations were we have encountered it was that since its heavier than air that soldiers would find themselves in an enviroment were the chlorine had displace the oxygen (buildings or low lying areas).    Believe me we've gone round and round the horn on this one at the school house and with the tech escort guys.  An M40 is not the preferred method of dealing with the chlorine at least from a military standpoint, an SCBA is what is recommended.

ETA:  Missed it the first time, your right that specific filters can be fitted to the mask to protect against other contaminants.  I was speaking in general terms as to what your average soldier is issued, in response to the idea of buying military surplus or military grade filters.  The big takeaway is to do your homework on the filter you buy and know what it protects against and what it does not.

What about smoke? Are any of these even moderately effective in filtering smoke?