3M 2096 P100 Filter Testing

3M 2096 P100 Filter Testing

This video demonstrates some testing that we performed using the 3M 6800 Full Face Mask Respirator. We tested the 3M 2096 P100 filter. The mask is tested using a custom setup. We took a mannequin head and drilled three holes and placed plastic tubes through the head to measure air from different areas. One tube goes to the forehead. One hole goes to the mouth. One hole goes to the nose. The forehead and nose holes are used to sample air in different compartments. With this mask we only used the nose sampling tube. This air goes to a four part manifold which allows the air to be measured by the PCE particle counter. The mouth hole is connected to a tube which will allow us to eventually simulate breathing. We are still working on this part of the set up. The four sections manifold allows sampling of the ambient air and also to flush the manifold with filtered air using a ventilator filter for filtration. The PCE particle counter measures particles as small as 0.3 microns. A micron is 1/1000 of a millimeter.

The one downside to this mask is that the exhalation port is not filtered. If you are an asymptomatic carrier of COVID-19 you can spread the virus with this mask. There is also no voice diaphragm which makes talking somewhat difficult. The mask itself is quite comfortable and the seal is made of nice soft rubber like material.

Based on the measurements we made, this mask should work against COVID-19. Nonetheless, this mask was not designed for biologic particles and caution should be used when using this device for this purpose. The filter worked well at 99.96% filtration efficiency.

One warning I wrote to 3M and they recommended only buying directly from authorized distributors in US. I quote: "3M recommends that customers in the United States avoid and refrain from purchasing 3M personal protective equipment from sources outside the United States, particularly from sources advertising on online marketplace platforms. We recommend purchasing through your normal 3M Authorized Distributor in the US."

They do have an email for COVID-19 fraud: [email protected].

This is the 3M website for COVID fraud.
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/worker-he...

This is the link to the mask at 3M official website.
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-u...

This is the website for PCE.
https://www.pce-instruments.com/us/

This is the CDC guide to filters.
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/96-101/

We use this particle counter from PCE for the testing device.
https://www.pce-instruments.com/us/me...

These are some videos from the company.
   / @pceinstrumentsuspceamerica6624  

This is another mask we tested from Honeywell.
   • 5400 Honeywell Full Face Mask with P1...  

This is the company who provided this filter for testing. They gave us of some filters which had packaging damage and could not be sold.
https://aabaco.com/