MSA vs Honeywell North Respirator Cartridges: Complete Comparison (2026)
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Quick Answer
MSA offers two distinct cartridge platforms (Comfo threaded-bayonet and Advantage snap-on) with a focused lineup of OV, combination, and CBRN/specialty options. Honeywell North runs a single bayonet platform across its 7700/5500 half-masks and 5400/7600 full-face respirators, with a broader range of individual gas-specific cartridges. If your program already uses MSA facepieces, stay MSA. If you're starting fresh and need maximum cartridge variety — especially acid-gas splits or multi-contaminant options — Honeywell North's ecosystem is slightly wider. Neither brand crosses over to the other.
At-a-Glance Comparison
| Feature | MSA (Comfo Platform) | MSA (Advantage Platform) | Honeywell North |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attachment type | Threaded bayonet | Snap-on | Bayonet (twist-lock) |
| Compatible facepieces | Comfo Classic, Comfo II, Ultra-Twin, Ultra Elite | Advantage 200 LS, 420, 1000, 3000, 4000 | 7700/5500 half-masks, 5400/7600 full-face |
| Cross-compatibility | MSA Comfo ≠ MSA Advantage (not interchangeable) | All North facepieces above share one cartridge family | |
| OV-only option | Yes (GMA cartridge) | Yes (GMA cartridge) | Yes (N75001L) |
| OV/P100 combination | Yes (GMA-P100) | Yes (GMA-P100 – 815362) | Yes (7580P100) |
| Multi-contaminant | Yes (GME-P100) | Limited | Yes (75SCP100L) |
| Acid-gas-only | No standalone | No standalone | Yes (N75002L) |
| Mercury vapor | Yes (GME-P100) | No | Yes (75SCP100L multi) |
| Pack format | Single pair or 2-pack | 2-pack standard | Single pair / box-of-4 |
| Typical price per pair | $18–$32 | $18–$28 | $14–$36 |
| NIOSH approval | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Platform Architecture: What You Need to Know Before Buying
The single most important fact when comparing MSA and Honeywell North cartridges is that cartridges are 100% platform-locked. There is no cross-compatibility between brands, and within MSA, there is no compatibility between the Comfo and Advantage platforms. Before selecting a cartridge, you must know which facepiece your team uses — every other decision flows from that.
MSA Comfo Platform
The Comfo line uses a threaded bayonet attachment. Compatible facepieces: Comfo Classic, Comfo II, Ultra-Twin (dual-cartridge), and Ultra Elite (full-face). The Ultra-Twin and Ultra Elite are MSA's workhorse industrial half-mask and full-face respirators, respectively. Comfo cartridges will not physically attach to any Advantage facepiece.
MSA Advantage Platform
The Advantage series uses a distinct snap-on attachment found exclusively on the Advantage 200 LS, 420, 1000, 3000, and 4000 facepieces. The snap-on design is designed for quick cartridge changes on the line. Advantage cartridges will not fit Comfo facepieces.
Honeywell North Platform
Honeywell North uses a single bayonet twist-lock system shared across its 7700 and 5500 half-masks and the 5400 and 7600 full-face respirators. This means one cartridge family covers both half-mask and full-face wearers in your program — a practical advantage for programs running mixed facepiece types on a single chemical hazard.
Critical: MSA Comfo, MSA Advantage, and Honeywell North cartridges are not interchangeable with each other or with 3M cartridges. Mixing brands voids NIOSH approval and creates a life-safety failure.
MSA Cartridge Lineup: Full Overview
Comfo Platform Cartridges
MSA's Comfo cartridge family covers the most common industrial vapor and particulate hazards encountered in manufacturing, painting, chemical handling, and emergency response.
MSA GMA-P100 Organic Vapor / Particulate Cartridge
MSA's primary combination cartridge for the Comfo platform. Provides OV/P100 protection in a single unit — organic vapor absorption with an integrated P100 particulate disc. Rated for concentrations up to OSHA PELs for common solvents when used with appropriate facepieces. Ideal for spray painting, solvent degreasing, adhesive application, and chemical handling where both vapor and aerosol/mist hazards are present.
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See the full review: MSA 815178 GMA-P100 Review
MSA GME-P100 Multi-Gas Cartridge (Comfo)
MSA's multi-contaminant Comfo cartridge. Adds acid gas protection and mercury vapor coverage to the OV/P100 base — the correct choice for industrial hygiene programs covering chlorine, hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide, or mercury-bearing processes. The GME formulation uses a layered sorbent bed distinct from the standard GMA charcoal.
Advantage Platform Cartridges
MSA Advantage GMA-P100 (815362)
The snap-on OV/P100 combination cartridge for the Advantage facepiece series. Sold in 2-packs. Functionally identical hazard coverage to the Comfo GMA-P100 — the difference is entirely in the attachment mechanism and compatible facepiece. Programs using Advantage 200 LS, 420, or 1000 half-masks for spray booth work or solvent operations should be stocking this SKU.
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See the full review: MSA 815362 Advantage GMA-P100 Review
Honeywell North Cartridge Lineup: Full Overview
Honeywell North's cartridge family for its 7700/5500 half-masks and 5400/7600 full-face respirators spans a wider range of individual-gas and combination options than MSA's current catalog. This is particularly relevant for programs with complex or multi-contaminant air monitoring results.
N75001L — Organic Vapor Cartridge
Honeywell North's OV-only cartridge. Activated charcoal sorbent, no particulate protection. Correct for pure vapor exposures — brush-applied coatings, solvent wiping, chemical storage area entry — where no aerosol or mist is generated. If spray application is involved, upgrade to the 7580P100.
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N75002L — Acid Gas Cartridge
Honeywell North's dedicated acid gas cartridge — a standalone SKU that MSA does not offer as a separate product. Covers hydrogen chloride, chlorine, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen fluoride without the OV sorbent layer. The correct cartridge for acid pickling lines, chlorination operations, or any process where the hazard is acid gas without organic vapors. Having this as a discrete product gives Honeywell North a precision advantage for programs where the exposure profile doesn't warrant a combination cartridge.
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7580P100 — OV/P100 Combination Cartridge
Honeywell North's combination OV/P100 cartridge. Directly comparable to MSA's GMA-P100 in application — spray painting, solvent-plus-mist environments. The P100 disc integrates with the OV sorbent in a single-unit cartridge. Compatible with all North 7700/5500/5400/7600 facepieces.
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75SCP100L — Multi-Contaminant / P100 Cartridge
Honeywell North's multi-contaminant cartridge. Covers organic vapors, acid gases, mercury vapor, and P100 particulates in a single unit. This is the closest Honeywell North equivalent to MSA's GME-P100. For programs with complex chemical inventories — particularly those involving mercury, chlorinated solvents, or multiple gas families — the 75SCP100L simplifies cartridge management by reducing SKU count.
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SKU Matching Table: MSA vs Honeywell North by Hazard Type
Use this table to find the equivalent cartridge across platforms when evaluating a program switch or stocking a multi-brand facility.
| Hazard Profile | MSA Comfo SKU | MSA Advantage SKU | Honeywell North SKU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organic vapors only (no aerosol) | GMA (OV only) | GMA (OV only) | N75001L |
| OV + particulate/P100 | GMA-P100 (815178) | GMA-P100 (815362) | 7580P100 |
| Acid gas only | No standalone | No standalone | N75002L |
| OV + acid gas + P100 | GME-P100 | No direct equivalent | 75SCP100L |
| Mercury vapor | GME-P100 (included) | No | 75SCP100L (included) |
| Spray painting / HVLP | GMA-P100 | GMA-P100 (815362) | 7580P100 |
| Welding fume + OV | GMA-P100 | GMA-P100 (815362) | 7580P100 |
Protection Scope Comparison
NIOSH-Approved Protection Classes
Both MSA and Honeywell North cartridges carry full NIOSH CBRN/industrial NIOSH approvals for the classes they cover. Neither brand's standard industrial cartridge line provides CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) approval — that requires specialty facepieces and cartridges outside this guide's scope.
OV (Organic Vapor): Both brands cover common industrial solvents — toluene, xylene, MEK, acetone, hexane, alcohols, and similar compounds — with their OV sorbent formulations. Service life is similar across brands under equivalent conditions; actual breakthrough timing depends on concentration, humidity, and temperature per the NIOSH service life estimation model.
P100 Particulate: Both brands' P100-rated discs meet the 99.97% minimum filtration efficiency requirement for non-oil-based and oil-based aerosols. There is no measurable performance difference between MSA and Honeywell North P100 discs for regulatory compliance purposes.
Acid Gas: Honeywell North has a stronger standalone acid-gas offering with the N75002L. MSA bundles acid gas coverage only in the multi-contaminant GME-P100 format on the Comfo platform. For Advantage platform users who need acid gas protection, this is a limitation — there is no Advantage-compatible acid-gas-only cartridge.
Specialty Options
Mercury Vapor: Both MSA (GME-P100, Comfo platform only) and Honeywell North (75SCP100L) offer mercury vapor coverage. MSA Advantage users cannot obtain mercury vapor protection through the Advantage cartridge platform. This is a meaningful constraint for chlor-alkali, lamp recycling, dental, or laboratory programs using Advantage facepieces.
Radioiodine: Neither brand's standard catalog covers radioiodine in the SKUs available through WC Safety. This application requires NIOSH-approved CBRN cartridges and falls outside standard industrial respirator programs.
Formaldehyde: Covered by both brands' multi-contaminant cartridges (MSA GME-P100, Honeywell North 75SCP100L) at standard OV breakthrough — formaldehyde is an organic vapor and adsorbed by activated charcoal. However, site-specific IH review is required when formaldehyde is the primary concern due to its low PEL.
Key Differences Between MSA and Honeywell North
1. Platform Fragmentation (MSA Only)
MSA's split between the Comfo and Advantage platforms means a facility running both facepiece types must stock two completely separate cartridge families. This increases inventory complexity and raises the risk of a wrong-cartridge installation. Honeywell North's unified platform eliminates this risk — one cartridge SKU per hazard class covers all North facepieces.
2. Acid Gas Granularity
Honeywell North offers a standalone acid gas cartridge (N75002L) that has no MSA equivalent. For programs where acid gas is the primary hazard — with no organic vapor exposure — the N75002L delivers the right protection without the cost or sorbent bed complexity of a combination cartridge. This is a genuine product coverage gap for MSA.
3. Advantage Platform Specialty Limitations
The MSA Advantage platform lacks multi-contaminant and mercury vapor cartridges. Facilities with Advantage facepieces and complex chemical inventories may find themselves either switching to Comfo facepieces or supplementing with powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) solutions for mercury or multi-gas tasks.
4. Pack Format and Acquisition Cost
MSA Advantage cartridges ship in 2-packs as standard. Honeywell North's primary SKUs are sold as single pairs or boxes of 4, depending on the SKU. For high-volume programs, per-pair acquisition cost is roughly comparable — the practical budget difference comes from whether your program buys cartridges in bulk cases or as needed.
5. Facepiece Ecosystem Depth
MSA's facepiece lineup is broader at the top — the Ultra Elite full-face is a widely specified respirator in emergency response, military, and hazmat. The Advantage series covers standard industrial half-mask use cases competently. Honeywell North's 7600 full-face and 7700 half-mask are well-regarded in industrial settings. Both are represented in large manufacturing, chemical, and contractor safety programs. Neither brand has a decisive facepiece-quality advantage for standard OSHA-compliance industrial programs.
Which to Buy: Decision Framework
| Your Situation | Recommendation | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| You already own MSA Comfo or Ultra Elite facepieces | MSA GMA-P100 or GME-P100 | Platform-locked; no alternative |
| You already own MSA Advantage facepieces | MSA Advantage GMA-P100 (815362) | Platform-locked; snap-on only |
| You already own Honeywell North 7700/5400/7600 | Honeywell North N75001L, 7580P100, or 75SCP100L | Platform-locked; bayonet only |
| Starting a new program — OV/P100 only needed | Either brand | Comparable performance; choose on facepiece preference |
| Starting a new program — acid gas is a primary hazard | Honeywell North | N75002L provides standalone acid gas not available in MSA Advantage |
| Program needs mercury vapor coverage | MSA Comfo (GME-P100) or Honeywell North (75SCP100L) | Mercury coverage unavailable on MSA Advantage platform |
| Running mixed half-mask + full-face in one program | Honeywell North | Single cartridge platform across 7700, 5400, and 7600 simplifies inventory |
| Spray painting or HVLP application | MSA GMA-P100 or HN 7580P100 (per facepiece) | OV/P100 required; both brands cover this application |
Compatibility Reference
MSA Comfo Platform (threaded bayonet): Comfo Classic, Comfo II, Ultra-Twin, Ultra Elite
MSA Advantage Platform (snap-on): Advantage 200 LS, Advantage 420, Advantage 1000, Advantage 3000, Advantage 4000
Honeywell North Platform (bayonet): 7700 series half-masks, 5500 half-masks, 5400 full-face, 7600 full-face
No cross-compatibility exists between any of these platforms. Attempting to force a cartridge from one system onto another facepiece will not produce a seal and is not NIOSH-approved.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use MSA cartridges on my Honeywell North respirator?
No. MSA and Honeywell North use different attachment systems. MSA Comfo cartridges use a threaded bayonet and MSA Advantage uses a snap-on mount, neither of which mates with Honeywell North's bayonet twist-lock. Installing the wrong cartridge creates an unsealed, non-NIOSH-approved respirator.
Can I use MSA Comfo cartridges on an MSA Advantage facepiece?
No. Despite both being MSA products, the Comfo threaded-bayonet cartridges and the Advantage snap-on cartridges use incompatible attachment systems. Always verify the facepiece model before ordering cartridges.
Which brand has better service life — MSA or Honeywell North?
Service life for OV cartridges of both brands is governed by the same NIOSH-approved service life estimation model and OSHA change-schedule requirements. Neither brand has a published breakthrough advantage over the other for standard industrial solvents under equivalent concentration and humidity conditions. Both should be changed on a written change schedule per 29 CFR 1910.134.
Does Honeywell North have a cartridge for mercury vapor?
Yes. The Honeywell North 75SCP100L multi-contaminant cartridge covers mercury vapor alongside OV, acid gases, and P100 particulates. It is compatible with all North 7700/5500/5400/7600 facepieces.
Does MSA make an acid-gas-only cartridge?
Not as a standalone product in their current standard industrial lineup. Acid gas protection in MSA's catalog is bundled into the multi-contaminant GME-P100 (Comfo platform). If your program needs acid gas-only protection, Honeywell North's N75002L is the option — if you're willing to use North facepieces.
Can MSA Advantage users get mercury vapor protection?
No. Mercury vapor protection is only available on the MSA Comfo platform via the GME-P100 cartridge. The MSA Advantage platform does not have a multi-contaminant cartridge that covers mercury. Programs requiring mercury vapor coverage with Advantage facepieces need to either switch to Comfo or move to a PAPR solution.
Which brand is better for spray painting applications?
Both brands cover spray painting applications with their OV/P100 combination cartridges (MSA GMA-P100 / HN 7580P100). Performance is equivalent for regulatory purposes. The decision comes down to which facepiece your painters are already wearing, not the cartridge brand.
Which is better for a new safety program starting from scratch?
If your chemical inventory is primarily OV or OV/P100, both brands are comparable. If your program involves acid gases as a standalone hazard (no OV), Honeywell North is the better choice because of the N75002L. If you need mercury vapor coverage, both Comfo and Honeywell North work — but not MSA Advantage. If you want a single cartridge platform covering both half-mask and full-face wearers, Honeywell North's unified platform is simpler to manage.
How do MSA and Honeywell North cartridge prices compare?
At retail, MSA and Honeywell North OV/P100 combination cartridges are within $2–$5 per pair of each other. Honeywell North's N75001L OV-only cartridge tends to price slightly below equivalent OV-only MSA products. For bulk procurement, both brands offer case pricing that brings per-pair cost down materially. Price alone should not drive platform selection — the cost of maintaining two incompatible cartridge SKUs in inventory due to the wrong facepiece choice will exceed any per-cartridge savings.
Are MSA cartridges NIOSH-approved?
Yes. All MSA cartridges sold through WC Safety carry NIOSH approval for their rated protection classes. NIOSH TC numbers are printed on the cartridge label and available in MSA's product documentation.
Are Honeywell North cartridges NIOSH-approved?
Yes. Honeywell North cartridges are NIOSH-approved. Following the 2019 Honeywell acquisition of North Safety, all North product NIOSH approvals were maintained and are still listed under NIOSH's Certified Equipment List under the North/Honeywell brand.
What does the "GMA" designation mean on MSA cartridges?
GMA is MSA's internal designation for the organic vapor / acid gas sorbent formulation in their Comfo and Advantage cartridges. GMA cartridges cover organic vapors. GMA-P100 adds the P100 particulate disc. GME-P100 further adds expanded gas coverage including mercury vapor and chlorine dioxide.
Can the Honeywell North 7580P100 be used on a 5400 full-face respirator?
Yes. The 7580P100 uses Honeywell North's standard bayonet attachment and is compatible with the 7700/5500 half-masks and the 5400/7600 full-face respirators. Verify the facepiece model against Honeywell North's compatibility documentation before field deployment.
Do I need an OV cartridge or an OV/P100 cartridge for painting?
For any spray application — HVLP, airless, conventional spray — you need an OV/P100 combination cartridge (MSA GMA-P100 or Honeywell North 7580P100). Spraying generates aerosols and mists that pass through OV sorbent without filtration. An OV-only cartridge does not provide adequate protection in a spray environment.
How do I set a cartridge change schedule for MSA or Honeywell North cartridges?
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(iii)(B) requires a written change schedule for OV cartridges when an end-of-service-life indicator (ESLI) is not present. Use OSHA's electronic ESLI/change schedule tool or your industrial hygienist's exposure assessment to set change intervals based on contaminant concentration, temperature, relative humidity, and usage hours per shift. See our ESLI guide for details.