Reference

Every respirator cartridge carries a label that tells you what it protects against, whether it is certified, and when to discard it - if you can read it. This guide decodes the ANSI/ISEA 110 color bands, the OV, AG, and P100 designations, the NIOSH TC approval number, and the ESLI and expiration date markings clearly explained.

Respirator cartridges have two separate clocks: a sealed shelf life and an in-use service life, and confusing them leaves workers breathing through a spent filter. This guide covers how to read the printed expiration date, how to store sealed and opened cartridges, and why gas and vapor cartridges differ from P100 particulate filters.