MSA 492790 GME Multigas Cartridge for Comfo Respirators — Box of 10

MSA GME Multigas Cartridge Overview

The MSA GME Multigas Cartridge (SKU 492790) is a NIOSH-approved vapor cartridge that covers nine chemical classes in one bayonet-mount unit — sold in a box of 10 at $24.49 ($2.45 per cartridge). It uses a multi-stage chemically impregnated sorbent bed to simultaneously address chlorine, sulfur dioxide, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, methylamine, formaldehyde, and hydrogen fluoride.

The GME fits the MSA Comfo/GM bayonet-mount family (Comfo Classic, Comfo II, Ultra-Twin, Ultra-Elite full-face) and carries NIOSH approval under 42 CFR Part 84. For a full overview of how cartridge selection works across all hazard classes, see the respirator cartridge selection guide and the respirator filter types explained guide. Shoppers comparing vapor-only vs. combination options should also review organic vapor vs. P100 filter choices.

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Where the MSA GME Fits in Respirator Selection

Start with your SDS and air-monitoring data. If your exposure profile includes any combination of acid gases (chlorine, HCl, H₂S, SO₂, ClO₂), ammonia, methylamine, formaldehyde, or HF — and your concentrations are below IDLH levels — the GME cartridge is a confirmed fit. It is a vapor-only cartridge; if your environment also generates particulates (dust, mist, fumes), you need the GME P100 combination cartridge rather than this unit.

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 assigns an APF of 10 to a properly fitted half-mask and 50 to a full-face respirator. The GME cartridge achieves those APF levels only when seated on a correctly fit-tested MSA Comfo or GM-series facepiece. Consult the complete cartridge selection guide to confirm the right APF for your PEL/TLV math, and cross-reference NIOSH cartridge color codes when communicating requirements across a team.

Who Should Buy the MSA GME Multigas Cartridge?

Buy the GME if:

• You already own an MSA Comfo Classic, Comfo II, Ultra-Twin, or Ultra-Elite respirator and need a broad-spectrum gas cartridge that mounts without adapters.
• Your hazard profile includes multiple gas classes from the acid-gas and ammonia families simultaneously — the GME consolidates coverage that would otherwise require multiple separate cartridges.
• You work in emergency response, water-treatment chemical handling, or chemical manufacturing where HF, ammonia, and chlorine can co-exist.
• You want NIOSH 42 CFR Part 84 documentation for your respirator program records.

Do not buy the GME if:

• Your hazard is organic vapor only — the MSA GMA organic vapor cartridge is the correct, lower-cost fit.
• You need particulate protection alongside gas coverage — use the GME P100 combination cartridge.
• You own an MSA Advantage 200 LS respirator with a snap-on mount (not bayonet) — the Comfo/GM bayonet cartridge will not physically seat on the Advantage facepiece.
• Your atmosphere is IDLH-classified or oxygen-deficient — APR cartridges are prohibited in those conditions.
• Your respirator is a 3M, Honeywell, or Moldex platform — see 3M respirator filters or Moldex cartridges for compatible options.

What Does the MSA GME Multigas Cartridge Protect Against?

What the MSA GME Multigas Cartridge Does NOT Protect Against

• Organic vapors and solvents — no OV sorbent bed; use the MSA GMC OV/acid gas cartridge or MSA GMT multi-gas cartridge if OV exposure is present.
• Particulate hazards — no filter media; pair with a P100 prefilter or upgrade to the GME P100 combination cartridge.
• Carbon monoxide and other simple asphyxiants — no catalytic converter layer.
• Mercury vapor — a separate MSA Mersorb P100 mercury vapor cartridge is required.
• Radioactive iodine — use the MSA GMI iodine P100 cartridge.

Best Applications for the MSA GME Multigas Cartridge

Emergency Response and Hazmat Operations

First-responders and hazmat teams dealing with unknown or multi-chemical spill scenarios benefit from the GME's broad coverage across nine classes. When a single-class cartridge may leave a hazard unaddressed, the GME's multi-stage sorbent bed provides a documented margin. Browse MSA full-face respirators for high-APF facepieces suited to emergency response.

Water Treatment and Wastewater Facilities

Chlorine, chlorine dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide all appear in water-treatment and wastewater environments — sometimes simultaneously. The GME covers all four in one cartridge, simplifying your respiratory protection program and reducing the risk of wearing the wrong unit. Pair with MSA half-mask respirators for routine maintenance tasks below IDLH thresholds.

Chemical Manufacturing with Mixed Acid-Gas and Ammonia Hazards

Facilities that handle HF, HCl, ammonia, and formaldehyde in adjacent processes often struggle to standardize cartridges across job roles. The GME eliminates that complexity. For environments where organic solvents are also present, consider the MSA GMT multi-gas cartridge, which extends coverage to include OV protection. For cartridge color-coding references used by your safety program, see the NIOSH cartridge color chart guide.

Formaldehyde-Regulated Workplaces

OSHA's formaldehyde standard (29 CFR 1910.1048) requires a specifically approved cartridge when engineering controls alone are insufficient. The GME's formaldehyde coverage satisfies this requirement while simultaneously addressing co-existing acid gas and ammonia hazards typical in resin, adhesive, and pathology lab environments.

MSA GME Multigas Cartridge — Pros and Cons

Compatible MSA Respirators for the GME Cartridge

The GME uses the MSA Comfo/GM bayonet-mount system. Verify your facepiece model before ordering — the two MSA connection systems (bayonet vs. snap-on) are not interchangeable.

Browse the full range of compatible facepieces at MSA full-face respirators and MSA half-mask respirators.

MSA GME vs. Other MSA GM-Series Cartridges

MSA GME vs. MSA GME P100 — Vapor-Only vs. Combination Cartridge

MSA GME vs. MSA GMT — Multi-Gas Without OV vs. Multi-Gas With OV

MSA GME Multigas Cartridge Quick Answers

Does the MSA GME cartridge protect against organic vapors?

No. The GME contains a chemically impregnated sorbent bed designed for acid gases, ammonia, methylamine, formaldehyde, and HF — it does not include an activated carbon bed for organic vapor (OV) adsorption. If your hazard profile includes solvents or VOCs, the MSA GMC OV/acid gas cartridge or MSA GMT multi-gas cartridge with OV coverage is the correct choice.

What respirators is the MSA GME compatible with?

The GME uses the MSA GM-series bayonet mount and fits the Comfo Classic, Comfo II, Ultra-Twin, and Ultra-Elite facepieces. It does not fit MSA Advantage-series respirators, which use a different snap-on mount, nor any 3M, Honeywell, or Moldex platform.

How much does the MSA GME cartridge cost per unit?

The GME is sold in a box of 10 for $24.49, which works out to $2.45 per cartridge — competitive pricing for a nine-class multi-gas vapor cartridge with NIOSH approval.

Does the MSA GME filter particulates like dust or silica?

No. The GME is a vapor-only cartridge with no particulate filter media. For environments with simultaneous gas and particulate hazards, the MSA GME P100 combination cartridge provides both gas and P100 particulate filtration in one unit.

Is the MSA GME cartridge NIOSH-approved?

Yes. The MSA GME is NIOSH-approved under 42 CFR Part 84 for the stated multi-gas hazard classes. Always verify that the specific approval designation on the cartridge label matches the hazard classes identified in your industrial hygiene assessment.

What is the assigned protection factor (APF) for the MSA GME?

The APF is determined by the facepiece, not the cartridge alone. Per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134, a properly fit-tested half-mask has an APF of 10, and a full-face respirator has an APF of 50. The GME cartridge achieves these APFs only when correctly seated on a fit-tested MSA Comfo or GM-series facepiece.

Can I use the MSA GME in ammonia-only environments?

You can, but the MSA GMD ammonia/methylamine cartridge is the purpose-built, lower-cost choice for ammonia-only hazards. The GME makes more sense when your site has ammonia alongside acid gases, formaldehyde, or HF in the same work area.

MSA GME Multigas Cartridge Specifications

Helpful Buying Guides

• How to Choose a Respirator Cartridge — Complete Selection Guide
• Respirator Filter Types Explained: P100, OV, Acid Gas, and Multi-Gas
• Organic Vapor vs. P100 — Which Filter Do You Need?
• NIOSH Respirator Cartridge Color Chart Reference Guide
• Best Respirator for Welding Fumes (Buyer's Guide)
• Best Respirator for Silica Dust 2026
• Shop All MSA Respirator Filters and Cartridges

MSA GME Multigas Cartridge Frequently Asked Questions

Will the MSA GME cartridge fit an MSA Advantage respirator?

No. MSA Advantage-series respirators (including the Advantage 200 LS and Advantage 200) use a snap-on filter attachment system that is physically incompatible with the GM-series bayonet cartridge. The GME is designed exclusively for Comfo Classic, Comfo II, Ultra-Twin, and Ultra-Elite facepieces.

How many cartridges come in a box of MSA GME?

Each box contains 10 cartridges. At $24.49 per box, the per-unit cost is $2.45 — suitable for stocking team respirator programs without high per-person cost.

Can the MSA GME be used for hydrogen fluoride (HF) exposure?

Yes. HF is one of the nine chemical classes covered by the GME's chemically impregnated sorbent bed. Because HF has a low IDLH threshold (30 ppm), always confirm airborne concentrations are within the APR-permissible range before relying on a cartridge respirator, and maintain emergency procedures appropriate for HF work.

Does the MSA GME cartridge cover formaldehyde specifically?

Yes. Formaldehyde is a listed chemical class in the GME's NIOSH approval. This makes the GME relevant to workplaces subject to OSHA's formaldehyde standard (29 CFR 1910.1048) where co-existing acid gas or ammonia hazards also require protection.

What is the difference between the MSA GME and the MSA GMB cartridge?

The MSA GMB is an acid-gas-only cartridge covering chlorine, HCl, SO₂, and related compounds. The GME extends that coverage to include ammonia, methylamine, formaldehyde, and HF — making the GME the right choice when multiple gas families are present in the same work environment.

Do I need a P100 prefilter with the MSA GME?

If your environment contains airborne particulates (dust, metal fumes, welding smoke, mist) in addition to gas hazards, yes — you should use the MSA GME P100 combination cartridge, which integrates both the multi-gas vapor coverage and a P100 particulate filter. The vapor-only GME provides no particulate protection on its own.

How do I know when to replace the MSA GME cartridge?

MSA does not specify an end-of-service-life indicator (ESLI) for the GME. OSHA requires employers to establish a change-out schedule based on industrial hygiene data, cartridge service-life calculations, and/or breakthrough monitoring. Follow your written respirator program as required by OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(iii).

Is the MSA GME suitable for hydrogen sulfide (H₂S)?

Yes. H₂S is one of the listed gases covered by the GME. The H₂S IDLH is 50 ppm — confirm that measured concentrations are below this value before using any APR, and ensure your site has gas detection and emergency egress procedures in place for H₂S work.

Can I pair the MSA GME with an MSA low-profile P100 filter?

Depending on the specific facepiece and adapter configuration, pairing separate filters and cartridges may be possible on some MSA platforms, but the integrated GME P100 combination cartridge is the MSA-validated path for simultaneous gas and particulate protection. Always verify compatibility with your specific respirator model before mixing components.

What is the MSA part number for the GME multigas cartridge?

The MSA GME Multigas Cartridge carries SKU 492790 and GTIN 0816687297684. Use the SKU when ordering through WC Safety or specifying in a purchase order for your safety program records.

How does the MSA GME compare to 3M multi-gas cartridges?

MSA GME and 3M multi-gas cartridges are not interchangeable — each brand's mount system is specific to its own respirator platform. If you use 3M respirators, see the 3M respirator filters and cartridges collection and the 3M filter and cartridge guide for compatible options. The GME is exclusively for MSA Comfo/GM bayonet-mount facepieces.

Where can I find MSA full-face respirators compatible with the GME?

The MSA full-face respirator collection includes the Ultra-Twin and Ultra-Elite — both use the GM bayonet mount and accept the GME cartridge. Full-face configuration raises the APF from 10 to 50, which is often required for higher-concentration gas hazards.