Moldex 4701N100 AirWave N100 Respirator — SmartStrap + Valve, Small

The Moldex 4701N100 AirWave Disposable Respirator is a NIOSH-approved N100 disposable particulate respirator in the Small size — providing 99.97% minimum filtration efficiency in a small-profile cup-style respirator with the AirWave curved filter panel design for reduced breathing resistance, SmartStrap dual-position clip suspension, and an integrated Ventex exhalation valve, packaged 5 per box for small-face users in operations requiring maximum NIOSH particulate filtration efficiency in non-oily environments. The 4701N100 delivers N100 99.97% efficiency — identical filtration performance to P100 — with the N-prefix designation indicating testing and certification in the absence of oil-based aerosols; for non-oil applications including lead abatement, silica dust, pharmaceutical powder, fine chemical dust, and other high-hazard non-oily particulate environments, N100 provides the same 99.97% protection as P100 in the same AirWave low-resistance respirator design. The Small size accommodates workers with smaller face profiles for whom the standard Med/Large respirator does not achieve adequate fit and seal — correct fit is a prerequisite for achieving the stated filtration efficiency in actual use, and the 4701N100 Small provides the size necessary for consistent protective seal in smaller-faced wearers.

Moldex 4701N100 AirWave N100 Respirator — Key Features

• NIOSH N100 — 99.97% minimum filtration efficiency, non-oil-resistant (for non-oily environments)
• Small size — for workers requiring smaller facepiece dimensions for proper fit and seal
• AirWave curved filter panels — increased surface area for reduced breathing resistance
• Ventex exhalation valve — reduces facepiece heat and humidity during physical work
• SmartStrap dual-position suspension — clip holds respirator at chest position between wearings
• 5/box — standard procurement for N100 disposable programs
• NIOSH Approved

Specifications

N100 Small Size: Maximum Filtration for Smaller-Faced Workers

Respirator fit is as important as filtration efficiency for actual worker protection. A high-efficiency respirator that does not achieve a consistent face seal allows unfiltered air to bypass the filter entirely — a small leak around the seal can dramatically reduce effective protection regardless of rated filter efficiency. Workers with smaller face profiles who cannot achieve adequate fit in standard Med/Large respirators require small-size options to access the filtration efficiency of N100 protection. The 4701N100 Small provides the narrower facepiece dimensions, reduced horizontal span, and smaller cup depth that accommodate the face seal geometries of smaller-faced workers — providing access to N100 99.97% protection in a size that can actually achieve the seal quality the protection factor requires.

N100 vs. P100: Choosing the Right Rating

N100 and P100 both achieve 99.97% minimum filtration efficiency — the distinction is oil-resistance. N-rated filters (Not oil-resistant) are tested against solid and liquid non-oily aerosols only; their efficiency can degrade in environments with oil-based aerosols, oil mist, or oil-containing particulates. P-rated filters (oil-Proof) maintain 99.97% efficiency in the presence of oil-based aerosols. For operations where oil-based aerosols are definitively absent — lead abatement in residential or commercial buildings, silica-generating masonry and concrete operations in controlled environments, pharmaceutical powder handling, fine chemical dust — N100 delivers equivalent 99.97% filtration at the same protection level as P100. When there is any uncertainty about oil content in the airborne hazard, P100 is the appropriate specification. The 4701N100 is appropriate for N100 applications where the small size is required for adequate fit.

Compliance and Certifications

• NIOSH — N100 approved (42 CFR Part 84)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 — respiratory protection standard applies for mandatory use applications

Real-World Benefits

Small size enables N100 protection for workers who cannot achieve seal in standard Med/Large designs. Workers requiring maximum filtration efficiency who have been unable to achieve consistent fit with Med/Large respirators receive protection-factor-compliant sealing in the 4701N100 Small, ensuring N100 efficiency is realized in actual use rather than just on the filter specification sheet.

AirWave curved filter panels reduce breathing resistance at maximum filtration efficiency. The increased filter surface area of the AirWave design reduces the pressure drop across the N100 filter, making the 4701N100 more comfortable to breathe through during physical work than standard flat-panel N100 cup designs at equivalent 99.97% filtration efficiency.

SmartStrap convenience supports compliance in multi-zone operations. Workers who transition between areas requiring N100 protection and areas where protection is not required can suspend the 4701N100 at chest level between zones without full removal and re-donning, reducing the compliance friction of frequent zone transitions.

Applications and Use Cases

• Lead abatement and renovation — smaller-faced workers — N100 Small for lead paint removal, renovation of lead-containing structures where smaller-faced team members require Small sizing for protective seal
• Pharmaceutical and fine chemical manufacturing — N100 maximum filtration for high-potency API and fine chemical powder handling requiring the highest NIOSH efficiency in a small-size respirator
• Silica-generating construction and masonry — small size — N100 for concrete cutting, grinding, and core drilling where smaller-faced operators require Small fit

Related Products

For N100 in Med/Large size, see Moldex 4700N100 AirWave N100 Respirator — SmartStrap + Valve. For P100 oil-proof in Med/Large, see Moldex 4400P100 AirWave P100 Respirator — SmartStrap + Valve. For N95 AirWave, see Moldex 4600 N95 AirWave Disposable Respirator — SmartStrap. Browse the complete Respiratory Protection collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I need the Small size instead of Med/Large?

Respirator sizing is determined by fit testing, which is required by OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 for mandatory-use respirator programs. Qualitative fit testing (QLFT) using saccharin or Bitrex challenge agents, or quantitative fit testing (QNFT) using a PortaCount instrument, determines whether a specific respirator achieves adequate fit for a specific worker. Workers who fail fit testing on Med/Large respirators should be tested in Small sizes — the smaller dimensions of the 4701N100 accommodate face profiles for which the standard size does not achieve the face seal geometry required for protective efficiency. Do not select size by visual appearance or comfort preference alone; use fit testing.

Can the 4701N100 be used in environments with oil mist present?

N100 certification is tested without oil-based aerosols. In environments where oil mist, oil-containing aerosols, or petroleum-based airborne contaminants are present, an oil-resistant P100-rated respirator is appropriate. If there is any possibility of oil-based aerosols in the work environment, specify P100 (such as the Moldex 4400P100) rather than N100 to ensure that filtration efficiency is maintained in the presence of oil contaminants.