Honeywell North N750036 Filter Retainer (Pair) — Holds N-Series Filters on 5500 / 7700 Respirators

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What the North N750036 Filter Retainer Is

It is a filter retainer — a two-piece polystyrene holder, supplied as a pair for a twin-cartridge respirator, that secures an N-series pancake pre-filter onto a Honeywell North chemical cartridge. Each side has a filter holder that clips over the cartridge, with a grid (the "spider") that sits over the cartridge inlet so the filter cannot be drawn in, and a clear cover cap that snaps the pre-filter in place on top. It fits the North 5400, 5500, 7600 and 7700 series half and full facepieces.

Its purpose is to let you stack a particulate pre-filter over a gas or vapour cartridge: the cartridge handles the gas, the pre-filter handles dust and mist, and the retainer holds the two together. It provides no protection on its own — it is the North counterpart of the 3M 501 retainer, doing the same job on the North platform. Match it with the right North cartridge and filter from our North cartridge range, and see the cartridge selection guide for choosing them.

Why a Retainer Matters: Stacking a Pre-Filter on a Cartridge

A gas or vapour cartridge does one job — it adsorbs gas — and does nothing for particulate. Plenty of real work mixes the two: spraying paint throws solvent vapour and paint mist together; grinding a coated surface makes both fume and vapour. For those, you want a gas cartridge and a particulate pre-filter, and the N750036 is the part that lets you run both on a North mask. The filter holder clips to the cartridge, the pre-filter lays over it, and the cover cap holds it — a stacked assembly that covers gas and dust at once.

There is a second benefit: cartridge life. A pre-filter catches particulate before it reaches the cartridge, so the cartridge does not clog with dust and keeps breathing freely for longer — you replace the cheap pre-filter more often and the cartridge less. The retainer is a small, inexpensive component, but it is what makes that economical, dual-hazard setup possible on the North system. Just remember the retainer itself does no filtering: it is the frame, and the filter and cartridge do the protecting. Our respirator guide covers building the right assembly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the N750036 retainer actually do?

It holds an N-series pancake pre-filter onto a North chemical cartridge. Each side is two parts: a filter holder that clips over the cartridge — with a grid, sometimes called the spider, that stops the filter being drawn into the cartridge inlet — and a clear cover cap that snaps the pre-filter in place on top. It lets you add particulate pre-filtering over a gas or vapour cartridge so the cartridge lasts longer and you are protected against dust as well as gas.

Does the retainer protect me on its own?

No. A retainer filters nothing — it is a plastic holder. Your protection comes from the North cartridge and the pre-filter it secures; the N750036 just keeps that pre-filter in place over the cartridge. On its own it is an empty frame. You fit it as part of an assembly: North facepiece, the right cartridge for your gas or vapour hazard, an N-series pre-filter for particulate, and this retainer holding the filter on.

Is it sold singly or as a pair?

As a pair — the package covers both sides of a twin-cartridge respirator, with two filter holders and two cover caps. A half mask wears a cartridge on each side, so you need a retainer on each; buying the pair kits out one respirator. If you run several masks, order enough pairs to cover every cartridge position across your crew.

Which pre-filters and cartridges does it work with?

It holds North N-series pancake pre-filters over North chemical cartridges — the combination you use when you need both gas or vapour protection and particulate pre-filtering. Match the cartridge to your gas hazard and the pre-filter to your particulate, then use the retainer to hold the filter on the cartridge. Confirm the specific North filter and cartridge part numbers for your facepiece from our North cartridge range, as it spans several options.

Which respirators does it fit?

Honeywell North 5400, 5500, 7600 and 7700 series half and full facepiece respirators. It is specific to the North cartridge system and does not fit 3M or other brands, which use their own retainers — the 3M equivalent is the separate 501 retainer. Because NIOSH approval covers the facepiece, cartridge, filter and retainer as a tested assembly, keep North parts on North masks even if another brand's part appears to fit.

Why add a pre-filter over a gas cartridge at all?

Two reasons. First, protection: a gas or vapour cartridge does nothing for particulate, so if your work has both a gas and a dust or mist hazard, the pre-filter covers the particulate the cartridge cannot. Second, cartridge life: a pre-filter catches particulate before it can clog the cartridge, so the cartridge breathes freely and lasts longer. The retainer is what makes that stacked setup possible on a North cartridge.

Does the retainer have a NIOSH rating of its own?

No — a retainer carries no filtration rating because it does no filtering. NIOSH certification applies to the complete North assembly: the facepiece, the cartridge, and the filter, tested together. The retainer is a component within that approved combination, not a rated item on its own. So there is no P100 or N-class figure on the retainer itself; those belong to the filter it holds.

What is it made of, and is it reusable?

It is molded polystyrene. The retainer itself is a durable part you reuse — you replace the pre-filter it holds as that loads up, not the retainer, unless the retainer cracks or the cover cap stops clipping securely. Inspect it when you change filters: a cracked holder or a cap that no longer seats can let a filter shift or leak, so replace the retainer if it is damaged.

How do I assemble it correctly?

Fit the filter holder onto the North cartridge so the grid sits over the cartridge inlet, lay the N-series pre-filter onto it, then clip the clear cover cap over the filter until it seats. Do the same on both cartridges. Check that each cap is fully clipped and the filter is flat and secure before use — a loose cap or a filter that is not seated can let unfiltered particulate bypass the pre-filter. It should feel positively clipped, not loose.

How is this different from the 3M 501?

They do the same job on different platforms. The 3M 501 retains a 3M pre-filter (like the 5N11) over a 3M cartridge; the North N750036 retains a North N-series pre-filter over a North cartridge. Neither interchanges with the other brand's system. If you run North masks you need the N750036; if you run 3M you need the 501. The concept — a retainer that adds a pre-filter over a gas cartridge — is identical.

When should I replace the retainer?

Replace it if the polystyrene cracks, if the cover cap no longer clips firmly, or if any part is distorted so the filter does not sit flat and sealed. The retainer is reusable and long-lived, so most changes are to the pre-filter it holds rather than the retainer itself — but a damaged retainer can compromise the pre-filter's seat, so inspect it at every filter change and swap it out if it is not holding securely.

Does it work on North full facepieces too?

Yes — the N750036 fits North half and full facepiece respirators, covering the 5400 and 7600 full-face series as well as the 5500 and 7700 half masks. The retainer and cartridge system is common across those North facepieces, so the same pre-filter-over-cartridge setup works whether you wear a half mask or a full facepiece. Confirm the cartridge and pre-filter you pair with it suit your specific hazard and facepiece.