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MSA R95 Particulate Filter for Comfo Respirators — Box of 20
$100.70
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EDITORIAL REVIEW — MSA R95 Particulate Filter for Comfo Respirators — Box of 20 Assessed on the standards the product is actually certified to and on how the format fits a working shift, by Steven Eaton, WC Safety ed...
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EDITORIAL REVIEW — MSA R95 Particulate Filter for Comfo Respirators — Box of 20
Assessed on the standards the product is actually certified to and on how the format fits a working shift, by Steven Eaton, WC Safety editor.
msa r95 particulate filter for comfo respirators — what the listing actually specifies
MSA R95 Particulate Filter — Oil-Resistant NIOSH Particulate Protection for Comfo Respirators
An air-purifying respirator filters air, it does not supply any. Under 29 CFR 1910.134 no air-purifying respirator may be worn in an atmosphere that is IDLH or oxygen-deficient (below 19.5% oxygen). Those conditions require a supplied-air respirator or an SCBA, and no filter or cartridge rating changes that.
The MSA R95 Particulate Filter (SKU 816287) provides NIOSH R95-rated protection — 95% minimum filtration efficiency with oil-resistance — for the MSA Comfo half-mask respirator platform. The R95 designation distinguishes it from N-series filters (not oil-resistant) by maintaining rated efficiency in oil-mist environments. Sold in a box of 20, the R95 filter offers a cost-effective particulate protection option for Comfo users whose applications do not require the higher 99.97% efficiency of P100 filtration. Compatible with the Advantage 200 LS, Comfo Classic, and Comfo II half-mask respirators.
Read the full MSA R95 Particulate Filter for Comfo Respirators review →
Construction and Filter Media
The R95 filter uses electrostatic filter media rated to at least 95% efficiency against the most penetrating particle size. The "R" designation indicates oil-resistant — the filter has been tested for performance in oil-based aerosol environments and maintains rated 95% efficiency in those conditions. Unlike P100 filters (oil-proof), R-series filters have a time limitation in oily environments per NIOSH guidance: typically a single shift or 8 hours of use in oil-containing aerosols before replacement. The filter attaches to the Comfo facepiece via the bayonet mount in the same manner as chemical cartridges and combination cartridges.
NIOSH Approval and Compliance
The R95 is NIOSH-approved under 42 CFR Part 84 for R95 particulate service: at least 95% efficiency, oil-resistant. When used with a properly fitted MSA Comfo half-mask, the system delivers an APF of 10 per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134. For environments with the highest-hazard particulates — silica, lead, beryllium, hexavalent chromium, asbestos — P100 (99.97%) filtration is the appropriate standard. The R95 is appropriate where the applicable OEL can be met with 95% filtration efficiency at the concentrations present in the work environment.
Performance in Industrial Environments
The R95 filter performs effectively in general industrial particulate environments including woodworking dust, nuisance dusts, some metal dusts, and aerosol environments where 95% efficiency is sufficient for the applicable OEL. In oily environments, the filter should be replaced at the end of each shift per NIOSH R-series guidance, rather than solely on the basis of breathing resistance. Box of 20 provides a cost-effective supply for high-filter-turnover operations where per-filter cost is a meaningful procurement consideration.
Strengths
- Oil-resistant rating maintains 95% efficiency in machining, metalworking, and other oil mist environments where N-series filters would degrade
- Box of 20 provides lower per-filter cost than P100 options — practical for high-turnover operations
- 95% efficiency is adequate for many general industrial particulate applications where OELs do not require P100
- Compatible with all MSA Comfo half-mask respirators via the standard bayonet mount
Limitations
- 95% efficiency is lower than P100 (99.97%) — for silica, lead, beryllium, hexavalent chromium, or substances with very low OELs, P100 is the appropriate selection
- R-series filters are limited to single-shift use in oily environments per NIOSH guidance — not suitable for extended reuse in oil mist applications
- No chemical vapor protection — combination cartridges are required for environments with concurrent chemical hazards
Recommended Use Cases
The R95 is suited for general woodworking and carpentry dust, metalworking operations with oil mist where 95% efficiency meets the applicable OEL, agricultural dusts, nuisance particulate environments, and applications where the cost savings of R95 over P100 are meaningful for high-volume filter use. It is not appropriate for silica, lead, beryllium, hexavalent chromium, or other high-hazard particulates where P100 filtration efficiency is required by the applicable OEL and exposure scenario.
Verdict
The MSA R95 Particulate Filter provides cost-effective oil-resistant particulate filtration for Comfo respirator users in applications where 95% efficiency is appropriate and hazard characterization confirms it is sufficient to maintain exposures below the applicable OEL. For higher-hazard applications requiring maximum filtration efficiency, the MSA Low-Profile P100 (SKU 815177) provides 99.97% protection. For hot work environments additionally requiring a flame-resistant filter cover, the MSA Low-Profile P100 Sparkfoe (SKU 10153412) is the correct selection.
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Where this sits against the alternatives is covered in 3m 2091 vs 2097 filter, 3m 2091 vs honeywell north 7580p100, 3m 6000 vs 6500 respirator.
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Written by Steven Eaton, WC Safety editor. WC Safety is an independent PPE review site, holds no inventory and sells nothing directly; Amazon links are affiliate links that earn a commission at no cost to you and never affect the assessment. This page is not medical, legal or regulatory advice.
Related standards and selection guidance: 3m 6000 vs 6500 vs 7500 series half mask respirator compared, 3m 6001 vs 6003 cartridge, 3m 6003 vs honeywell north 7583p100l, 3m 60921 vs 60923 cartridge.
Neighbouring categories worth ruling in or out first: 3m disposable respirators, 3m full face mask respirators.
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Directly comparable options are grouped in 3m half mask respirators, 3m respirator filters and cartridges.
Brand / Vendor
MSA Safety
Model / SKU
816287
Product Type
Respirator Filter
Price
$100.70 (Amazon)
Availability
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between R95 and P100 filtration?
R95 filters at 95% efficiency and is oil-resistant but has a single-shift use limit in oily environments. P100 filters at 99.97% efficiency and is oil-proof with no time limitation in oil environments. For high-hazard particulates (silica, lead, beryllium), P100 is the appropriate standard.
Can the R95 filter be used in oil mist environments?
Yes, but with a time limitation. NIOSH guidance limits R-series filter use in oil aerosol environments to a single shift (approximately 8 hours). After oil exposure, the filter must be discarded — it cannot be reused in oily conditions the following shift. P100 filters do not have this restriction.
Is R95 adequate for silica dust protection?
OSHA and NIOSH recommend P100 filtration for respirable crystalline silica due to the very low PEL (50 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour TWA). R95 may be insufficient at typical silica-generating operation concentrations. Consult an industrial hygienist before selecting R95 for silica environments.
What respirators are compatible with the MSA R95 filter?
The R95 filter fits all MSA Comfo-platform half-mask respirators: Advantage 200 LS, Comfo Classic (Hycar and Silicone), and Comfo II. It uses the proprietary MSA Comfo bayonet mount.
How many filters are in a box?
MSA R95 Particulate Filters (SKU 816287) are sold in a box of 20. The price shown is for the complete box of 20 filters. Related N95 & Disposable Respirators disposable respirators r95 respirators disposable respirator buyer's guide best N95 respirators 2026 MSA 815401 Advantage R95 Reusable Snap-On Cover MSA 815397 Advantage R95 Snap-On Respirator Filt MSA 815177 Low-Profile P100 Particulate Filter f
What does the R95 rating mean?
Under 42 CFR 84 the letter and the number answer different questions. The letter is oil resistance - this one is resistant to oil aerosols but certified for one eight-hour shift only where they are present. The number is filter efficiency against the most-penetrating 0.3 micron particle size, so 95 means 95% efficiency.
Is a R95 better than an N95 for my job?
It filters more efficiently, but under OSHA 1910.134 Table 1 every filtering facepiece carries the same assigned protection factor of 10. Moving up the filter scale changes what passes THROUGH the filter, not what leaks around the face seal - and the seal is the limit.
What protection factor can I plan on?
Ten. OSHA 1910.134 Table 1 assigns an APF of 10 to every filtering facepiece respirator regardless of whether it is rated 95, 99 or 100, so the maximum use concentration is ten times the exposure limit. If you need better than that, the answer is a different class of respirator, not a better disposable.
Does it protect against gases, vapours or solvents?
No. A particulate filter does nothing about gases or vapours. Those need a chemical cartridge on a half-mask or full-face facepiece, and a nuisance-level organic-vapour layer on a disposable is a comfort feature, not a rated filter.
What does an exhalation valve change, and what does it not?
A valve lowers breathing resistance and heat on exhale, which matters over a full shift. It does NOT raise the protection the wearer receives, and it provides no source control - a valved respirator vents the wearer's unfiltered breath, so where the point is to protect other people or a sterile field the unvalved version is the correct choice. Whether a given model has one is on its own listing.
Do I need a fit test before using it?
For occupational use, yes. 29 CFR 1910.134(f) requires a fit test before first use and at least annually after that, on the specific make, model and size that will be worn - a different size is a different respirator as far as the seal is concerned. Separately, Appendix B-1 requires a user seal check on every donning.
Does facial hair stop it working?
Yes. Hair crossing the sealing surface prevents a seal, and 1910.134 requires the seal area to be clean-shaven on any tight-fitting respirator. No strap tension compensates for it.