True or False: You can submerge a respirator in water.

True or False: You can submerge a respirator in water.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only if specified by the manufacturer
• D. Only for disposable respirators

Answer: (B)

Submerging a respirator in water is not allowed because moisture can ruin the parts that make it effective. The filtration media and sealing surfaces rely on being dry to maintain filtration efficiency and a proper fit. Water can degrade the filtration media, canceling the electrostatic properties that help trap particles, and it can deform or weaken the facepiece and headbands, leading to leaks. For disposable respirators, exposure to water means they should be discarded after use rather than cleaned and reused. For reusable elastomeric respirators, you still follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions, which typically involve surface cleaning and disinfection, but you should not soak the entire unit or the filters.

Submerging a respirator in water is not allowed because moisture can ruin the parts that make it effective. The filtration media and sealing surfaces rely on being dry to maintain filtration efficiency and a proper fit. Water can degrade the filtration media, canceling the electrostatic properties that help trap particles, and it can deform or weaken the facepiece and headbands, leading to leaks. For disposable respirators, exposure to water means they should be discarded after use rather than cleaned and reused. For reusable elastomeric respirators, you still follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions, which typically involve surface cleaning and disinfection, but you should not soak the entire unit or the filters.