Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) disinfection and risk of surface damage from hydrogen peroxide and quaternary ammonium chloride-based disinfectants

Figures & data

Figure 1. 3M Versaflo S-533L PAPR (Sample 1) disassembled, with components labeled.

Figure 2. 3M Versaflo S-403L PAPR (Sample 2) disassembled, with components labeled.

Figure 3. Sentinel XL PAPR (Sample 3) disassembled, with components labeled.

Figure 4. 3M Versaflo S-133L-5 (sample 4), disassembled with components labeled.

Table 1. Grouping of materials tested with part number.

Material group	Part type	Material	Part(s)
1	Face shield	Polycarbonate	1-1
2	Coated Fabric	Polyurethane (coating)	1-2
3	Plastic Component	Polyethylene	1-3, 4-4
4	Plastic Component	Polypropylene	1-4, 1-5, 4-3, 4-5
5	Face shield	Polyester	2-1
6	Coated Fabric	Polypropylene (coating)	2-3
7	Face shield	Polyester	3-1
8	Coated Fabric	Polyethylene (coating)	3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5
9	Plastic Component	Polyvinyl Chloride	3-6
10	Face shield	Polyester	4-1
11	Coated Fabric	Polypropylene (coating)	4-2

Table 2. Hydrogen peroxide and quaternary ammonium chloride disinfectants used in testing.

Disinfectant product*	Disinfectant active ingredient	Dilution tested**	Active level at use***
HP1	Hydrogen peroxide	RTU	5000 ppm
HP2	Hydrogen peroxide	RTU	5000 ppm
QA1.1	22.24% Quaternary ammonium chloride blend	1:256	865 ppm
QA1.2	22.24% Quaternary ammonium chloride blend	1:128	1724 ppm
QA2	16.894% quaternary ammonium chloride blend	1:256	657 ppm

* Abbreviated naming scheme for commercially available EPA-registered disinfectants used in this study.

** RTU = ready to use without dilution.

*** Active ingredient concentration after dilution as specified on the product label and as required by EPA to meet the efficacy standards to be placed on List N, which CDC recommends as an option for use in disinfecting PAPRs.

Table 3. Section 2.6.1 of ACT Test method 1-2020⁷, qualitative damage ratings.

Rating	Description
No effect	No change in color or surface finish
Slight effect	A change in color or surface finish only visible at certain angles or directions.
Moderate effect	A change in color or surface finish visible from all angles and directions but does not appreciably alter the original condition of the specimen.
Severe effect	A change in color or surface finish, which obviously and markedly alters the original condition of the specimen.

Table 4. Mass and color change data for face shield specimens soaked in test liquids.

Sample group	Liquid	Mass change	Color change (Delta E)
1	Tap Water	0.1%	0.88
1	HP1	0.4%	0.22
1	HP2	0.2%	0.20
1	QA1.2	0.0%	0.86
1	QA2	0.1%	0.69
1	QA1.1	0.1%	0.82
5	Tap Water	0.3%	0.21
5	HP1	16.1%	4.81
5	HP2	0.4%	0.29
5	QA1.2	0.1%	0.52
5	QA2	0.3%	0.50
5	QA1.1	0.3%	0.59
7	Tap Water	0.2%	0.32
7	HP1	0.4%	0.31
7	HP2	0.3%	0.32
7	QA1.2	0.3%	0.35
7	QA2	0.3%	0.45
7	QA1.1	0.2%	0.37
10	Tap Water	0.3%	0.07
10	HP1	13.2%	4.98
10	HP2	0.3%	0.55
10	QA1.2	0.1%	1.20
10	QA2	0.3%	0.69
10	QA1.1	0.3%	0.52

Table 5. Qualitative ratings of coated fabric materials tested per ACT Test Method 1-2020, part 2.

Section	Observation	Effect on G2 material
		HP2	HP1	QA2	QA1.2	QA1.1	Tap water
2.6.1	General Appearance	None	Moderate	Slight	Slight	None	None
2.6.2	Discoloring	None	Slight	None	None	None	None
2.6.3	Gloss	None	None	None	None	None	None
2.6.4	Cracking/Peeling	None	Slight	None	None	None	None
2.6.5	Bubbling	None	None	None	None	None	None
		Effect on G6, G8, and G11 material
Section	Observation	HP2	HP1	QA2	QA1.2	QA1.1	Tap water
2.6.1	General Appearance	None	None	None	None	None	None
2.6.2	Discoloring	None	None	None	None	None	None
2.6.3	Gloss	None	None	None	None	None	None
2.6.4	Cracking/Peeling	None	None	None	None	None	None
2.6.5	Bubbling	None	None	None	None	None	None

Table 6. Color change data (delta E) for coated fabrics.

Liquid	Material group
	2	6	8	11
Tap water	0.13	0.50	0.25	0.49
QA2	0.34	0.40	0.27	0.41
HP1	1.34	0.46	0.26	0.76
HP2	0.44	0.16	0.22	0.35
QA1.2	0.67	0.28	0.15	0.36
QA1.1	0.74	0.40	0.31	0.36

Table 7. Mass and color change data for plastic component specimens soaked in test liquids.

Sample group	Liquid	Mass change	Color change (Delta E)
3	Tap water	0.0%	0.51
3	HP1	0.1%	0.63
3	HP2	0.1%	0.09
3	QA1.2	0.1%	0.73
3	QA2	0.2%	0.91
3	QA1.1	0.3%	0.89
4	Tap water	0.8%	–
4	HP1	0.8%	–
4	HP2	0.9%	–
4	QA1.2	1.0%	–
4	QA2	0.8%	–
4	QA1.1	0.9%	–
9	Tap water	1.0%	0.19
9	HP1	2.9%	0.22
9	HP2	0.8%	0.15
9	QA1.2	0.6%	0.69
9	QA2	0.9%	0.14
9	QA1.1	0.5%	0.04

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, PT, upon reasonable request.