Safety Notice
Comfo® Air-Purifying Respirator Cartridges
March 23, 2017
Dear MSA Respirator Customer,
MSA recently determined that a small percentage of Comfo Combination Cartridges manufactured from September 1, 2016 through December 11, 2016, may not comply with the NIOSH required P100 filter minimum efficiency level of 99.97% for particulates. The affected cartridges types are listed below:
Cartridge Type Cartridge Part Number Six-Pack Part Number
GMA-P100 814923 815178
GMB-P100 814925 815179
GMC-P100 814902 815180
GMD-P100 814924 815181
GME-P100 10148662 815182
GMI-P100 814903 815184
Mersorb-P100 814905 815185
Our investigation confirmed that the reduced efficiency is due to leakage caused by separation of the adhesive used to bond the P100 filter component to the cartridge body. The adhesive separation was found to occur after final production and testing. Since this condition is internal to the cartridge assembly, it is not detectable by the user during normal respirator inspections or seal checks.
As a result of this condition, MSA requests that you immediately remove from service all
affected cartridges indicated above that were manufactured during the specified time period.
MSA has corrected this condition and will replace affected cartridges free of charge.
Identifying Affected Cartridges:
All affected individual cartridges, six-pack cartons of cartridges, and over-pack boxes of cartridge six-packs are marked with a date code containing the two-digit week followed by the two-digit year of manufacture. The date codes of affected cartridges range from: “3516” through “4916” and represents the time period from September 1, 2016 through December 11, 2016. Disregard any letter that follows the four-digit code. See the photos on the next page for examples of date code locations.
Obtaining Replacement Cartridges and Returning Affected Cartridges:
To obtain replacement cartridges, please complete the enclosed Return / Replacement Cartridge Order Form and email it to MSA Customer Service at the appropriate email address below.
Replacement cartridges will be shipped to you immediately and we will forward instructions for returning the affected cartridges.
MSA Customer Service Contact Information:
If you have any questions regarding this Safety Advisory, please contact MSA Customer Service as follows:
• U.S., Canada, or U.S. Territories – 1-866-672-0005 or by email at:
ProductSafetyNotices@MSAsafety.com.
• Outside the U.S., Canada, and U.S. Territories – 724-776-8626 or by email at:
LAMZonecs@MSAnet.com.
Again, we apologize for any inconvenience that this situation may cause; however, your safety and continued satisfaction with our products is most important to us.
Best regards,
R.J. Campbell
Director of Quality & Customer Experience, Americas
