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Field guide · Respiratory protection

Cleaning SCBA Facepieces — 8 Steps

The facepiece sits on your skin and in your airway, so it gets its own clean after every use. While you clean, wear the protective equipment the cleaner’s instructions call for.

You need

Sink, cleaner, soft cloth

An approved germicidal cleaner, a soft sponge or brush, warm running water and a lint-free cloth.

  1. Step 1

    Prepare

    Fill a sink with water and a germicidal cleaner approved by your facepiece’s manufacturer.

    Never use cleaning products that contain hydrocarbons or solvents.

  2. Step 2

    Submerge

    Hold the facepiece under for at least 30 seconds. Make sure the cleaning solution gets into every part of the mask.

  3. Step 3

    Scrub

    Scrub the facepiece inside and out with a soft, non-abrasive sponge or a soft brush until all the contamination is gone.

  4. Step 4

    Rinse

    Rinse inside and out with clean, warm water — about 43 °C (110 °F) — ideally running and draining.

  5. Step 5

    Flush the exhalation valve

    Flush the exhalation valve assembly and work it by hand: press the stem in with a blunt, dull object. Take care not to damage any of the rubber parts on the facepiece.

  6. Step 6

    Shake

    Shake the facepiece to get all the leftover water out.

  7. Step 7

    Wipe

    Wipe and dry the facepiece inside and out with a soft, lint-free cloth.

  8. Step 8

    Air dry

    Let the facepiece air dry completely, resting on the facepiece seal, before it goes back in service.

Also: Cleaning SCBA’s — 7 Steps

Follow the inspection and cleaning instructions in your facepiece’s operating manual — they take precedence over any general guide. Reference: NFPA 1851 (nfpa.org), which has you evaluate PPE after each use to decide the cleaning it needs. Questions about respiratory protection training? Talk to us.