The production of industrial and military gas masks and filters was always done by one company in Hungary. However it was renamed and changed many times throughout the years.
Mercur (1928-1948)[]
On the base of the 28M szűrőbetét Mercur Műszaki és Vegyipari Rt. made industrial filters since 1928, but in 1933 this changed because Mercur developed its own filters, including industrial filters. The industrial filters were based on the 33M szűrőbetét (small lightweight filter) and on the 33M légtisztító (big, heavy filter). Interesting to note that all filter cotained a particle filtering layer. These filters were used with Ipari álarc, Félálarc and T. gázálarc.
Mercur filters | |||
---|---|---|---|
Type | Colour | Protective effect | Modern protection level |
A | brown | against the vapor of all organic substances and solvents like: benzene, gasoline, acetone, ethyl ether, formic acid, formaldehyde, crotonaldehyde, acrolein, pyridine, sulfonyl chloride, sulfur chloride, carbon tetrachloride, trichlorethylene, acetic acid, alcohols, carbon disulfide | A P3 |
B | gray | against chlorine, bromine, iodine, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen bromide, hydrogen iodine, phosgene, cyan, mercury vapors, metal vapors, nitrous gases, ammonia and for lesser extent substances listed under "A" filter. | ABKHg P3 |
D | gray - yellow | against fine particles | P3 |
E | yellow | against against sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid | BE P3 |
T (or F) | red | firefighter filter, against irritants in flue gases, industrial poisons listed under "B" filter and against hydrogen sulphide to a lesser extent than the "L" filter. It does not protect against carbon dioxide. | ABEKHg P3 |
G | blue | special protection against cyanides | B P3 |
J2 | blue - brown | special protectiona against Cyklon B | B P3 |
K | green | special protection against ammonia | K P3 |
L | yellow - red | special protection against hydrogen sulfide | B P3 |
M | yellow - blue | special protection against hydrogen sulfide and ammonia | BK P3 |
O | yellow - green | special protection against arsenic hydrogen and hydrogen phosphorus | B P3 |
R | yellow - brown | against hydrogen sulfide and for lesser extent substances listed under "A" filter. | AB P3 |
U | red - gray | against arsenic hydrogen, hydrogen phosphorus and for lesser extent substances listed under "B" filter. | ABKHg P3 |
Műszaki Művek (1952-1963)[]
These filters were based on the 41M except for the Szénmonoxid filter (CO), which was different. Every protection type has a different colour or colour mix, resulting in a colourful appearance, and has a small paper on the side which contains information about the filter. There is a painted protection type marking on some of them as well. These were mostly used with the 51M, Mg. gázálarc, Ipari félálarc and post-war production 34M (Ipari gázálarc) masks.
Műszaki Művek filters | |||
---|---|---|---|
Type | Colour | Protective effect | Modern protection level |
A | brown | against vapors of organic materials | A |
AD | brown - yellow | against spray fumes used in plant protection | AX |
D | gray - yellow | against dust | P3 |
B | gray | solvents, acid gases, halogen acids, halogens, nitrous gases | A B E |
E | yellow | against acid gases | E |
G | blue | against sulfuric acid | B |
J | blue - brown | against Zyklon-B | B |
K | green | against ammonia | K |
L | yellow - red | against hydrogen sulfide | B |
M | yellow - blue | against hydrogen sulfide and ammonia | B K |
O | yellow - green | against phosphorus hydrogen and hydrogen arsenic | B |
R | yellow - brown | hydrogen sulfide, to a lesser extent against organic vapors and solvents | AB |
Tü | red | against combustion gases and fly ash | AXB P3 |
Pb | white - brown | against lead vapor | B P3 |
CO | green - black | against carbon monoxide | CO |
Cl | green - yellow | against chlorine | B |
Hg | brown - red | against mercury vapor | Hg P3 |
Medicor (1963-1988)[]
Early Medicor (1963-1975)[]
The factory was renamed to Medicor Művek Légzésvédelmi Készülékek Gyára and the production of the 41M filter based industrial filters continued with Medicor markings and with slightly different colour and letter classification. Later the the small paper and the painted protection type was changed to a wrap-around paper strip which contains information about the filter and has the same colour as the secondary colour on the filter.
Before 1970 but after 1965 the 41M filtres were a bit updated, the filter got a new bottom and a rubber plug attached to the canister with a string but the markings and types remained the same.
Early Medicor filters | |||
---|---|---|---|
Type | Colour | Protective effect | Modern protection level |
A | brown | against vapors of organic substances and solvents | A |
B | gray | against acid gases, halogens, halogen acids, nitrous gases, to a lesser extent solvents | ABE |
Cl | green -yellow | against chlorine | B |
CO | gray with black line | against carbon monixide | CO |
D | gray - yellow | against dust | P3 |
DF | gray - yellow | only for frest air breathing equipment | P |
E | yellow | sulfuric acid and sulfur dioxide | E |
G | blue | against hydrogen cyanide and cyanogen chloride | B |
J | blue - brown | against Zyklon-B | B |
K | green | against ammonia | K |
L | yellow - red | against hydrogen sulphide | B |
M | yellow - green | against hydrogen sulphide and ammonia | BK |
O | gray - red | against arsenic and phosphorus hydrogens | B |
R | yellow - brown | against hydrogen sulfide, slightly organic vapors and solvents | AB |
Tü F | red | against combustion gases, fumes, cyan vapors. Not against CO! | AXB P3 |
X | brown - red | against neurotoxins, sprays, lead dust and fumes, combustion gases, fumes. Not against CO! | AX P3 |
Y | white - red | against hydrogen sulfide and slightly organic solvent vapors | AB |
Z | blue - red | against hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen arsenic, hydrogen phosphorus, Zyklon-B gas | B |
Late Medicor (1975-1988)[]
In 1970 the 70M filter was introduced and the industrial canister changed to the 70M shape not long after that in 1975 hence the designation of these filters is 75M (the specific designation contain the protection level, like "75M U"). These are not that specific in protection type and much more similar to the modern classification scheme. The two-coloured painting was abandoned so these filters are one colour painted and the wrap-around paper strip gives the second colour. These were mostly used with Ipari teljes álarc, Ipari félálarc, 60M and SM-41. These filters came out from the factory packed in wrapping paper with a stamp on the top showing the protection level. Shelflife was 2 years.
Each filter had a SZOT MTKI number (Szakszervezetek Országos Tanácsa, Munkavédelmi Tudományos Kutató Intézet - National Council of Labor Unions, Occupational Safety Research Institute), however this sticker on the filters wasn't applied before the late 1970s or early 1980s. The first number is always 4 because that standed for the respiratory protective equipment. The second number is 7 which meant that these are against gases or vapors, the only exception is the D because it was against dust so the number is 6. The third number is 3 because that marked the filters. The last number, which can double digit, marks the type of the filter.
Late Medicor filters | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Type | Colour | MTKI number | Protective effect | Modern protection level |
A | brown - white | against vapors of organic substances and solvents | A | |
2A | brown - white | same as A but longer protection time | A2 | |
A-B | dark green - white | 4735 | against vapors of organic substances and solvents, acid gases, nitrous gases, halogens and halogen acids | ABE |
B | gray - white | 4734 | acid gases, nitrous gases and to a lesser extent solvents | ABE |
2B | gray - white | same as B but longer protection time | B2E2 | |
Cl | dark green - yellow | 4736 | against chlorine | B |
D | gray - yellow | 4631 | against dust and smoke | P3 |
DF | gray - white | only for frest air breathing equipment | P | |
E | yellow - white | against sulfur dioxide | E | |
2E | yellow - white | same as E but longer protection time | E2 | |
K | green - white | against ammonia | K | |
2K | green - white | same as K but longer protection time | K2 | |
M | yellow - green | against hydrogen sulphide and ammonia | BK | |
U | red - white | 47317 | against vapors of organic substances and solvents, acid gases, nitrous gases, halogens, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen cyanide, arsenic hydrogen and phosphorus hydrogens as well as lead vapor and dust, combustion gases and smoke | ABEK P3 |
X | brown - organge | 4739 | against sprays containing neuro toxins, lead vapor and dust, combustion gases | AX P3 |
2X | brown - orange | same as X but longer protection time | AX P3 | |
Y | white - red | against hydrogen sulfide and slightly organic solvent vapors | AB | |
Z | blue - white or blue - red | against hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen arsenic, hydrogen phosphorus, Zyklon-B gas | B |
Medicor Respirátor (1988-1990)[]
In 1988 the company became independent from the parent company Medicor Csoport and was a shareholder too. The name changed to Medicor Respirátor IRt. and the company updated its corporate identity and tried to modernise the assortment as well. The overall appearance remained the same but these filters made in two sizes, one is a bit higher than the other and came packed in an orange cardboard box with a marking on the top about the protection level and a manual in the box. Later the filters sometimes were just packed in a plastic bag. Shelflife was 2 years for gas filters and 3 years for combined filters. In 1990 the French Comasec International SA. company bought 50% of the shares hence the company name changed to Comasec Respirátor Rt., but the old labels were used till 1991 and in some cases early 1992.
Medicor Respirátor filters | |||
---|---|---|---|
Type |
Colour |
Protective effect |
Modern protection level |
A2 | gray | against solvents, vapors of organic substances and organic gases (>65°C) | A2 |
AX2 | yellowish green - green | against solvents, vapors of organic substances and organic gases (<65°C) | AX2 |
A2-P3 | gray - white | against solvents, vapors of organic substances, organic gases, dust and aerosols | A2 P3 |
AX2-P3 | yellowish green - white | against solvents, vapors of organic substances, organic gases (<65°C), dust and aerosols | AX2 P3 |
A-B | gray - brown | against solvents, vapors of organic substances, organic gases, inorganic gases and vapors | AB |
A2-B2 | gray - brown | against solvents, vapors of organic substances, organic gases, inorganic gases and vapors | A2B2 |
A2B2-P3 | gray - brown - white | against solvents, vapors of organic substances, organic gases, inorganic gases and vapors, dust and aerosols | |
B2 | gray | against inorganic gases and vapors | B2 |
B2-P3 | gray - white | against inorganic gases, vapors, dust and aerosols | B2 P3 |
E2 | yellow | against acid gases and vapors | E2 |
E2-P3 | yellow - white | against acid gases, vapors, dust and aerosols | E2 P3 |
K2 | green | against ammonia and organic amine derivatives | K2 |
K2-P3 | green - white | against ammonia, organic amine derivatives, dust and aerosols | K2 P3 |
MG | red (earlier purple) | for plant protection work, against neurotoxins and organophosphorus sprays. | AXB P3 |
J2-P3 | orange - white | against methyl iodide and radioactive dust | Reactor P3 |
NO-P3 | blue - white | against nitrous gases | NO |
P3 | white | against fine dust, aerosols and bacteria | P3 |
Comasec Respirátor (1991-1995)[]
40mm[]
Until about 1995 the filters remained the same 75M (70M based) ones but with a transitional thread which can fit in both GOST and DIN masks. And as mentioned before till 1991 the labels still featured Medicor Respirátor on the label. This changed in 1992 when the new Comasec Respirátor Rt. logo started to be used. Since 1995 a new more modern type of filer is in production with STANAG/NATO/DIN/EN thread and raw aluminium body. The shares of Comasec International SA. were purchased back by Medicor Csoport in 1995 however the Comasec Respirátor logo was used till 1997. These filters were mostly used with Biomaszk, Szupermaszk and possibly with older models like the Ipari teljes álarc.
80mm[]
This time came in the special 80mm threaded double canisters for the Respirátor FA series half masks.
Designation | Colour (on the sticker) | Protective effect |
---|---|---|
A | brown | Against organic gases and vapors. |
B | gray | Against inorganic gases and vapors (except carbon monoxide and nitrogen monoxide). |
E | yellow | Against sulfur dioxide and other acidic gases and vapours. |
K | green | Against ammonia and organic amine derivatives. |
AB | brown, grey | Same as A and B. |
P2 | white | Against moderately toxic dust and aerosols. |
MG | purple,white | Agricultural filter. Combined design. Against organic and inorganic pesticides,dust and aerosols. |
Respirátor (1995-2015) Gamma (2015-)[]
In 1995 Respirátor Rt. was purchased by Medicor Csoport and in 2007 it started a partnership with Gamma Műszaki Zrt. then in 2015 the two company fully merged together. Now they produce military and civilian NBC equipment. The filters remained the same from the Comasec Respirátor era only the company logo changed. Shelflife is 6 years for most of the filters, but for the Reaktor P3 D it is just 3 while for the P3 R it is 10 years. The "R" and "RD" means that the filter can be used multiple times, "D" means the filter can be used only once. The weight of the gas filters is 210g, of the combined filters is 240g and the particle filter weights 110g.
The production of the special 80mm half-mask filters is unchanged.
Respirátor (Gamma) 40mm filters | |||
---|---|---|---|
Type | Designation | Colour (on the sticker) | Protective effect |
A1 | brown | against organic gases and vapors with a boiling point over 65°C | |
A1P3 RD | brown - white | against organic gases and vapors with a boiling point over 65°C, liquid and solid aerosols | |
A2 | R2401 | brown | against organic gases and vapors with a boiling point over 65°C |
A2P3 | R2601 | brown-white | against organic gases and vapors with a boiling point over 65°C, liquid and solid aerosols |
AX | brown | against organic gases and vapors with a boiling point under 65°C | |
AXP3 | brown - white | against organic gases and vapors with a boiling point under 65°C, liquid and solid aerosols | |
B1 | gray | against inorganic gases and vapors (except carbon monoxide) | |
B1P3 RD | gray - white | against inorganic gases and vapors (except carbon monoxide), liquid and solid aerosols | |
B2 | R2402 | gray | against inorganic gases and vapors (except carbon monoxide) |
B2P3 | R2602 | gray - white | against inorganic gases and vapors (except carbon monoxide), liquid and solid aerosols |
E1 | yellow | against sulphur dioxide and other acidic gases and vapors | |
E1P3 RD | yellow - white | against sulphur dioxide and other acidic gases and vapors, liquid and solid aerosols | |
E2 | R2403 | yellow | against sulphur dioxide and other acidic gases and vapors |
K1 | green | against ammonia and organic ammonium derivatives | |
K1P3 RD | green - white | against ammonia and organic ammonium derivatives, liquid and solid aerosols | |
K2 | R2404 | green | against ammonia and organic ammonium derivatives |
A1B1 | brown - gray | against organic gases and vapors with a boiling point over 65°C, inorganic gases and vapors (except carbon monoxide) | |
A1B1P3 RD | brown - gray - white | against organic gases and vapors with a boiling point over 65°C, inorganic gases and vapors (except carbon monoxide), liquid and solid aerosols | |
A2B2 | R2405 | brown - gray | against organic gases and vapors with a boiling point over 65°C, inorganic gases and vapors (except carbon monoxide) |
A2B2P3 | R2605 | brown - gray - white | against organic gases and vapors with a boiling point over 65°C, inorganic gases and vapors (except carbon monoxide), liquid and solid aerosols |
A1B1E1K1 | R2157 | brown - gray - yellow - green | against organic gases and vapors with a boiling point over 65°C, inorganic gases and vapors (except carbon monoxide), sulphur dioxide and other acidic gases and vapors, ammonia and organic ammonium derivatives |
A2B2E2K2 | R2406 | brown - gray - yellow - green | against organic gases and vapors with a boiling point over 65°C, inorganic gases and vapors (except carbon monoxide), sulphur dioxide and other acidic gases and vapors, ammonia and organic ammonium derivatives |
A1B1E1K1P3 RD | brown - gray - yellow - green - white | against organic gases and vapors with a boiling point over 65°C, inorganic gases and vapors (except carbon monoxide), sulphur dioxide and other acidic gases and vapors, ammonia and organic ammonium derivatives, liquid and solid aerosols | |
P3 R | R2502 | white | liquid and solid aerosols (≥ 0.3µm) |
A2B2E2K2P3 RD | R2606 | brown - gray - yellow - green - white | against organic gases and vapors with a boiling point over 65°C, inorganic gases and vapors (except carbon monoxide), sulphur dioxide and other acidic gases and vapors, ammonia and organic ammonium derivatives, liquid and solid aerosols |
A2B2E2K2Hg-P3 RD | brown - gray - yellow - green - red - white | against organic gases and vapors with a boiling point over 65°C, inorganic gases and vapors (except carbon monoxide), sulphur dioxide and other acidic gases and vapors, ammonia and organic ammonium derivatives, mercury, liquid and solid aerosols | |
A2B2E2K2P3NBC | brown - gray - yellow - green - white | against organic gases and vapors with a boiling point over 65°C, inorganic gases and vapors (except carbon monoxide), sulphur dioxide and other acidic gases and vapors, ammonia and organic ammonium derivatives, mercury, liquid and solid aerosols, chemical agents | |
Reaktor P3 D (SX-IP3) | R2802 | orange (purple till 2005) - white | radioactive iodide including radioactive methyl iodide and radioactive particles |
Other images[]
References[]
- http://www.gammatech.hu/?lang=hun&mnuGrp=mnuMain&
- http://gasmask1.kalasnyikov.hu/filters.htm
- http://www.atemschutzddr.de/0d5ea9a73d0c0c401/025ea99bcc11e3201/index.html
- Polgári Védelem XV. évfolyam 1. szám (newspaper)
- Medicor Respirátor brochures
- Mercur brochures
- Egyéni védőruhák, védőeszközök, védőfelszerelések katalógusa (Book-1979)
- Egyéni védőruhák, védőeszközök, védőfelszerelések katalógusa (Book-1967)