Q: |
How is smoke and gas filtered by the Xcaper Smoke Filter? |
A: |
The Xcaper Smoke Filter is based on the patented Whiffs filtration technology. It is the world’s first and only moist filter. The proprietary all natural gel used in the Xcaper Smoke Filter absorbs and neutralizes vapors and gasses. The positively charged particulate matter is captured by the negatively charged beads.
Back to Question |
|
|
Q: |
What particulate and gases will the Xcaper filter system filter? |
A: |
The Xcaper filter will capture smoke, dust, airborne fiber and other particulate matter down to about 1/3 microns. It will also filter water-soluble gases known as anhydrites to about 95%. It also filters other dangerous gases commonly found in air in and around a fire such as acrolein, hydrogen cyanide, hydrochloric acid and chlorine to name a few. The filter also neutralizes in excess of 90% of carbon monoxide.
|
|
Back to Question
|
Q: |
Is it hard to breathe through the Xcaper filter? |
A: |
The Xcaper Easy Breathe Smoke Filter cloth is specially designed to allow working firefighter to breathe under difficult conditions. For high altitude or extremely strenuous work, we recommend the Xcaper Easy Breathe 2 Smoke Filter.
Back to Question |
|
|
Q: |
What is the Xcaper Smoke Filter made of? |
A: |
The Xcaper Smoke Filter cloth is made of fire resistant polyester filled with negatively charged polystyrene beads. This cloth meets California Fire Standard and can withstand a direct flame for over 38 seconds before it begins to melt. Polyester is used because it is possible to heat set the opening in the pique weave of the cloth during its manufacturing process, which it will then hold during the life of the product, and because it will not absorb moisture. This polyester weave allows the water vapor from the wearer’s breath to pass through the cloth and drip out the bottom of the filter during use, instead of absorbing the moisture and potentially reducing the filter’s effectiveness. Remember that each exhalation is approximately 6.8% water vapor.
Back to Question |
|
|
Q: |
Won’t the Styrene beads melt or off gas at high temperatures? |
A: |
Yes they will off gas, but at 810° F/432° C. Therefore, if the beads are off gassing, the user has a much greater problem, this means that the user would have to literally be on fire.
Back to Question |
|
|
Q: |
Why is the Xcaper Smoke Filter wet? |
A: |
Our filter is moist because we use a gel all natural proprietary gel as one of the filtering elements. The Xcaper moist filter is the worlds first and only moist direct contact smoke particulate and vapors filter. The filter is moist because it is with this moisture that we dilute and absorb the gases and vapors produced by fires. The gases are absorbed into the slightly high pH gel (just under 9.0). It is the combination of the high pH of the gel and the water molecule in the gel that neutralizes hydrogen cyanide. Hydrogen cyanide gas is found in nearly every structural overhaul situation and is the most dangerous to firefighters conducting overhaul operations. Its “stickiness” also captures small particulate matter that may pass through a dry filter medium.
Back to Question |
|
|
Q: |
What is the wetting agent used in the Xcaper filter? |
A: |
We use an extract of the plant know as Aloe Vera. Our base aloe is the same one used by many hospitals to rehydrate damaged lungs. Aloe is unique because it has a water molecule surrounded by an oil molecule. It is this combination that attracts the gases and vapors found in fires. The “slick” feel of the aloe is the oil layer. This layer will not be diluted by water vapor from the wearer’s breath; in fact we have recently learned that the filter’s ability to filter gases is slightly enhanced by the combination of the water vapor and carbon dioxide from the wearer’s exhalation with the aloe gel in the filter.
Back to Question |
|
|
Q: |
Can the Xcaper Smoke Mask be reused? |
A: |
No. It is a one-time use product and should be disposed of after use.
Back to Question |
|
|
Q: |
Has the Xcaper Smoke Filter been tested? |
A: |
Aside from years of field testing by professional firefighters, an independent laboratory, RNK Enviornmental, Inc., performed a series of tests of the Xcaper professional filter in accordance with British Standard EN 403. The abbreviated test results shown below are the mean of two tests over 16 minutes for both the Easy Breathe and Easy Breathe 2 filter. For complete test data please visit the technical section of this Website
Back to Question |
|
|
Q:. |
Has NIOSH set a standard for this type of moist direct contact smoke/gases filtration? |
A: |
No. There is no NIOSH standard for this type of product. After discussions with NIOSH staff in 2002, they agreed that this was a new technology and that a new standard for this type of “moist direct contact smoke particulate/gases filter” was needed. All other filters used in this and similar fashions to date have fallen under the “gap” filtration type. Gap filtration means a space between the wearer’s mouth and the filter element. Now that we have completed the BS EN 403 testing described above, representatives from NIOSH believe it is now the appropriate time to begin developing a standard for moist direct contact smoke particulate/gases filters.
Back to Question |
|
|
Q: |
Who is using the Xcaper smoke mask system? |
A: |
Firefighters, major corporations, government agencies, law enforcement and security agencies are now using the Xcaper Filter or Xcaper Smoke mask both of which are use the patented Whiffs moist filtration technology. For a list of our satisfied customers please visit the customer section of this Website.
Back to Question |
