MSA Advantage cartridge codes: GMA, GMB, GMC, GMD, GME, Mersorb and the P100 combinations
MSA names its cartridges by a GM code and a color: GMA organic vapor (black), GMB acid gas (white), GMC organic vapor and acid gas (yellow), GMD ammonia and methylamine (green), GME multigas (olive), Mersorb mercury vapor and chlorine, and a -P100 suffix when a P100 particulate filter is built in (magenta added to the color). The same codes are used on the bayonet Advantage line (815355 GMA, 815359 GME, 815366 GME-P100) and on the threaded Comfo line (464031 GMA, 492790 GME, 815182 GME-P100), so the code tells you the protection and the part number tells you the mask connection. The NIOSH class marks below are read from the MSA Respirator Cartridge Chart 1000-86-MC; the approval insert packed with each cartridge lists the facepieces and TC numbers.
MSA 815355 Advantage GMA Organic Vapor CartridgeOrganic vapor cartridge GMA, black, Advantage bayonet, 2 per package (MSA chart; us.msasafety.com)Why a code and a color. The MSA chart lays each cartridge out as a row of NIOSH class marks (OV, CL, SD, CD, HC, HS, AM, MA, FM, HF, MV, P100, R95, N95) with a color column, and the GM letter is MSA's shorthand for the row: GMA is the organic vapor row, GMB the acid gas row (chlorine, sulfur dioxide, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen sulfide), GMC both, GMD ammonia and methylamine, GME the multigas row that adds formaldehyde and hydrogen fluoride, and Mersorb the mercury vapor and chlorine row. A gas cartridge becomes a particulate cartridge two ways on the chart: with a -P100 version in the same housing, or with the N95 (815394 or 816357) or R95 (815397) snap-on prefilter under the 815392 cover, which the chart notes require both the prefilter and the cover for the R95 or N95 protection (note 5). The chart's own cautions apply to every row: not below 19.5 percent oxygen or in IDLH atmospheres (notes 1 and 2), and not against organic vapors with poor warning properties (note 3).
The Advantage gas and vapor cartridges
Class marks as the 2017 chart shows them; rows without a site product are on the chart but not stocked.
The P100 combinations, filters, pads and prefilters
From the same chart (Advantage page and the Flexi-Filter pads table). The chart definitions: N95 95% efficiency against aerosols free of oil; R95 95% against all aerosols with time restrictions; P100 99.97% against all aerosols; GMI effective against but not NIOSH approved for iodine vapor.
- 815362 Organic Vapor/P100 (GMA): Organic Vapor, P100; 2/PKG.
- 815363 Acid Gas/P100 (GMB): Chlorine, Sulfur Dioxide, Chlorine Dioxide, Hydrogen Chloride, Hydrogen Sulfide, P100; 2/PKG.
- 815364 Organic Vapor/Acid Gas/P100 (GMC): Organic Vapor, Chlorine, Sulfur Dioxide, Chlorine Dioxide, Hydrogen Chloride, Hydrogen Sulfide, P100; 2/PKG.
- 815365 Ammonia/Methylamine/P100 (GMD): Ammonia, Methylamine, P100; 2/PKG.
- 815366 Multigas/P100 (GME): Organic Vapor, Chlorine, Sulfur Dioxide, Chlorine Dioxide, Hydrogen Chloride, Hydrogen Sulfide, Ammonia, Methylamine, Formaldehyde, Hydrogen Fluoride, P100; 2/PKG.
- 815368 Chlorine/Mercury Vapor/P100 (Mersorb): Chlorine, Mercury Vapor, P100; 2/PKG.
- 815641 Iodine Vapor/P100 (GMI)*: Organic Vapor, P100; 2/PKG.
- 815369 Low-Profile P100: P100; Pack of 2.
- 10123079 Low-Profile P100: P100; Pack of 100.
- 10146939 P100 with Splash Guard: P100; Pack of 2.
- 818342 Flexi-Filter/P100: P100.
- 818343 Flexi-Filter/P100 w/Nuisance Level OV, Ozone Removal: P100.
- 818344 Flexi-Filter/P100 w/Nuisance Level AG, HF Removal: P100.
- 818346 Flexi-Filter/N95: N95.
- 818347 Flexi-Filter/N95 w/Nuisance Level OV Removal: N95.
- 818354 Flexi-Filter/P95: P95.
- 818355 Flexi-Filter/P95 w/Nuisance Level OV Removal: P95.
- 815394 N95 Snap-On Prefilter: N95; Pack of 10.
- 816357 N95 Snap-On Prefilter: N95; Box of 50.
- 815397 R95 Snap-On Prefilter: R95; Box of 20.
- 815392 Reusable Snap-On Cover (for N95 Snap-On Prefilter): N95; 2 in a Package.
- 815401 Reusable Snap-On Cover (for R95 Snap-On Prefilter): R95; 2 in a Package.
Questions people ask
What does GMA mean on an MSA cartridge?
Organic vapor, black label: 815355 on the Advantage bayonet line, 464031 on the Comfo threaded line; GMA-P100 adds the P100 filter (815362, 815178) (MSA chart).
What is the GME multigas cartridge approved for?
The 2017 chart marks organic vapor, chlorine, sulfur dioxide, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, methylamine, formaldehyde and hydrogen fluoride on the 815359 (Advantage) and 492790 (Comfo); the -P100 versions 815366 and 815182 add P100.
What is Mersorb?
MSA's mercury vapor and chlorine cartridge: 815361 and 815368 (P100) on the Advantage line, 466204 and 815185 (P100) on the Comfo line (chart). The Advantage 420 approval insert marks the Mersorb rows with special instructions (S).
Which masks take Advantage cartridges and which take Comfo?
Advantage bayonet cartridges fit the Advantage 200 LS and 420 half masks and the 1000, 3000 and 4000 Series full facepieces; Comfo threaded cartridges fit the Comfo Classic, Ultra-Twin, Ultra Elite and Duo-Twin, and the Advantage masks with the 809999 adapter (chart).
How does the N95 prefilter work?
The 815394 (or 816357) N95 and 815397 R95 prefilters sit under the 815392 snap-on cover on an Advantage gas cartridge; the chart states both the prefilter and the cover must be used to obtain the R95 or N95 particulate protection (note 5).
Is there a change schedule or indicator?
No end-of-service-life indicator is stated on the chart; MSA points to its service-life calculator and the employer's change schedule under 29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(iii).
Related guides
MSA Advantage 420 vs 900 vs 3200Half masks and the twin-port full facepieceHow to read a respirator cartridge color codeThe NIOSH color code across manufacturers3M cartridge and filter codes6001 to 60929, 2000/7093 filters, Secure ClickWhen do you change respirator cartridges?What 1910.134 requires and what the manufacturers stateThe ratings, test results and standards shown here are the manufacturers' published values, reproduced as published. Nothing on this page is a recommendation by Bayshore Safety that any product is suitable for a particular task, hazard or workplace. Selecting safety products and protective equipment is the responsibility of the end user and the employer, based on their own hazard assessment and the regulations that apply to their work. Confirm every value on the manufacturer's own documentation before use.