The CM-8M air-purifying gas mask must be stored in a dark, cool and dust-free place free from sudden temperature changes.

The storage room should be ventilated regularly. Temperatures may vary between 10°C and 25°C within relative humidity up to 65%.

NBC gas masks must not be exposed to radiant heat or sunshine. Fuels, solvents, lubricants and other inflammable substances, including chemicals, must not be stored with masks.

Moreover, there must not be any electrical machines or appliances that produce sparks or discharges during operation (ozone creation).

Avoid deformation of the rubber parts of the facepiece and internal CBRN gas mask during storage.

You would have to perform a negative pressure test. To do this, you would put the mask on your face, take a deep breath out, cover the inhalation valve (make sure the opposite side has the 40mm cap in place), and take a deep breath. If the mask sucks tight to your face without leaking air, you know that this mask fits. 

Filter use time depends on a few factors, including atmospheric conditions, contaminant type, concentration, along with your breathing rate. As a general rule of thumb, we would suggest having two filters per person per day for emergency evacuation purposes. If you'd like specific data on use time, you can look at the brochure that goes into breakthrough times along with the application.

Typically, it's never recommended to swap filters while you're in the thick of it. We are also selling escape filters, so the goal is for you to get out of the danger zone as fast as possible.

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you'll need to hot-swap filters while in the thick of it, you'll need to get proper training in order to execute the "Mask Clearing & Sealing" procedure safely. We suggest doing independent research on procedures of this level, as these are typically only taught in professional institutions.