Just hit 500 hours on my Kirby Morgan helmet and the faceplate seal finally needed a change

I was logging my gear maintenance last night and saw the total run time. I bought it used for a job in Mobile two years ago and never kept a close count. The old seal looked fine during my weekly check, but when I pulled it, it was way more brittle than I thought. Anyone else have a good rule for when to swap those out before they fail?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_olivia2mo ago

Wait, you only do a weekly visual check on the seal? I swap mine based on the calendar, not the hours. Every six months, no matter what it looks like.

the_margaret2mo ago

Okay, swapping on a strict calendar schedule is interesting. But what about the actual environment the mask lives in? My last place was super damp and dusty, and the seal material felt different way before six months. My new apartment is super clean and dry, and the same mask type lasts longer. The calendar doesn't know if your gear is stuffed in a hot car trunk or sitting nicely on a shelf. A visual and touch check catches that real-world wear.

nelson.cameron1mo ago

Touch it every week, but trust the calendar more than your eyes (the brittleness sneaks up on you).