Face Mask

Quick Guide to Face Mask Selection and Use

The major difference between N95 medical and KN95, N95, FFP2 industrial models is N95 medical ones have protection for body fluid. For non surgical usage, you only need buy N95 industrial one. 

Choose the right mask for the task! Select the mask design, fit and filtration that matches the protection needs for each procedure or risk level. 

Filtration Level

Performance

Usage

KN95, N95, FPP2 Surgical

MAXIMUM FILTRATION

NIOSH Approved N95/equivalent standard KN95 Particulate Respirator

High Fluid Resistance  160 mmHg

Filtration Efficiency    BFE >=99.8%

                     PFE = 99.9% @ 0.1 micron

Breathability -Delta P <5.0mm H2O/cm2

Flame Spread              Class 1

Indicated for use when treating patients with airborne diseases such as TB or influenza.*

KN95, N95, FPP2 Industrial

KN95 Particulate Respirator

Meets NIOSH 42 CFR 84 N95 requirements for a minimum 95% filtration efficiency against solid and liquid aerosols that do not contain oil.

Breathability - Delta P <5.0mm H2O/cm2

Flame Spread            Class 1

To reduce risk of COVID-19 or influenza in non- surgical situation for all: police, retail, firefighter, etc. in hospital (except surgical), post office,  commercial buildings, construction,food processing, food Safety, general manufacturing, heavy infrastructure, mining, oil & gas, transportation

ASTM Level 3

ASTM LEVEL 3

High Fluid Resistance    160 mmHg

Filtration Efficiency   BFE 98%

                       PFE 98% @ 0.1 micron

Breathability - Delta P <5.0mm H2O/cm2

Flame Spread              Class 1

Ideal for procedures where heavy to moderate amounts of fluid, spray  and/or aerosols are produced.

Leave these for medical professionals.

ASTM Level 2

ASTM LEVEL2

High Fluid Resistance   120 mmHg

Filtration Efficiency   BFE 98%

             PFE 98% @ 0.1 micron

Breathability - Delta P <5.0mm H2O/cm2

Flame Spread          Class 1

Ideal for procedures where moderate  to light amounts of fluid, spray and/or aerosols are produced.

Leave these for medical professionals.

ASTM Level 1

ASTM LEVEL1

High Fluid Resistance       80 mmHg

Filtration Efficiency   BFE 95%

                 PFE 95% @ 0.1 micron

Breathability -Delta P <4.0mm H2O/cm2

Flame Spread                     Class 1

Ideal for procedures where low amounts of fluid, spray and/or aerosols are produced.

LOW PERFORMANCE

LOW PERFORMANCE

Surgical Molded Utility Mask

Physical Barrier Only

Filtration Efficiency  N/A

Ideal as a comfortable substitute for earloop face masks, this mask is a simple physical barrier ideal for exams and visitations or for dry, short procedures that do not produce fluid, spray or aerosols.

We can help you purchase and import all kind of face masks for medical surgical purposes or general protection. We find you FDA registered, PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 CE certified face masks.

Purpose or Intended Use

It is easy to confuse a surgical mask, a surgical N95 (KN95/FFP2) respirator, and an industrial N95 (KN95/FFP2) disposable respirator with one another. They look similar, and the words "respirator" and "mask" are often used interchangeably when discussing respiratory protection. However, in fact there are many differences between them. This information here is intended to educate you on the differences between surgical masks, surgical N95 respirators, and industrial N95 respirators.

Surgical masks

  • May include masks labeled as surgical, laser, isolation, dental, or medical procedure masks
  • Are primarily intended to protect the patient, not the wearer, from the wearer's saliva and respiratory secretions
  • May also help protect the wearer against exposure to microorganisms, body fluids, and large particles in the air but are not tight fitting and likely have substantial inward leakage for particles and organisms
  • Are designed to cover the mouth and nose loosely but are not sized for individual fit
  • Are used to help protect the environment and other nearby persons from the wearer's contaminants
  • Are not NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) approved

Surgical N95 respirators

  • Surgical N95 respirators are designed to reduce but cannot eliminate the wearer’s exposure to airborne biological contaminants. They do not eliminate the risk of illness, disease, or death.
  • Form a tight seal over the mouth and nose.
  • Require fit-testing and must be adjusted to your face to provide the intended effectiveness of filtering 95 percent of particles with a mass median diameter of 0.3 micrometers.
  • Employers and users are required to follow the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard, 29CFR 1910.134, as well as other state or local regulations, as appropriate.
  • Have specific use instructions, warnings, and limitations for use in health care environments.
  • Are NIOSH certified.
  • Are fluid resistant to a certified level measured against a stream of artificial blood directed at the respirator.

Industrial respirators (including industrial N95 respirators)
In the United States, NIOSH is responsible for testing and certifying respirators to be used in the workplace. NIOSH not only reviews the manufacturer's test data, but also performs its own independent tests on the respirators in NIOSH's governmental laboratories to verify the manufacturer's results. The tests include filter efficiency, degradation, and flow rate, to name a few. In addition to testing the respirators during the submittal process, NIOSH also will periodically purchase respirators in the field and test them to make sure the respirators are performing to their original certification.

Respirators are designed to seal the respirator to the face and pass a fit test. Under Respiratory Protection Standard 29 CFR 1910.134, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires the wearer of a respirator to be fit tested before he or she can use the respirator in a contaminated environment. OSHA also requires the wearer to perform user seal checks on the respirator before each use, as well as comply with the other elements of a comprehensive respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134.

Once the respirator is initially approved, NIOSH will certify its classification as N, R, or P and its filter efficiency as 95 percent, 99 percent, or 99.97 percent. It is also important to note that even though a respirator just by its use often helps to prevent the wearer from contaminating the environment; it cannot be considered a surgical mask unless it has been cleared by the FDA.

Major Regulation Standards around World

China KN95, AS/NZ P2, Korea 1st Class, and Japan DS FFRs are “equivalent” to US NIOSH N95 and European FFP2 respirators, for filtering non-oil-based particles such as those resulting from wildfires, PM 2.5 air pollution, volcanic eruptions, or bioaerosols (e.g. viruses).

different face mask standaards comparison

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