Tag: KN95

Posted on in COVID-19, Mask

How to discern between true and false masks?

About the mask

There are many rumors circulating in the market

Today, we are going to break it one by one

Rumor 1: a qualified mask will absorb a lot of paper, otherwise it is not qualified.

Spread saying: mask can absorb small paper is a qualified mask, otherwise is not qualified.

Here’s the truth:

In the case of complete structure, the mask can absorb a large number of paper scraps, mainly by the outer layer of spunbonded cloth. But the core difference between a real mask and a fake mask is whether there is a molten spray layer in the middle. And melting spray layer has static electricity, not equal to the outer layer of the mask also has static electricity. For example, we all know that banana meat is sweet, but that doesn’t mean that the skin is sweet. If it’s not, it’s a fake banana.

In fact, it is very simple to make the outer layer of the mask to absorb the paper scraps, friction can generate static electricity, but this does not tell whether there is a melting spray layer in the mask, and whether the melting spray layer process is qualified.

Rumor 2: wearing a mask means you can blow out candles and lighters.

Popular saying: wearing a mask can blow out seedlings, that masks are not qualified.

Here’s the truth:

There are many kinds of masks. Some masks with higher requirements of protective performance, such as N95 and N99, are often used in the middle filter layer with thicker melt spraying cloth, or even multi-layer melt spraying cloth, in order to ensure protection. Therefore, the resistance of masks is relatively large, and it is difficult to blow out seedlings when wearing them. But some masks, such as surgical masks, offer relatively little resistance and may be used to extinguish flames.

In addition, like respirators with breathing valves, it is easier to blow out seedlings. In addition, everyone’s cardiopulmonary function is not the same, which means wearing the same mask, some people can blow out the seedlings, but some people cannot blow out the seedlings, so it is not accurate to judge whether the mask is qualified. So can blow out the seedlings, depends on the individual cardiopulmonary function and the breathability of the mask, and the protection of the mask is not necessarily related, natural also do not apply to identify whether the mask is qualified.

Rumor 3: disposable mask gaskets can provide protection.

Spread saying: a lot of disposable mask cushion business all claim to use nonwoven cloth, with the structure of the mask has 3 layers, can have protective effect.

Here’s the truth:

Some unknown channels on the market out of the “mask pad” “mask manufacturer reform”, just used non-woven cloth, even if there are three layers of structure, dust, moisture absorption, but may not be used in the production of surgical masks need technology, also cannot guarantee the ability to filter bacteria. It is not recommended to buy mask pads produced by unknown manufacturers that have not passed the medical testing standards.

The filter element of the mask that has passed the medical test standard needs to be used with the mask mold/mask of the same brand. The disposable mask pad that has passed the medical test standard should pay attention to whether it is breathable, whether it fits with the face, and whether it can cover the mouth and nose after sticking into the mask.

Do not buy mask pad also can, alternate the use of hand mask, single use time is not too long, pay attention to hang up ventilation and timely replacement, can be used for a longer time.

Rumor 4: masks can be identified by whether they are waterproof or not.

Rumor has it that masks can be identified by whether they are waterproof or not.

Here’s the truth:

This method cannot be used to determine the authenticity of masks. General mask surface cloth is polypropylene spunbonded nonwovens, polypropylene itself is a kind of hydrophobic material, will be made into masks with spunbonded cloth, natural is also hydrophobic. The flow of water is difficult to penetrate unless a great deal of pressure is applied to the material.

Many fake masks on the market also use waterproof polypropylene spunbonded nonwoven materials, but for the middle layer of the mask to play a core role of protection with electrostatic melt spraying cloth, some fake masks with spunbonded cloth pretend, some use no static melt spraying cloth. Therefore, only through whether waterproof to identify is not reliable.

Have you learned how to identify any masks you buy from trusted sources？

Posted on in Mask

Do not purchase masks without melt-blown! Identification of true and false melt-blown mask!

Due to the limited expansion of covid-19 epidemic in the global scope, the demand for anti-epidemic masks is increasing all over the world. The economic benefits from the huge market demand have led to the emergence of a large number of substandard mask products in the market, among which the quality is the most important difference lies in the advantages and disadvantages of the mask lining fusing cloth.

Melt-blown is an important material for the production of surgical masks and N95 masks. It is called the “heart” of masks.

“There is no supply of melt-sprayed cloth, which is the core of masks,” said he, head of a clothing factory in quzhou, zhejiang province, according to Chinese media. A short month, a lot of enterprises are to produce masks, although the price of melt-blown cloth price increase is very big, but at present China melt-spraying cloth shortage is severe, there is no so much melt-spraying cloth supply market, now stuck in the melt-spraying cloth link.

What is melt-blown fabric?

Cut open an already used surgical mask and you’ll find: the mask has three layers:

SMS structure:

  • the inner S layer is ordinary non-woven fabric, which mainly functions as moisture absorption;
  • the outer S layer is a non-woven cloth with waterproof treatment, which is mainly used to isolate the fluid from the patient and prevent droplets.
  • the middle M layer is the most important core layer, which USES a melt spray cloth with electret treatment to filter bacterial suspended particles.

Melt spray cloth is a kind of polypropylene with high melt index as the material, by many criss-cross fiber with random direction laminated film, the fiber diameter range of 0.5~10 micron, its fiber diameter is about one thirtieth of the hair.

N95 level mask, optimized in structure :(middle level) more layers of core filter, thicker thickness. An ordinary surgical mask needs about 1g fusible spraying cloth +2g spunbonded cloth. An N95 mask, about 3-4g fusible spraying cloth +4g spunbonded cloth composition.

Although the size of novel coronavirus is very small, about 100 nm (0.1 micron), but the virus can not exist independently, its transmission route is mainly secretions and sneezing droplets, droplets in the size of about 5 micron, this is one;

Second, fusion-spraying cloth is essentially a fiber filter, containing virus droplets near the fusion-spraying cloth, will be electrostatic adsorption on the surface, can not pass through.

How did melt-spraying cloth come about?

The S layer and the M layer of the mask, although the raw material is polypropylene special resin, but melt spraying cloth special material and other non-woven fabric raw material, there are some differences in the production process, such as the M layer on a modified plastic link.

Special material for melt spraying cloth

Melt spraying cloth special material is high melt index polypropylene. Polypropylene melt index is higher, melt out of the fiber is finer, made of melt spray cloth filter is also better.

Oil → atmospheric decompression unit/secondary coking hydrocracking naphtha/hydrocracking light naphtha → ethylene cracking unit → ethylene/propylene → ethylene oxide/polypropylene (special resin)

S layer (spunbonded layer) : polypropylene resin → send to non-woven fabric factory to produce S layer → send to mask factory

M layer (fusible spray layer) : polypropylene resin → send to the modified plastic factory to produce fusible spray cloth material → send to the fusible spray nonwoven factory to make M layer → send to the mask factory

Because polypropylene, the raw material of melt-spraying cloth, is taken from petroleum, petrochemical enterprises have advantages in producing melt-spraying cloth.

Identify melted spray cloth

Many fake mask manufacturers took advantage of the loophole, in order to profit from the use of extremely poor quality, cheap, substandard raw materials, a turnover of nearly 10 times.

Some direct omit the most important melt spray cloth filter layer in the middle, with ordinary non-woven cloth instead, did not play the role of filtering virus, may also produce harm to the body!

So how do you tell if the laminated spray fabric in a surgical mask is real?

The two layers of inferior quality are easy to identify. A useful surgical mask must have three layers of spunbonded nonwoven fabric on each side and a full gram of melted spray cloth in the middle.

The figure shows the melting spray cloth. The filtering effect is related to its gram weight (grams per square meter). This range is 18-500g, 40-50g above the filtering effect is good.

Good fusion-sprayed cloth looks white instead of transparent due to its heavy weight in grams, and it looks distinctly different from the spunbonded non-woven fabric on both sides, which, to put it bluntly, looks like paper. If it looks different but obviously thin, it is a melted spray cloth with a small weight in grams. The thinner the melt spray cloth, the worse the effect.

Simple identification method:

First, as the name suggests, the spray layer melts when it encounters fire, not when it burns. Paper burns when it meets fire.

Second, melting spray layer has static electricity, you will melt spray layer into a strip, will obviously feel the electrostatic adsorption effect, can also be a strip of molten spray layer adsorption on stainless steel.

So at the end of the day you can take the mask off and look at it,

Avoid wearing a fake mask

Posted on in COVID-19, Mask

Is it true that masks don’t burn? Ten rumors about mask authenticity!

During the epidemic, rumors were flooding the Internet, and rumors spread all over the place. If you read more, you might believe it. For example, as a mask for important epidemic prevention products, many consumers are faced with practical problems such as the distinction between true and false, model distinction, and whether they can be used repeatedly. If you can’t buy a mask, netizens have invented various methods to extend the duration of the mask, and there are many rumors about the mask.

Rumor 1:

The mask is impermeable to water, indicating resistance to novel coronavirus.

Authority unpack: the cloth of general face mask surface is polypropylene spin stick nonwoven cloth, polypropylene itself is a kind of hydrophobic material, after making its face mask use nonwoven cloth, also have certain waterproof. The flow of water is difficult to penetrate unless a great deal of pressure is applied to the material.

The standard gb19083-2010 (medical respirator) and yy0469-2011 (medical surgical mask) have the technical requirements of resistance to synthetic blood penetration, and gb19083-2010 (medical respirator) has the technical requirements of surface moisture resistance, while YY/ t0969-2013 (disposable surgical mask) does not have these two technical requirements.

In fact, non-n95 and non-medical surgical masks may not be resistant to novel coronavirus even if they are impermeable to water. Some of the fake masks surface can also be waterproof polypropylene spun-bonded non-woven material, but for the middle layer of the mask to play a core protective role of melt-sprayed non-woven cloth, some fake masks with spun-bonded cloth pretend, cannot have the effect of filtering viruses. Therefore, only through whether waterproof to identify is not reliable.

Rumor 2:

Disposable mask middle layer does not burn is the real thing.

Authoritative interpretation: standard gb19083-2010 (medical protective mask) and yy0469-2011 (medical surgical mask) have the index of flame retardant performance; However, YY/ t0969-2013 (disposable surgical mask) does not require flame retardant.

For the flame retardant performance of medical protective masks and surgical masks, the corresponding standard requirements: masks should be made of non-flammable materials, and the burning time of masks should not exceed 5 seconds after they leave the flame. Many of the fake masks may have used flame retardant materials, but other key properties such as particulate filtration efficiency and bacterial filtration efficiency do not meet the standards.

Rumor 3:

Use alcohol to disinfect masks?

Authoritative interpretation: disposable masks can not be “disinfection”, alcohol is liquid, with alcohol to the mask disinfection, may destroy the surface material of the mask hydrophobic treatment process, and then affect the surface blocking performance and intermediate layer filtering effect, so it is not recommended. Many expensive masks use filters that cannot be washed with water.

Rumor 4：

Use oven, microwave or boiling water to disinfect the mask and reuse it.

Authority unpack: high temperature can kill virus really, but mask product especially medical model mask, the material that USES as well as the coating outside, it is to have special material (polypropylene melt spray), if use steam, high temperature wait for way disinfection, can change mask material qualitative, affect the protective effect of mask.

Rumor 5：

The mouth of the mask is lined with a tissue folded in half to extend the use time.

Authority unscramble: mask from outside to inside is to resist water layer, filter layer, hygroscopicity layer respectively, those who have protective effect basically is intermediate filter layer. The longer the mask is used, the less effective it is. Ordinary sanitary tissues can only absorb the water vapor from the mouth, and cannot replace the filtration effect.

Rumor 6：

The more masks you wear, the safer it is.

Authoritative interpretation: as long as the correct wearing of qualified surgical mask, only one can achieve the expected protective effect. Wearing multiple masks on top of one another can theoretically add some protection, but it can increase ventilation resistance and discomfort, and can be a waste of supplies.

Rumor 7：

A strong dryer can sterilize the mask, face and hands in 30 seconds.

Authoritative interpretation: the warm wind of household hair dryer is about 55℃, hot wind exceeds 70℃ generally. According to the “novel coronavirus infected pneumonia treatment scheme (trial fifth edition)” issued by the state health commission, novel coronavirus is sensitive to temperature, 56 ℃ under 30 minutes will die. But the hair dryer, no matter how high the temperature is set, can only blow on the surface of the skin, it is impossible to blow to the respiratory tract. Whereas a novel coronavirus mainly infects the respiratory tract. Even if you want to sterilize the surface of the skin, keep blowing at 56℃ for at least 30 minutes, it is likely to damage the skin, as alcohol disinfection more convenient.

Rumor 8：

In the family napkin, gauze, etc. can make masks.

Authority interpretation: masks include water blocking layer, filtration layer, moisture absorption layer, such as paper towels, plastic wrap, cotton cloth, gauze and other materials, it is difficult to play the role of water blocking and filtration, especially covid-19 virus diameter is about 60-140nm, these materials can not effectively filter the virus. And clingfilm itself basic airtight, want to be able to breathe is to rely on the gap between DIY mask and face, how can you prevent virus to breathe if there is gap?

Rumor 9：

The mask should be cut into pieces or disinfected after use.

Authority interpretation: for the general public, because the risk is low, the mask can be removed directly discarded, do other treatment to increase the risk of hand contact with the face of the mask, but increase the risk of infection. Also, wash your hands after handling the mask. Of course, if there is thought to be a risk of contact with a suspected patient, the mask should be properly disinfected before removal.

Rumor 10：

When you have a cold, you should turn the colored side outwards and vice versa.

Authority interpretation: in fact, there is only one correct way to wear a mask, that is, the colored side facing out, white or light side facing in. In general, the correct direction can be determined by observing the position of the ear band and nose clip. Changing the face of the mask will cause harmful bacteria that have been blocked by the mask to be inhaled into the body.

Posted on in COVID-19, Mask

Face masks are in short supply in many countries

Overseas countries are suffering from a shortage of masks: Thailand has stopped all retail sales, Japanese doctors can only get one mask a week and the world’s richest man can’t buy one.

The outbreak is worsening in many countries and masks are in short supply

According to statistics released by Johns Hopkins University, as of April 8, Beijing time, there were over 1.3 million confirmed covid-19 cases and over 70,000 deaths worldwide. Novel coronavirus transmission is accelerating.

According to China news on March 24, the mayor of Bergamo in Lombardy region, Italy’s worst affected city, Jorge Gori, said about 75 percent of patients in Bergamo died at home before being diagnosed.

As the global epidemic gets worse, supplies such as masks and protective clothing are running short.

On February 1st India banned the export of surgical masks.

February 26, South Korea issued a mask export ban, a total ban on the export of masks;

On March 3rd the French government ordered the requisition of all new masks and stocks, and banned their export.

On March 4th Thailand formally banned the export of masks by its makers.

On March 4th Germany banned the export of masks.

On March 6th France cancelled a big order for millions of masks that Britain’s National Health service had ordered from Valmy SAS, a French firm.

On March 8th Germany removed 240,000 masks from Switzerland.

On March 19, Germany confiscated a batch of protective equipment from 3M.

On March 20th France intercepted 130,000 masks in Britain;

Thailand: a complete ban on the sale of medical hygiene masks

In late march, Thailand’s deputy commerce minister Thongchai Sukchai said the country would stop selling face masks in blue flag stores and general retail outlets, and suggested people use alternative masks. Medical masks should be assigned to health care workers according to the severity of the situation. Ministry of commerce offices have been ordered to closely follow up and investigate the situation of the masks and cancel the distribution of masks to blue flag stores and convenience stores (7-11), retail malls and other channels, including supermarkets and shopping malls. The last delivery date is March 16.

The world’s richest man cannot buy a mask

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest man, revealed in an internal email dated March 21, 2020, that masks are the company’s most scarce item. He said amazon had ordered millions of masks to be distributed to employees and contract workers who could not work from home, but had received few.

Japan: doctors can only wear one mask a week

According to the Kyoto news on March 23, in the affiliated hospital of the medical department of Kyoto university, the number of masks used by medical staff has gone from one per person per day to only one per week. A doctor said that if the mask visible to the naked eye is contaminated, can be replaced, other times the mask is absolutely not allowed to change, and no relevant departments will be willing to give you change.

France: luxury company announces switch to masks

Recently, as the outbreak of covid-19 in France intensified, kering group confirmed that it would import 3 million surgical masks from China and donate them to the government. Meanwhile, its factories of Balenciaga and Saint Laurent will soon start producing masks to support the government’s response to the new outbreak.

Moet Louis Vuitton, France’s largest and the world’s largest luxury-goods group, took just three days to turn over its Dior, Guerguerin and Givenchy perfume factories, promising to provide at least 12 tons of free water purification liquid to French medical institutions. At present, the perfume factory production of hand fluid has been delivered to the major hospitals, known as the “most beautiful anti-epidemic products.” The group later announced an order in China to raise 40 million masks for the government.

Spain: face mask maximum R 4,400 /piece

According to local media reports, not only are masks in short supply in Spain, but prices have doubled, reaching as high as R4,400 per mask. In response, Inditex SA, the parent company of Spanish fashion giant Zara, has urgently adjusted its production line to make masks, and plans to transform some of its fabric lines into specialized medical fabric lines.

Orders for masks surged overseas

In order to help South African guests fight the outbreak, the SSS epidemic goods zone was opened on March 22. The zone is for South African b-end buyers to purchase supplies. Zone line protective clothing, thermometer, goggles and other kinds of anti-epidemic materials.

Global inquiries for masks have increased nearly 20-fold in the past month, according to Google data. As of April 5, ShopShipShake had counted hundreds of merchants in the country, selecting those willing to offer limited qualifications and certainty of availability to ShopShipShake buyers. At present, the daily supply capacity of the platform is more than 500,000.

Chinese mask, “cover” the world

China is the world’s largest producer and exporter of masks, accounting for about 50 percent of global annual production before the new outbreak. With the development of the epidemic, the domestic mask industry is full of firepower.

Since February, the government has issued a number of policies to encourage enterprises to speed up the resumption of production of masks and protective clothing, and to ensure the supply of epidemic prevention products for first-line medical workers and those who return to work. At the same time, open the green channel, simplify the production qualification examination and approval procedures, merge the product registration and production license inspection process, promote the registration of licensing items “online”.

According to relevant data, the number of anti-epidemic enterprises has increased significantly recently:

1. China has a total of 347 melt-spraying cloth related enterprises, with 112 newly added since February 2020, an increase of 3633% compared with the same period last year;

2. At present, there are a total of 994 e-gun related enterprises in China, with 202 newly added since February 2020, an increase of 4950% compared with the same period last year.

3. Currently, there are 141,794 sterilization-related enterprises in China, with an increase of 3,693 since February 2020, an increase of 85.3% compared with the same period last year.

4. At present, there are a total of 5,427 protective clothing related enterprises in China, with an increase of 1,151 since February 2020, an increase of 2157% compared with the same period last year.

By the end of March, the daily production of masks in China could exceed 200 million. At the same time, the production capacity of melt-spraying cloth, the core material of mask manufacturing, has been continuously improved.

Posted on in COVID-19, Mask

How to choose a mask? The definitive guide tells you the answer

Masks are an important line of defense against respiratory infections and can reduce the risk of novel coronavirus infection. The mask can not only prevent the patient from spraying droplets, reduce the amount and speed of droplets, but also block the virus containing droplets nucleus, preventing the wearer from inhaling. Based on the current understanding of the disease, this guide is developed on how to use masks correctly.

Wear principle

The basic principle is scientific and reasonable wear, standard use, effective protection. The details are as follows:

(1) Masks are not required to be worn in open and ventilated places in non-epidemic areas. Masks are required to be worn in crowded or closed public places.

(2) Disposable surgical masks are recommended to be worn in open and ventilated areas with high epidemic incidence; Wear a surgical mask or particle protective mask when entering crowded or closed public places.

(3) When you come to the hospital with suspected symptoms, you should wear a respirator for particulate matter or a medical respirator without breathing valve.

(4) Patients with respiratory diseases should use protective masks under the guidance of doctors. Very young infants cannot wear masks, easy to cause suffocation.

(5) Cotton mask, sponge mask and activated carbon mask do not protect against virus infection.

Recommended types of masks and objects to use

(1) Disposable surgical mask: the public is recommended to use it in non-crowded public places.

(2) Surgical mask for medical use: the protective effect is better than that of disposable surgical mask, and it is recommended to be worn by suspected cases, public transport drivers, taxi drivers, sanitation workers and public service personnel while on duty.

(3) KN95/N95 and above particle protective mask: the protective effect is better than the medical surgical mask, disposable surgical mask, field investigation, sampling and testing personnel are recommended to use, the public can also wear in high-density places or closed public places.

(4) Medical protective mask: it is recommended to be worn by medical staff in outpatient and isolation wards of fever and confirmed patients when they are transferred.

Principle of mask treatment after use

(1) There is no risk of transmission by a novel coronavirus in the masks worn by healthy people. Generally, the masks should be replaced when the masks are deformed, wet or dirty, resulting in reduced protective performance. After the use of healthy people mask, according to the requirements of household waste classification can be disposed.

(2) Masks worn by suspected cases or confirmed patients should not be discarded at will. They should be treated as medical waste and treated in strict accordance with relevant procedures of medical waste. They should not enter the circulation market.

Standards and precautions for children to wear masks

It is recommended that children choose products that meet the national standard gb2626-2006 KN95 and are labeled with protective masks for children or adolescents. Children should pay attention to the following when using masks:

(1) Children should read and correctly understand the instructions carefully with the help of parents before wearing them, so as to master the correct method of using respiratory protective equipment;

(2) Parents should pay close attention to the wearing situation of children’s masks at any time. If children feel uncomfortable while wearing masks, they should timely adjust or stop using them; (3) Due to the small face shape of children, it is not recommended for children to wear an adult mask with requirements of tightness because it cannot be fully closed with the edge of an adult mask.

Posted on in Anti-coronavirus procurement, COVID-19, Mask

Which masks is useless and which actually protect against coronavirus?

Since the outbreak, people in China and elsewhere have flocked to local pharmacies to buy medical masks. But there are different types of masks on the market, not all of them are effective against this virus. So, which masks can really protect?

Do you know which masks is useless?

The following four types of masks are not effective for COVID-19: sponge masks, cotton masks, paper masks, activated carbon masks. These types of masks can only shield dust, particles, and the density of the masks is greater than the size of the virus, so these types of masks are ineffective for COVID-19.

otton mask
otton mask
activated carbon mask
activated carbon mask
sponge mask
sponge mask
paper mask
paper mask

Now for you the most important is which is useful?

Surgical Masks vs. Respirators

There are two different types of masks: surgical masks and respirators.

Disposable medical mask
Disposable medical mask

Surgical masks are disposable medical devices that can be bought in pharmacies and prevent infectious diseases from spreading through “droplets.” “When the wearer exhales, these droplets may be saliva or secretions from the upper respiratory tract.

If worn by a caregiver, the surgical mask protects the patient and his or her environment (air, surface, equipment, surgical site). If worn by an infectious patient, it prevents the patient from contaminating his or her surroundings. Masks should not be worn for more than 3 to 8 hours.

Surgical masks can also protect the wearer from the danger of splashing biological fluids. In this case, the surgical mask must have a waterproof layer. It can also be equipped with a sun visor to protect the eyes.

However, surgical masks cannot prevent “airborne” infectious diseases, so it cannot prevent the wearer from being infected by viruses such as coronavirus.

KN95
KN95
KN95
KN95
N95
N95

A protective mask is a personal protective device that prevents the wearer from inhaling harmful aerosols (dust, smoke, mist), steam or gases (disinfectants, anesthetic gases). Do not use when dispensing, to protect the wearer from airborne infectious diseases such as coronavirus, atypical pneumonia, H1N1 and other viruses.

Respirators are divided into two categories: insulated and filtered. The filter respirator consists of a mask and a filtering device. Sometimes the filter element is integrated into the mask. Depending on the type of filtration, this mask is effective only for particulates, only for certain gases and vapors, or for particulates, gases, and vapors.

Filtered respirators can sometimes be equipped with a breathing valve to increase user comfort. The valve can prevent condensation in the mask, make water mist on the glasses, and help users breathe conveniently.

It is worth noting that the respirator also protects the wearer from inhaling the “droplets” of infectious pathogens. The respirator can be used once or repeatedly. In the second case, you can replace the filter when it is full.

Mask protection recommendations
Mask protection recommendations

What Are the Standards?

Both masks are subject to standards and regulations in different countries or geographic regions.

Medical masks are tested in the direction of exhalation (from inside to outside). These tests consider the efficiency of bacterial filtration.

In Europe, they must comply with the European standard EN 14683, which has 3 levels of bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE1, BFE2 type R). In the United States, they must respect ASTM standards with three levels of protection (from low exposure to liquids to high risk exposures to liquids).
Respiratory masks are tested in the direction of inspiration (from outside to inside). The test takes into account the efficiency of the filter and leakage to the face.

In Europe, they must comply with the European standard EN 149: 2001, which has three disposable particulate masks (FFP1, FFP2, and FFP3).

  • FFP1 refers to the least filtered of the three types of masks, with an aerosol filtration rate of at least 80% and a leakage of up to 22%. This mask is mainly used for dust masks (home improvement and various tasks).
  • FFP2 masks have a minimum filtration rate of 94% and a maximum leakage rate of 8%. They are used primarily by construction, agriculture and health care professionals to fight the flu virus. They are currently used to prevent coronavirus.
  • FFP3 mask is the most filtered mask in ffp. They have a minimum filtration rate of 99% and an internal leakage rate of up to 2%, preventing very fine particles such as asbestos.

So, Which Masks Protect Against Coronavirus?

Patients with infectious diseases should wear surgical masks as soon as possible when they suspect infectious diseases.

In Europe, caregivers must wear at least FFP2 or FFP3 respirators when caring for infected or suspected infections in order to maximize the filtration of particulate matter and aerosols.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the N95 respirator can filter 95% of particulates in the air, and can even filter out bacteria and viruses. Therefore, it is necessary for the nursing staff to wear N, R or P type respirators.

This table will help you learn more about different useful types of masks

Should a Disposable or Reusable Mask be Used?

Dust mask
Dust mask

Medical masks are disposable medical devices that must be handled in an appropriate manner after use. Respirators (FFP / N, R or P) can be disposable or reusable. In the second case, you can replace the filter when it is full.

The useful life of a surgical mask or respirator is provided by the manufacturer. It varies for different uses. Generally speaking, the pollution time is between 3 and 8 hours according to a series of external factors such as the concentration of pollutants and air humidity, temperature, and the amount of air inhaled.

For a respirator equipped with a gas filter, if the wearer begins to smell the gas, he must immediately leave the work area and replace the filter. Similarly, in the case of a dust removal filter, if the wearer starts to feel an increase in suction power, he or she should leave the place and replace the filter. These masks are mainly worn by workers or firefighters who come into contact with chemicals.