What is the best mask to buy for Covid 19 protection?
The topic of buying masks seems to have reached most households around the world in recent weeks; what kind of face mask should we buy? Which ones do we need? What masks can protect us from Covid19? Here is a short guide explaining the differences in the available masks. FFP stands for Filtering half Face Masks, each mask complies with EU Regulation EN 149: 2001, the masks are then divided into 3 categories determined by their level of protection: FFP1, FFP2 and FFP3. Masks are worn to protect our lungs from anything in the air, such as particles, dust, aerosols and smoke.
The FFP2 mask offers more protection than the FFP1. It is the EU equivalent of the US N95 standard and was recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) during the SARS, Corona virus and avian flu outbreaks. It provides protection against harmful substances in the air, such as lead dust, as well as aerosols and smoke. Therefore, it is a popular mask in mining and metal industry, agriculture and the preferred mask for medical personnel to protect against influenza.
The FFP3 offers the highest protection against inhalation of hazardous substances in the environment. The mask can protect against a variety of toxins such as asbestos, bacteria and viruses and is often used by medical professionals when handling hazardous pharmaceutical chemicals. An FP3 mask means that breath work will be very important. For example, the unsealed respirator poses a hazard in the event of a facial leak. Indeed, the user will breathe more heavily, which favours the penetration of fine particles.
We speak of FFP for disposable masks and FMP for reusable masks. The P1, P2 and P3 levels for these two categories meet the same requirements. The stages vary according to the rate of total internal leakage (FTI), i.e. the amount of air that does not pass through the filter and is therefore not filtered, and the penetration rate (or filtration rate) of the filter medium. This is the % of particles retained by the device.
