Masks and N95 Respirators

[IceWizard]

Masks and N95 Respirators

On this page:

• About Facemasks and N95 Respirators
  
  
• Facemasks
  
  
• N95 Respirators
  
  
• N95 Respirators for Use by the Public
  
  
• N95 Respirators in Industrial and Health Care Settings
  
  
• General N95 Respirator Precautions
  
  
• Additional Information
  

About Facemasks and N95 Respirators

Facemasks and N95 respirators are examples of personal protective equipment that are used to protect the 

wearer from liquid and airborne particles contaminating the face. 

They are one part of an infection-control strategy.


Facemasks

A facemask is a loose-fitting, disposable device that creates a physical barrier between the mouth and nose 
of the wearer and potential contaminants in the immediate environment. Facemasks are not to be shared and 
may be labeled as surgical, isolation, dental or medical procedure masks. They may come with or without a face shield.
Facemasks are made in different thicknesses and with different ability to protect you from contact with liquids. 
These properties may also affect how easily you can breathe through the facemask and how well the 
facemask protects you.
If worn properly, a facemask is meant to help block large-particle droplets, splashes, sprays or splatter that may 
contain germs (viruses and bacteria), keeping it from reaching your mouth and nose. 
Facemasks may also help reduce exposure of your saliva and respiratory secretions to others.
While a facemask may be effective in blocking splashes and large-particle droplets, a facemask, by design, 
does not filter or block very small particles in the air that may be transmitted by coughs, sneezes or certain 
medical procedures. Facemasks also do not provide complete protection from germs and other contaminants because 
of the loose fit between the surface of the facemask and your face.
Facemasks are not intended to be used more than once. If your mask is damaged or soiled, or if breathing through 

the mask becomes difficult, you should remove the facemask, discard it safely, and replace it with a new one. 

To safely discard your mask, place it in a plastic bag and put it in the trash. Wash your hands after handling the used mask.


N95 Respirators

An N95 respirator is a respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient 
filtration of airborne particles.
The ‘N95’ designation means that when subjected to careful testing, the respirator blocks at least 95 percent 
of very small (0.3 micron) test particles. If properly fitted, the filtration capabilities of N95 respirators exceed those 
of face masks. However, even a properly fitted N95 respirator does not completely eliminate the risk of illness or death.


N95 respirators are not designed for children or people with facial hair. Because a proper fit cannot be achieved on children and people with facial hair, the N95 respirator may not provide full protection.


N95 Respirators for Use by the Public

The FDA has cleared certain filtering facepiece respirators (N95) for use by the general public. 
To work as expected, an N95 respirator requires a proper fit to your face. Generally, to check for proper fit, 
you should put on your respirator and adjust the straps so that the respirator fits tightly but comfortably to your face. 
For information on proper fit, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.  
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not generally recommend facemasks and respirators 
for use in home or community settings.  However, they may be appropriate for persons at increased 
risk of severe illness from influenza or other respiratory diseases.  Please consult with your health care 
provider for more information about when to use N95 Respirators at home or in the community.

The FDA has cleared the following N95 respirators for use by the general public in public health medical emergencies:

• 3M™ Particulate Respirator 8670F
  
  
• 3M™ Particulate Respirator 8612F
  
  
• Pasture Tm F550G Respirator
  
  
• Pasture Tm A520G Respirator
  

These devices are labeled "NOT for occupational use.”


N95 Respirators in Industrial and Health Care Settings

Most N95 respirators are manufactured for use in construction and other industrial type jobs that expose workers 
to dust and small particles are regulated by the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) 
in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which is part of the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These products are labeled "For occupational use."

However, some N95 respirators are intended for use in a healthcare setting. Specifically, single-use, 

disposable respiratory protective devices used and worn by healthcare personnel during procedures to protect 

both the patient and healthcare personnel from the transfer of microorganisms, body fluids, and particulate material. 

These N95 respirators are class II devices regulated by the FDA, under 21 CFR 878.4040, and CDC NIOSH. 

Subject to certain conditions and limitations, N95s regulated under product code MSH are exempt 

from 510(k) premarket notification. The FDA has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the CDC NIOSH 

which outlines the framework for coordination and collaboration between the FDA and NIOSH 

for regulation of this subset of N95 respirators.


General N95 Respirator Precautions

People with chronic respiratory, cardiac, or other medical conditions that make breathing difficult should check with 
their healthcare provider before using an N95 respirator because the N95 respirator can make it more difficult for 
the wearer to breathe. Some models have exhalation valves that can make breathing out easier and help reduce 
heat build-up. Note that N95 respirators with exhalation valves should not be used when sterile conditions must 
be maintained.
All the FDA-cleared N95 respirators are labeled as "single use", disposable devices. If your respirator is 

damaged or soiled, or if breathing becomes difficult, you should remove the respirator, discard it properly, and replace it 

with a new one. To safely discard your N95 respirator, place it in a plastic bag and put it in the trash. 

Wash your hands after handling the used respirator.


Additional Information

For more information on the proper use and removal of masks and respirators, visit:

• CDC - NIOSH - NPPTL Respirator Trusted-Source, Ancillary Respirator Information, Healthcare FAQ
  
  
• FDA – CDC/NIOSH Memorandum of Understanding for N95 Regulatory Oversight
  

[barq2]

Has anyone seen the crazy prices for surgical masks on Amazon and Ebay? Normally a box of 50 would cost about £5 in the UK (including P&P) and obviously cheaper still if bought in bulk. Now boxes of 50 masks are getting close to £100. People are selling them in smaller quantities... £20 for ten masks.

I spoke with a doctor in my family about the surgical type of masks (not N95). He said they were good for patients (or potential patients) with the virus as it limits the spread. However if you are healthy they won't do much to protect you. The most you could hope for is that they stop you touching your mouth so much.

The area where ordinary people can do the most is washing their hands properly, or using an alcohol gel/spray if no soap and water is available. That's all stuff we should do anyway just to avoid regular colds and flu.

[IceWizard]

Here's just a couple I've been lookin at ...
I figure if it can catch a paint vapor, it should catch moisture as well...

3M Full Facepiece Reusable Respirator 6800, Paint Vapors, Dust, Mold, Chemicals, Medium


3M Mold and Lead Paint Removal Respirator, Medium - 6297PA1-A


Ice

[Orange rabbit]

Thanks Ice. Great information. I have been considering one of these the last few days as the virus keeps spreading.

OR

[barq2]

Thanks Ice.  Great information.  I have been considering one of these the last few days as the virus keeps spreading.

Yeah, it is getting quite scary now. I'm being careful where I go, washing hands more than usual and wearing gloves on public transport. I do have masks but would prefer to keep them for if/when people in my family are sick and they need to wear them to avoid spreading to others.

I've got some isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to sanitise things. It is 99.99% pure alcohol (not the kind you drink!). Now contrary to what you'd imagine 99.99% is not good for sanitising - it is too strong. According to medical literature it should be mixed with about 30% water. This stops it evaporating so fast and means the alcohol has more time in contact with the surface. Also water is needed to easily penetrate the walls of a virus, then the IPA gets in and kills it. One of those rare cases were less really is more.

Small bottles of hand gel have mostly sold out. I got about a gallon from a lab supplies company to refill existing bottles. The supplier told me there is no shortage of gel, it is a shortage of little bottles which are all made in China and not getting shipped out. Anyway, refilling is cheaper and better for the environment.

Stay safe my friends.