Respiratory protection masks

To work in a space where the air quality is poor, you must necessarily wear a PPE respiratory protection mask. But not all goggles are the same, and the choice of model will have to be made according to the specific conditions encountered. The employer is required by law to equip its employees, but wearing a mask may also be recommended for simple DIY.

What is the mask for?

As its name suggests, a respiratory protection mask is a device consisting of protecting the respiratory tract of the user against the inhalation of dust, pathogens, fumes, vapors or gases. It is usually made up of multiple layers of filter materials. Thus, the wearing of this type of personal protective equipment is essential in order to guarantee the the safety of workers and to limit the major risks that impact their health, especially if they work in a dusty environment or in the presence of fire smoke, gas, vapour, virus or toxic substances.

The principle of the respiratory protection mask

As you might expect, the respiratory protection mask is designed to protect the worker against poor air quality (against smoke, gas, dust or even steam, among others), to provide the right oxygen level.

It is still good to know that it is possible to take measures to improve the conditions encountered, and it is only when the actions carried out have not had enough impact, that the use of the mask becomes necessary.

The different types of masks: FFP1, FFP2 or FFP3?

There are two types: the filter mask and the insulating mask. Both are used under specific conditions of their own. However, one thing remains fixed: they should only be worn for a short time and exceptionally.

- The filtering mask

It aims to improve the quality of the air breathed by the worker in the workspace where he works. This type of mask will find a filter which will have the role of retaining dust, gas, mist or other, in order to purify the air you breathe by the employee. This type of mask can be further divided into two categories, namely devices without mechanical assistance and those with assisted ventilation.

The first has a single filter and is used for short-term work. Some masks are single-use and others have washable filters which can therefore be reused.

The assisted ventilation model is equipped with a fan which allows to increase the air flow, while filtering pollutants.

If you are looking for a way to protect yourself from exposure, masks FFP1 are an option. They offer excellent protection against dust and fine particles. The second class models FFP2, or "filtering facepiece" , are part of the range of respiratory protection masks. This self-cleaning equipment filters 94% of droplets and airborne particles with a maximum inward leakage rate of 8%. Disposable masks FFP3 are an essential part of respiratory protection, which encompasses the user's nose and mouth. They offer better safety conditions than FFP2 and FFP3 by protecting you from harmful particles that could cause illness or injury if inhaled.

- The insulating mask

This mask, meanwhile, will supply the worker with oxygen in a space where it is scarce. Like the filtering mask, it too is divided into two categories: autonomous devices and non-autonomous.

Self-contained devices have an oxygen supply in the mask that comes from a bottle. The employee will be able to carry out his work without the need for a filter, since he will not breathe the air that circulates in the space where he is. The time spent in the workspace will therefore be proportional to its air supply.

As for non-autonomous devices, they receive air using a system located outside the work space.

Choose the right respiratory protection mask: disposable, washable

Choosing the right equipment that the worker (or the handyman for personal use) will wear is essential to ensure his protection. To make the best choice, 3 steps must be taken:

- The nature of the pollutant must first be identified (gas, vapour, etc.) as well as the oxygen content in the work area.

- The concentration of contaminants (CAS), the exposure limit values (ELV) and the average values ​​of exposure (VME).

- The last point will concern the practicality of the mask: its comfort, its lightness, its ease of use. But it will also be necessary to ensure its effectiveness and its tightness.

Once these points are well defined, it will then be possible to choose the right mask.

Mask category: respirator mask design standards

Fixed by regulation 2016/425, no less than fifty different standards can be used in the design of a respiratory protection mask in Europe. All these regulations are available from AFNOR.

We can nevertheless say that in order to be placed on the market, each mask must first undergo a series of tests, and if they are conclusive, only then will it obtain the "CE” intended as proof of conformity.