EN 149 standard: FFP2 filtering respiratory masks

When the air is of poor quality in an employee's work area, wearing a PPE mask can quickly become mandatory. Not all single-use masks are suitable for all types of environment, so the choice will have to be made according to the specific conditions encountered in a workspace. In this case, we will be particularly interested in filtering respiratory masks of the FFP2 category .

The basic principle of the filter mask before purchase

There are two types of respiratory protection masks: the first is insulating, the second filters. In the first case, the air breathed will come from an external source. In the second, the role of the mask is to purify the air present in a workspace to allow the employee to breathe it without risk. It is the latter that interests us here.

A filtering mask will provide effective (and necessary) protection to its wearer against particles such as dust, aerosols or fumes. Indeed, while some particles are limited to causing foul odors to appear, others will affect the health of the employee in the short or long term. To ensure the worker a certain comfort and preserve his health, the wearing of disposable mask will therefore be necessary.

The different classes of protective masks

The manufacture of this type of helmet is governed by the EN 149 standard at European level. But this standard is further divided into 3 categories (FFP) according to the level of protection offered. A mask is therefore classified as FFP1, FFP2 or FFP3. FFP stands for Filtering Facepiece Particles.

The categorization will be made according to the total leak rate and the ability to filter the different particles in the air of each mask. A mask is considered FFP1 if its leak rate is limited to 25% or less, with a particle filtration capacity of 80%. In the case of the FFP2 class that interests us, the rate must be less than or equal to 11% and its ability to filter 94%. Finally, for FFP3, it is 5% total leak rate and 99% filtration capacity. The particle size is fixed at 0.6µm for each class.

When to wear FFP2 Nr type masks

The wearing of FFP2 masks becomes mandatory when the worker works in an environment where liquid and solid dust, fumes and toxic aerosols are present. It is also recommended to wear it as long as the concentration is less than or equal to 10 times the maximum occupational exposure value.

To protect themselves and improve their working conditions, an employee may also wear a filtering breathing mask in the presence of fibrinogen particles. If inhaled, they irritate the airways in the short term and decrease the elasticity of lung tissue in the long term. However, its use is – like all masks of this type – limited to a short duration.

The steel and mining sectors are the ones that most frequently use this PPE.

Where to find and buy a cheap FFP2 mask or at the best price online?

Find our ranges of FFP2 mask boxes on our online store Oxwork.com