Filtering face piece respirators (FFR) are subject to various regulatory standards around the world (see examples below) and provide a much higher level of protection with face form fitting and greater pressure drop. To claim compliance with the particular standard as listed below, these respirators must meet or exceed required physical properties and performance characteristics, which can vary according to the regulatory bodies of different countries.
- N95 (United States NIOSH-42CFR84)
- KN95 (China GB2626-2006)
- FFP2 (Europe EN 149-2001)
An KN95 respirator is a respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles. The 'KN95' designation means that when subjected to careful testing, the respirator blocks at least 95 percent of very small (0.3 microns) test particles. If properly fitted, the filtration capabilities of KN95 respirators exceed those of face masks.
Applications: Construction, mining, textile, manufacturing, wood processing, pharmaceutical, electronic, automobile manufacturing and other industries that require particles protective situations.
People with chronic respiratory, cardiac, or other medical conditions that make breathing difficult should check with their health care provider before using an N95 respirator because the KN95 respirator can make it more difficult for the wearer to breathe.
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 KN95 respirator, place it in a plastic bag and put it in the trash. Wash your hands after handling the used respirator.
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.
Ideally should be discarded after each patient encounter and after aerosol-generating procedures. It should also be discarded when it becomes damaged or deformed; no longer forms an effective seal to the face; becomes wet or visibly dirty; breathing becomes difficult; or if it becomes contaminated with blood, respiratory or nasal secretions, or other bodily fluids from patients.
