Introduction
If there is one thing we can conclude from this pandemic is that we must get used to wearing face coverings for the foreseeable future. That means you need to understand the various face masks types available on the market today. Terms like N95, FFP3 maske Blau, and KN95 should not feel like professional jargon to you, because mask-wearing is no longer reserved for the frontline workers only, but everyone.
Currently, face masks and whether they are effective or not, is a hotly debated topic. The ECDC, which is Europe’s equivalent of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recently published an article on face mask effectiveness in the community in limiting the transmission of COVID-19. Countries and governments across the world are increasingly encouraging or even mandating the use of face masks, which is why you need to know the different types of face masks on the market today and the features that make ffp2 farbig, for instance, superior to the other types. Knowing this helps you to know what you are paying for and how it helps to protect you and those around you.
Types of Face Masks Available on the Market Today
Fabric hygiene masks
These are cloth masks designed for ordinary use and not for use in medical settings. At the start of the pandemic when the demand for face masks was huge with limited supply, many manufacturers resorted to making hygiene masks. A fabric mask helps protect you from potential droplets and at the same time allows you to breathe easily. When wearing these face masks, make sure they cover your mouth and nose completely. Fabric hygiene masks don’t give you the best protection, which is why you must still observe other COVID-19 precautions while wearing them. These include maintaining a social distance of at least 1.5 meters. The advantage of fabric hygiene masks is that they are washable and reusable.
Surgical masks
These are among the most widely used face masks in the fight against COVID-19. Mostly blue, these masks are mostly worn by medical staff. The masks are designed to protect patients from bacterial or viral infection from the wearer. They are highly effective in filtering air exhaled from the mouth and nose of the wearer. Their exhalation filtration efficiency is very high (95%). Many people consider them an excellent way of preventing saliva droplets from being spread when the wearer coughs, sneezes, or talks. They have earned the name “altruistic” masks because they don’t filter the air the wearer breathes in.
FFP3 and FFP2 masks
These are the types of masks most commonly worn by doctors and nurses in hospitals. They form part of PPEs, meaning they offer better filtration efficiency for inhaled and exhaled air compared to surgical masks. FFP is an abbreviation for filtering facepieces. It indicates that these masks have been certified to meet the EN 149-2001 standard. It is the minimum criterion for breathability, efficiency, biocompatibility, and structural stability. The FFP1, FFP2, and FFP3 numbering systems denote the respective filtration efficiency of each device. FFP1 means that the mask has a limited filtration efficiency. These masks can filter only the largest particles from the air. Subsequently, they are not the most ideal for protecting wearers from harmful aerosol droplets that contain the virus. FFP2 maske Blau and FFP3 masks boast a more robust filtering efficiency of 94% and 98% respectively.
Valveless FFP3 and FFP2 masks are the most effective when it comes to protecting yourself against COVID-19. FFP3 offers the best protection for not only the wearer of the mask but also those around them. Valves get rid of the exhaled air from the wearer without filtering it. This makes them not suitable for people who have symptoms. But the main disadvantage of ffp3 masks is that they can be uncomfortable to wear for long periods. This is because of the high filtering level of these masks and the way the materials have been layered. Also, these masks have a short lifespan. They protect you only for six hours. After that, their efficiency starts declining.
N95 and KN95 masks
N95 is a rating that you see on respirator masks certified to the US, while KN95 is the Chinese equivalent. The masks are largely similar although not identical to the European standard of FFP2 maske Blau. For mask efficiency to be deemed equivalent to ffp2, they must be accompanied by the CE mark. It means that the efficiency of the mask has been not only tested but also certified to meet the EU standards. This means that N95 and KN95 masks carrying the CE mark have the same efficiency capabilities in filtering microparticles as FFP2 masks.
Filtering masks
Filtering masks are a new kind of face coverings that have recently hit the market. Filtering masks are specifically designed to deliver comfort and high filtration efficiency, and it’s manufactured using the latest technology. The mask features a nanofiber filter guaranteeing bacterial and other harmful dust filtering efficiency of 90%. Filtering masks combine reusability with high filtration capacity. You can machine-wash it at 60 degrees.
Summer masks
Traditional masks appear a little “heavy” when they are worn during the summer. The good news is that there are lighter filter masks made from multilayer fabric that effectively protects you and the people around you from being infected. The masks are lighter and have adjustable elastic bands ensuring superior comfort and fit. Also, they have micro particle filtering efficiency of more than 90%. The masks are boosted by nanofibers that can block harmful microparticles.
Conclusion
Masks have become the most visible symbol of the COVID-19 pandemic. While any mask is better than none at all, ffp2 and ffp3 masks, as well as N95 and KN95, provide the greatest level of protection. This is because these masks can filter the air you inhale, blocking the uptake of any viral or bacterial germs. They are also easily available and are more affordable than they once were at the start of the pandemic.
