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Applying the correct respirator mask is a very important safety measure.
It is important to know your work environment in order to select the appropriate respiratory mask application. Are you working with solid or liquid particulates and are they oil-based?
We are going to dig in to the details in order to match the appropriate respiratory mask with the work environment.
Types of construction masks.
There are 2 main types of a respiratory mask: disposable or reusable. Disposable respiratory masks, or dust masks, generally cover half the face and are typically used for protection against airborne particles. Reusable respirators, on the other hand, are available in both the half-face and full-face variety and can offer protection not only against airborne particulates, but gases, fumes and vapors as well.
Classifying disposable masks.
Disposable are designed to prevent the inhalation of airborne particles commonly associated with work environments where grinding, sanding, sweeping and other dusty operations occur. For instance, working with the Makita saw we reviewed. They are grouped into three distinct groups: N-Series, R-Series and P-Series. Each of these three groups, respectively, have three different efficiency possibilities: 95, 99 and 100.
N-Series (N95, N99 and N100)
N-Series are NOT resistant to oil and therefore provide protection against solid and liquid aerosol particulates that do not contain oil. Examples of common non-oil based solid particulates include “dust” particles related to coal, iron ore, flour, metal, wood and pollen and non-oil based liquids. The difference between an N95, N99 and N100 is simply the mask’s efficiency level (i.e. N95 = NOT Resistant to solids and liquids which contain oil and provides 95% efficiency). The higher the efficiency, the more particulates the mask will filter out. Of these three efficiency levels, the N95 is most commonly used. It is important to note that N-Series have a non-specific service life, and can be used as long as the mask is not damaged or breathing resistances are not detected.
R-Series (R95)
The R-Series are resistant to oil, which means they provide protection against both solid and liquid aerosol particulates that may contain oil. R-series, however, are only certified for up to 8 hours of service life. Due to these specific service life restrictions, R-Series particulate masks are the least common type.
P-Series (P95 and P100)
P-Series are similar to the R-series in that they provide protection against both solid and liquid aerosol particulates that may contain oil. The service life of the P-Series, however, is substantially longer, with disposal after 40 hours or 30 days of use. This extended service life is contingent on the mask being undamaged with no detectable breathing resistances.
Reusable masks defined.
Reusable masks are ideal for workers who may be exposed to multiple elements, as they have capability to protect the wearer from more than just particulate matter. As mentioned previously, there are two different types of reusable respirators available: half-face or full-face. Depending on the wearer’s level of exposure and/or comfort level, one may find one piece more preferable to the other. Regardless of the type of face piece, every reusable mask requires the attachment of two of the following: gas & vapor cartridges, combination cartridges, filters and/or pre-filters.
Recap
Again, it is very important to know your work environment first. One work environment and the particulates encountered are known, you will be able to make the appropriate mask choice to ensure safety! It is tough to recommend a respirator mask without knowing your specific work environment. However, the knowledge gained in this edition should help point you in the correct direction. Home Depot has a wide variety of applications for you to choose from.
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