EN149 RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE MASKS

EN 149:2001- A1:2009 IS THE EUROPEAN STANDARD THAT COVERS THE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE DEVICES - FILTERING HALF MASKS TO PROTECT AGAINST PARTICLES

There are 3 classes of masks as defined by the standard:

FFP1 = Lowest class of protection

FFP2 = Higher class of protection

FFP3 = Highest level of protection

1.      TOTAL INWARD LEAKAGE This test measures the probability of the respiratory mask to protect the wearer against potential hazards. A test subject wearing the particle mask walks in an enclosed test room, with a constant concentration of sodium chloride aerosol. While the subject breathes, the air inside the mask is sampled and analysed to determine which % of sodium chloride could pass through the mask.

INWARD LEAKAGE %

FFP1 Not greater than 22%

FFP2 Not greater than 8%

 FFP3 Not greater than 2%

The lower the percentage the higher the protection

2.       PENETRATION OF FILTER MATERIAL The goal of this test is to measure the filtering power of the masks. This test is carried out by exposing a dummy head with a mask to 120mg of 2 test aerosols (Sodium chloride & Paraffin oil). The standard defines the maximum admitted penetration % of the 2 aerosols, for FFP1/FFP2 and FFP3 masks.

PENETRATION LEVEL %

CLASS                                 SODIUM CHLORIDE                      PARAFFIN OIL

FFP1                                    20%                                                       20%

FFP2                                    6%                                                         6%

FFP3                                    1%                                                         1%

The higher the penetration levels the lower the protection

3.      BREATHING RESISTANCE This test assesses the ability of the filtering mask to provide protection while allowing the wearer to breathe easily.

BREATHING RESISTANCE – mbar

CLASS                                 INHALATION                                                    EXHALATION

                                               30 I/MIN              95 I/MIN                              160 I/MIN

FFP1                                    0.6                         2.1                                         3.0

FFP2                                    0.7                         2.4                                         3.0

FFP3                                    1.0                         3.0                                         3.0

The permitted resistance is lower for FFP1 because it’s a lighter mask and it’s higher for FFP2 and FFP3 as they are thicker.