Respiratory Protection & Masks

Respiratory protection and masks are often lumped together, yet they do different jobs. Surgical masks to EN 14683 are medical devices that mainly hold back droplets from the wearer’s mouth and nose to protect patients, colleagues or products. FFP masks to EN 149 are particle-filtering half masks that protect the wearer from inhaling dust and airborne particles.

This category covers both. Among the surgical masks you will find Types I, II and IIR, models with tie strings and a mask with integrated visor. On the FFP side there are FFP2 and FFP3 masks each with and without an exhalation valve, plus an individually wrapped FFP2 fold-flat mask.

Typical applications

• Hospitals, operating theatres, GP and dental practices
• Care homes and community care services
• Construction, trades and dusty production
• Laboratories and pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Food businesses where mouth covering is required

What to look for when buying

First establish who needs protecting. If it is patients, products or the people around the wearer, a surgical mask is the right choice, and Type IIR if splashes are expected as well. If the wearer needs protecting from particles, an FFP mask is required, with the class set by your risk assessment.

Details then decide: a valve for easier breathing under exertion, no valve where the surroundings must be protected too; tie strings for long procedures; individual wrapping for staff on the move. Check pack sizes and minimum orders: most masks are ordered in boxes, from 5 to 40 boxes depending on the model, while the basic Type IIR surgical mask is ordered per piece from 50.

Frequently asked questions