Respiratory Protection 101: Masks

All it takes is a quick check of any online news feed to see that there are a laundry list of hazardous situations that we can find ourselves in that pose a danger to our ability to breathe. Debris from fires, floods, demolition and other natural and man-made events can quickly aggravate and restrict our airways, which will limit our ability to respond and help others. Lately we have received quite a few emails asking questions about respiratory protections and which masks fit which application. It is for this reason and many others that we decided to go over a few simple and affordable ways the average home owner and reader can protect themselves and their loved ones without breaking their wallets. In order to do this we have to break things down a little bit.

Risks, Hazards and Vulnerabilities 

The first thing we have to do in any situation when we are shopping for gear is get an idea of our risks, hazards and vulnerabilities. Part of that process begins with figuring out what might cause you to have to even wear a protective mask in the first place. This should be known to you by now and since there is no “one size fits all” answer we will choose to address the subject of most of our reader emails of late and focus on dust,debris and smoke from wild-fire season. Focusing on this particular hazard will also give us a reference point for many other nuisance type irritants, after all most of these types of irritants all boil down to one thing, small particulates of a non chemical nature. It’s important to remember a mask of the type we will be talking about does not provide you with a clean source of oxygen, these masks are not Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).

Disposable Masks the N100 

Disposable masks, often times referred to as dust masks are affordable and have become more effective over the last few years than they have been before. The N100 Mask shown above manufactured by 3M might be the most advanced disposable mask on the market. These masks are designed to work well with people who need to wear glasses or hearing devices and have quite a few features to make extended wear less irritating. 3M has installed a one way exhalation valve on the front of the mask to help ensure moisture or heat doesn’t build up in the mask around the nose area. This helps reduce the chances of fogging the bottom parts of glasses for people wearing the mask. The National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) have tested this particular brand of mask and rated it at 99.97 % filter efficiency. That’s a staggeringly high filtration rate for a disposable mask, and it quickly becoming the standard by which other masks are measured. These masks generally run in the $8-10 range, and are a great value.

Disposable Masks the N95 

The N95 masks get their name from their NIOSH rating of being at least 95% effective filtration. They lack some of the features of the N100 mask but sport a very close efficiency rating. These masks are generally a few dollars cheaper than the N100 series of masks, but a great option especially for anyone wanting to stock up and purchase by the case. On the front of all respiratory masks there should be a NIOSH N Rating marked on it. If the proper markings aren’t there, I would advise against trusting the protection of your airways to it. I would like to mention that either of the masks listed here are excellent for wearing while performing a wide range of activities such as yard work, sanding, painting, or any other of a number of functions were dust and particulates might be kicked up.

Reusable Respirators 

These types of respirators should be familiar to anyone who has ever painted cars or done hazardous materials work, the 1/2 face respirator. The one pictured above is a North 5500 Series respirator which is the exact model I wore for 10 years of work while with the U.S. Air Force as a Civil Engineer and later as a plumbing and mechanical technician. I’ve used this type and brand of respirator while cleaning up thousands of gallons of jet fuel, and massive amounts of other chemicals as well as hundreds of asbestos abatement jobs. I have trusted North respirators with my life and I’m still here, with clean clear lungs. There are several manufactures of reusable 1/2 face masks that are on the market, 3M, Honeywell-North, Scott Safety to name just a few. The thing to remember with the reusable masks are that they will need to be cleaned with warm soapy water occasionally and they have filters which will need replacing occasionally. It is also recommended that you have a professional industrial hygienist or industrial safety company perform a proper fit test on you. This is required for employers who issue their workers 1/2 face respirators but not required by home owners or private citizens purchasing these masks.

Filters

All of the reusable masks on the market that I am aware of have inter changeable filters and its important to make sure you are getting the correct replacement filters for your brand and type of mask. The most common type of filter is the particulate filter, these are designed to filter out mold, dust, smoke, aerosols, mists, and forms of bacteria. These will not however filter out oil based products like vapors and gases. If you need protection against these forms of irritants I would suggest going with what is referred to as a Combination Filter. The best way to select a filter for your needs is again to refer back to your Risks, Hazards & Vulnerabilities. If you have specific questions about what you are protecting against I would suggest stopping by an industry supply store and having a quick chat with a Certified Safety Specialist. Chances are other people in your shoes have asked the same questions you are asking, it’s also a great way to see what masks fit you best and what the emerging new technologies are on the market.

Maintenance and Final Thoughts

Maintaining your mask can be critical to its safe and proper operation. Anyone who has been in the military knows the basics about cleaning a chemical warfare mask, and cleaning a reusable 1/2 face respirator is almost the same. A routine washing with warm soapy water and checking the exhaust valve is generally all that needs to be done on a regular basis. Things like straps and buckles that aren’t working correctly will be obvious when you try to put the mask on to use it and are hard to overlook.

Respiratory protection is as import as physical protection is in many people’s minds. If you can’t breathe you can’t help yourself or anyone around you, if you can’t breathe you can’t look for food or protect your loved ones. You get the idea, air is essential to our lives. Simple steps that don’t have to cost tons of money can go along way to ensuring you can do more than just endure a bad situation but that you can be an asset in troubled times. If you have small children or people in your house with compromised immune systems like the elderly or infirmed it would be wise to maybe take a few extra steps to protect them as well.

All of the products we have shown you are available online at Amazon.Com and in big box home improvement stores such as Lowe’s and Home Depot. Even if you are operating on a small budget you should be able to easily get one or two masks a pay day and have a dozen or more in no time. I would recommend however that masks be stored in a sealed plastic container like a rubbermaid box or something similar. In a dry warm place so that they are ready to go when needed. If you have other questions or even suggestions on masks or respiratory protection drop us a line in the comments section and let us know what has worked for you. We have taken the liberty to provide a link below to the State of Washington Department of Health’s handout on the N95 and N100 and how to properly select and wear a mask. Considering they have had wildfires most of the summer this is current and relevant information.

Link to State of Washington Department of Health Handout …….Wildfire Smoke and Masks 

Rick Dembroski

Feature Image: Survivalwatchdog.Com