Negative-pressure masks

The user breathes in through the mask, which creates negative pressure and causes particles to be captured in the mask. To achieve a sufficient seal with such masks, they MUST NOT be used by people with beards. Negative-pressure masks may be used for a maximum of 3 hours per day.

Turbo and compressed-air masks

These are masks where air is supplied to the mask from a turbo unit or from a compressed-air unit, creating positive pressure inside the mask. Can be used by people with beards. Positive-pressure masks may be used for up to 8 hours daily.

1. P1 – Low efficiency

This is the most basic level of protection. It is used primarily for coarse, non-toxic dust.

Filtration efficiency: Stops approximately 80% of particles.

Typical use: Work with harmless dust such as from sweeping, sanding softwood, or working with lime and cement in dry form.

Limitation: It does not protect against toxic substances or fine smoke particles.

2. P2 – Medium efficiency

This level is one of the most commonly used on construction sites and in workshops, as it captures the finer particles that can penetrate deeper into the lungs.

Filtration efficiency: Stops approximately 94% of particles.

Typical use: Dust from sanding hard wood, plaster, metal dust and certain types of aerosol spray. It also protects against some biological agents (such as certain bacteria).

Important: P2 is often the minimum requirement when working with, for example, quartz dust in small quantities.

3. P3 – High efficiency

This is the highest protection level for particle filters. It is necessary when you are facing directly health-damaging or carcinogenic particles.

Filtration efficiency: Stops at least 99% of particles.

Typical use: Work with asbestos, radioactive particles, viruses (such as influenza or COVID-19 in healthcare settings), heavy metals (lead/cadmium) and toxic smoke.

Recommendation: If you are in doubt about the hazard of the dust, you should always choose a P3 filter to be on the safe side.

Gas-vapor filters' lifetime is limited - replace the filter accordingly

A gas-vapor filter has limited capacity. The service life during use depends on which gas/vapor it is intended to protect against, the concentration of gas/vapor in the air, the user's breathing rate and the air humidity. Since these conditions are rarely known for sure — and may also vary during the filter's use — it is seldom possible to calculate a filter's lifetime in advance. Instead, you should make a plan for filter changes based on initially using your sense of smell as a warning. When you start using a new filter, note the total time until you begin to smell that something is passing through the filter. For example, you might use the filter 1 hour one day, 3 hours the next, 2 hours the third day, etc. If it turns out that the filter lasts, for example, 16 hours, you should make a plan for filter changes that requires replacing the filter after 12 hours of use. This provides an appropriate safety margin of 25%. If you can smell anything beforehand, the filter must of course be replaced immediately.

REMEMBER: People with a poor or no sense of smell should not use masks
with filters.

REMEMBER: There are substances that have poor warning properties in terms of smell
or taste.

Particle, gas or vapor filters

Filters for respiratory protection can be particle filters, gas and vapor filters, or a combination of these. Keep in mind that particle filters do not protect against gases and vapors, and conversely gas and vapor filters do not protect against particles. Therefore it is important that, before choosing a filter, you are clear about what you need protection from and whether the contamination appears as particles or gases/vapors.

Gas filters for full and half masks are divided into five types according to their area of use. The colors are marked on the filters, also when they are used in combination.