We’re all hearing about them at the moment, but what are the differences between these two types of FFP2 and surgical masks?
The duck mask or FFP2 mask is a filtering mask designed to protect the wearer against the risk of inhalation of airborne infectious agents. It also protects against the risk of transmission by droplets.
It consists of a face piece (half-mask or full mask) and a filtration device.
Its duration of protection varies between three and eight hours, but it is difficult to tolerate more than a few
hours. The equivalent standard on the Chinese market is KN95.
The FFP mask is a respiratory protection device (standard NF EN 149). It is designed to protect the wearer against inhalation of both droplets and particles. and airborne particles. Wearing this type of mask is more restrictive (thermal discomfort, respiratory resistance) than wearing a surgical mask. There are three categories of FFP masks, according to their effectiveness (estimated on the basis of filter efficiency and leakage to the face). There are :
- FFP1 masks filter out at least 80% of aerosols of average size 0.6 µm (total inward leakage < 22%).
- FFP2 masks filter out at least 94% of aerosols of average size 0.6 µm (total inward leakage<8%).
- FFP3 masks filtering at least 99% of aerosols of average size 0.6 µm (total inward leakage < 2%)
Once fitted, the mask must not be touched. Once removed, it must not be reused. It should be changed immediately, whenever it becomes soiled, wet, or badly positioned on the face.
FFP2 masks should be worn first by healthcare workers, then by at-risk individuals in environments where there is a high probability of encountering a carrier of the virus: hospitals, public transport, dense housing in the worst-affected areas. It retails for €4.90 from our online pharmacy lapharmaciedepierre.fr.
A surgical mask is a medical device (standard EN 14683). It is designed to prevent droplets emitted by the wearer from being projected onto the surrounding environment. It also protects the wearer from droplets emitted by a person opposite. However, it does not protect against the inhalation of very small airborne particles.
It must be worn by the contagious patient, from the very first symptoms, to prevent contamination of those around him
and his environment.
The surgical mask should be disposed of as soon as it becomes wet or soiled, in a garbage can fitted with a lid and a plastic bag if possible. Disposal is by household waste. Its retail price at lapharmaciedepierre.fr is €0.95.
There are 3 efficiency classes: type I, II, or IIR
- Type I: bacterial filtration efficiency > 95% of an aerosol of average size 3 µm.
- Type II: bacterial filtration efficiency > 98% of an aerosol of average size 3 µm.
- Type IIR: bacterial filtration efficiency > 98% of an aerosol of average size 3 µm and splash-resistant
At lapharmaciedepierre.fr your online pharmacy we only sell type IIR surgical masks or FFP2 masks.