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Important European Respiratory Protection Standards Explained
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European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
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EN149
Disposable filtering facepiece respirators for particulates only. These devices are substantially constructed from the filter media itself, which is usually and electorstatically charged material, and are disposed of after each shift. There are three protection classes in this standard: FFP2, FFP2 and FFP3. These devices cover only the nose, mouth and chin.
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EN 149 Branded Examples
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EN 405 Half Mask
Disposable half mask respirator which incorporate a gas filtering element as well as a particulate filtering element. They cover the nose, mouth and chin and usually have an adjustable head harness.
These devices are reusable to a degree, although since the filter elements are not replaceable, the complete mask must be replaced when the filters are exhausted. There are several classifications of device in this standard depending on the particulate filtration efficiency and gas filtration capacity (life before saturation).
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EN 405 Half Mask Branded Examples
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EN140
Half or quarter masks which cover the nose, mouth and chin, or just the nose and mouth. The facepiece is generally a flexible rubber or silicone rubber material, and masks can usually be fitted with a range of replaceable filters which conform to the separate standards EN 141, 143, 371,372. The maximum weight of filters to be fitted to half masks is 300 grams, since heavy filters are liable to disturb the faceseal and prove uncomfortable. half masks may be fitted with the EN 148/1 standard thread fitting which allows the use of standard thread canisters, although this is ususual since standard thread canisters are frequently too heavy for this application.
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EN 140 Half Mask Branded Examples
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EN136
Full facemasks that cover the whole face. They have a flexible rubber or silicone rubber face seal and are fitted with a transparent visor. Full face masks are usually fitted with replaceable filters conforming to the separate standards EN 141, 143, 371 , 372. The maximum weight of filters to be fitted directly to full face masks is 500 grams. Full facemasks today commonly have the EN 148-1 standard thread to take the full range of standard filter canisters, although use of twin filter full facemasks with dedicated filter fittings is becoming more common since standard thread filters tend to be heavy with high breathing resistance.
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The latest version to the EN136 standard allows greater flexibility in the design of these masks, with three different specifications possible. Type 1 is light duty full facemask which is maintenance free and cannot be fitted with standard canisters, Type 2 is fully maintainable general duty respirator and Type 3 is really a fire fighting mask which has passed strict radiant heat test.
Full face masks of course frequently from components of other FPD’s, for example power assisted respirators, or self contained/airline supplied breathing apparatus. These systems will almost always be approved as a complete set against the relevant standard, e.g. EN147, EN 137 and EN139.
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EN 136 Full Face Branded Examples
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v2a
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