Hi everyone,

I went to Home Depot and I tried to find N95 dust masks but the dust masks I found weren't N95. Then I found 3M N95 8210 in another section but it said "Sanding respirator" and there were two kind, one for fiberglass and one not for fiberglass. I think it's not the one I want for emergencies right? Here's a link of the product:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004Z4D4/104-8444801-2351164?v=glance

Which model should I get exactly?
Thanks

If it conforms to N95 NIOSH standards, either one will do for dust, if your main aim is a dust mask.
The 3M N95 8210 was the model of respirator we used during the SARS crisis here in Singapore 2 years back. It definitely blocks out droplet transmission, and therefore larger particulate dust matter too.

Yes but there are also 3M N95 8210 "dust/pollen masks" instead of "sanding respirator"...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/det...mp;amp;v=glance

Frankie

Interesting reading re N95 masks.

http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/bioter/n95masks.html

In other words, I'm wondering what's the difference between the "sanding respirator" and the "particulate respirator", both being 3M's N95 8210... I know I could get away with the sanding respirator but...

N95 or 95% filtration is a standard that the mask have to pass to be rated those that pass that test are rated N95 but within that rating there are ones that are made for special purposes. The NIOSH 42CFR 84 Regulation for N95 particulate is the regulation you want to look up to learn more about this. My Graingers catalog lists about 100 masks that meet that reg and several that meet N99 or 99% filtration. Others are even more specialized each with its own purpose. It all depends on what you want it to protect you from. The Grainger web page should have more info on this enough to confuse almost any one. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />