Which N95 Mask?

It just occurred to me that there are 1001 different kinds of N95 masks.. Which ones do you have in your kit (s)? and why?

I have several types.....I like the flat ones (AKA duckbills) since they store flat. Yes they can have problems with the elastic but since they store flat, I'm more likely to carry them.

At home I have the formed ones in multiple sizes (for the family). Just my 2 c.

I also have the N95 flat fold mask. I like the 3M brand, since its one size fits all. My wife tried it on and said they were surprisingly comfortable compared to the once she used in her biology research lab.

what kind of problems do you have with the elastic of the fold flat model? One of my 3M FFP2 (european standard, similair to N95) fold flat masks, the elastic bands broke pretty easily when i try to wear it.

I prefer the 3M model 9211.

[img]http://multimedia.mmm.com/mws/mediawebserver.dyn?6666660Zjcf6lVs6EVs666TSQc7rrrrQ-[/img]

It comes individually wrapped so it stays clean, packs flat, and has an exhale valve that improves comfort.

You can get them in boxes of 10 units for about $15 at various online sources.

Thats the thing, Glock-a-roo recommends the 9211 and Redflare recommends the 9210. Looking at the 3M site, they have over 20 N95 masks. From what I can gather on the differences between 9210 and 9211 is that the 9211 is individually packaged. Does it offer any additional function? I see there's a filter type contraption on the 9211, what does that do?

I guess my real question is, filtration wise, are all N95 masks the same thing, but just have additional bells and whistles (cosmetics / quality / comfort)?

At this point the 9211 looks appealing.. Anyone recommend a place to buy?

N95 is a specification. If a mask gives the protection specified in the N95 specification and this has been tested, than they can legaly call it a N95 mask. So there shouldn't be much diffrents filtration wise.

Thanks PC2K!! Yes, it is a spec.. I believe the 95 is 95% of 0.3micron filtration... I guess looking at most sites, the 9210 is touted as being effective against airborne virus' (SARs, Bird Flu, etc), whereas the 9211 has no mention of that "feature". Due to the recent heat wave in Southern California, I think the 9211 would be a better choice, but just want to make sure it covers the "airborne virus'" as well.. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Oh, yeah, after more researching I discovered that contraption on the 9211 assists in hot and humid conditions as Glock-a-roo mentioned.

The contraption on the 9211 is the one-way exhale valve. It's a simple flexible flap. With an exhale valve, the mask won't protect other people from an infected wearer because when they exhale, droplets can go out the valve. But to protect the wearer, they're supposed to be identical protection.

If you haven't worn one for an extended period, the exhale valve makes a huge difference over the normal mask. I'd compare wearing a N95 to breathing through a maxi-pad or a water filter. When it's properly fitted, it's hard enough to inhale. You shouldn't need to struggle to breath out as well unless you have to.

Thanks Ratbert! Brings me back to my addiction to Dilbert comics.. ;-)

Now does anyone have a recommendation on where to buy the 9211? I prefer experiences versus blindly picking one out of google.

Contact me by private message. I could special order them for you.

http://www.countycomm.com has them individually wrapped for $1.50. The only problem is if you look around their website you might just have to buy 2 of everything they have. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thats really weird.
I am fairly certain they are labeled "not for individual sale".
Don't know if they are breaking any laws...

If protecting yourself during an avian flu or other pandemic is the reason for the N95 mask, just remember that you'll need at least one mask for each day you'll be around other people. And pandemics often come in several waves, with each wave lasting potentially weeks, so you'd need a lot of masks.

But even putting the supply issue aside, just so you know, there isn't any good research out there on the use of masks by average people during disease outbreaks. If you're in a hospital or laboratory setting, gown up, get fitted for a mask, take them off properly and wash your hands, etc. then they should provide some protection. But out in the real world where the "3 second rule" applies to food dropped on the floor? It's questionable that they will help as much as people hope for. You should search for other threads we've had in the past about masks for other comments.

But since you're in California, they'll also make wonderful, but expensive, dust masks in case the Big One reduces our cities to big mounds of concrete dust. Or in case the wind blows smoke from wildfires your way. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I've got some Isolation Masks here that are marked "99% EFF at .1 Microns" and I did use one during a wildfire; it made a huge difference.

Honestly, that was my initial thought.. Well maybe not the big one.. But after seeing 9/11 (moved out to CA a month before), it made me realize how unprepared people are, or rather I was. Listening to a popular song, forget the name, but there was a quote that I live by to this day "too late to learn to swim when you start to drown".

I don't ever want to be unprepared. Sorry to digress...

But my initial thoughts for the mask is in the EDC in the event of a building collapse. If trapped, at least there's something that can reduce the stress or discomfort. The bird flu, etc is more of an added bonus feature. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Before you buy too many N95 masks, you may want to try wearing one for a number of hours. If being trapped in a building collapse is the scenario you're mostly thinking about, then you will likely be stuck for hours, if not days. High filtration masks like an N95 take some effort to breathe through and could fatigue you eventually. Just the discomfort/effort could make you take it off in your sleep unintentionally.

The valve helps make things easier on the exhale, but does nothing for the inhale. If the mask doesn't fit that well, then maybe the respiratory effort won't be too bad. Or you might just consider getting more run-of-the-mill dust masks which should work fine, are cheap, and are easy to breathe through. I can't say for certain, but I doubt that rubble and splintered wood involves much sub-micron size particulates in the air anyway. Actually, dust may clog up an N95 mask pretty quickly compared to a dust mask, making it even harder to breathe than it already is. Anyway, just a thought.

Oh, but wildfires do generate extremely tiny soot particles, so you can still go ahead and buy them for that purpose. As RAS posted, it worked great in smoke for him. Any excuse to buy cool stuff to be prepared, right? <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Just one word of caution the n95 is for bacteria it is a .3 microns mask and a virus will go right through it. Most viruses are around .003 microns in size. The only hope an n95 has of filtering anything is if it is stuck to a spit globule.

I found a filter that should against guard aviruses. It is called a Nanomaks and is deactivates the virus as it passes through the filter with a 99% efficiency.. It looks like it is ten bucks for the mask and a buck a piece for the filter.

For what it is worth.

Home page:

http://www.emergencyfiltration.com/

Virusses them self don't fly around in air. They are carried in tiny droplets. A N95 mask is able to stop these droplets up to a very high percentage, thus giving you protection. A N100 (or was it N99?) mask will have slightly beter performance than the N95.

For the europeans here:
FFP2 is similair, but NOT identical to the N95
FFP3 is similair, but NOT identical to the N100

Redflare, 3M makes individual sale packing 9211 & 9210 now, they may always have but they are popping up everywhere since 9/11 and the more recent "Bird Flu" scares.

We have switched to the 9210 at work and they are much better than so many others we have tried. Their packaging makes sure that they are clean and undamaged when needed and are easy to carry.

I like Country Comm. and have bought a bunch of stuff form them, great company! But, BUY FROM REDFLARE he has been a great contributor to the site and has invested in ETS by paying for advertising?
<img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Romania, thanks very much for a ringing endorsement! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I will look into this issue about individually packaged 9210s and 9211s. So far I have only seen boxes of 10 for 9211s and boxes of 20 for 9210s. Within those boxes each mask is individually wrapped and has a lable "not for individual resale".

As it was pointed out before though, one does need to change those quite often, probably on daily basis when working in hazardous conditions.

Thanks
<img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

If you're buying just one mask, it isn't going to last very long, breathing being the issue that it is. Twenty 9210s are only $20. If you're in a position to need one, you'll probably need several. I'll bet they tend to clog up in a heavy dust or ash situation, what with the moisture of respiration.

Individual packaging would seem more important than individual sales.

Sue

A day of working in heavy dust is a stretch for any N95 mask. Like susan says, if you feel the need to have N95 masks buy a case of 20.

The filter also makes the mask bulkier.

I just bought a box of each from Redflare. A quick test suggests that the ones with filters are undoubtedly better in use. They are both surprisingly easy to breath through. Without a filter, much of the air you exhale stays in the mask and forms a nice warm layer on your face. When you inhale, you get some of the same air you just exhaled. It's not as bad as it may sound but the valve is definitely worth having.

However, it makes the mask roughly twice as bulky. In many situations that doesn't matter. For example, I can put either into a jacker inner pocket and not notice them. In a draw or my car boot there's no problem. In other places it does matter. I have a small waist pack which is already stuffed with gear, and the valveless mask fits easily when the other doesn't. My rucksack has a thin map pocket which takes several valveless masks but I wouldn't want to put a valve one in. I also have a couple secreted in the door compartments of my car.

Currently I reckon they are both pretty wonderful, and much better than masks which don't fold flat. I am more concerned about dust than microbes, although I think they will help by stopping me from touching my face with my hands. They should help against fallout, too; you don't want radioactive dust inside you.

I think it's worth getting lots. You can lend then to other people, cache them all over the place, and have some to experiment and play with. Although it may look obvious how to put them on, there are a couple of gotchas so you need to read the instructions and then practice. (Eg I hadn't realised the lower bit was supposed to go beneath your chin.)

i assume you mean a exhaust valve, with the term "filter".

The advantage of the exhaust valve, only become apparent after having a mask on for a longer period. When you'r sweating or during a high humidity, the mask with the valve are much more comfortable.

I personnaly have plenty of FFP-3 (european standaard, which is similair to N100) fold flat masks with valve's, for emergency's.

Has anyone tried the AOsafety Pleats Plus? Lot of surface area there...

N95 Masks Flying Off Shelves, but They Offer Scant Protection

Mercola on Bioterrorism

The masks we have at home (and I have in my truck and various kits) are called Isolation Masks. They are supposedly 99% effective at 0.1 micron. You can find them at Mercedes Medical, MD Depot.com They are packaged flat with pleats and when you put them on you can press them around the bridge of your nose for a tighter fit.