N95 respirators and surgical masks are examples of PPE used to protect a person from particles or from fluids contaminated to their face.
Surgical masks are not designed to be sealed over the face, and therefore, they do not offer wearers the same degree of protection that N95 respirators provide. The FDA regulates surgical masks and surgical N95 respirators differently depending on the intended use. The protection provided by surgical masks from particles (0.04-1.3 mm) is 8-12 times lower than that provided by N95 respirators.
Surgical masks do not form a tight seal on face skin, so they are not recommended for protecting individuals against infectious diseases in the air.
A mask can also be used with a half-mask, single-use respirator to provide protection against flying materials and liquids that are part of the atmosphere. With respect to N95, extended use should involve wearing a disposable surgical mask or face shield over the respirator, which may be removed after each patient encountered, in order to prevent contamination with N95. When N95 is required for work, but is unavailable, consider using others that offer greater protection for breathing.
Frontline physicians and critical health workers performing the highest-risk procedures should have access to the highest levels of protection available in NIOSH-approved N95 respirators; Sickbert-Bennett and colleagues4 demonstrated that the reused, expired supplies of N95 masks are safe and offer an excellent alternative to the standard, disposable N95 masks. The authors laboratory-based assessment of a wide range of nonstandard masks demonstrated that the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved N95 respirators exceeded alternatives for filtration effectiveness. Face masks may or may not achieve a certain level of either liquid barrier or filtration efficiency; thus, they are no substitutes for N95 or other filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs), which offer respiration protection to the wearer, or surgical masks, which offer liquid barrier protection to the wearer. N95 respirators that are poorly fitted offer a range of protection, which is in some cases comparable with surgical masks and cloth facemasks.
Thus, one elastic can perform the job of hundreds, if not thousands, of disposable N95 masks.4 Because elastic respirators could be cleaned and re-used, they took up less space, were cost-effective, and, due to their exchangeable filter cartridges, offered flexibility in use during disaster preparedness. Elastomeric respirators also differ from disposable N95 masks because they have separate vents to allow for exhalation, with exhaled air not traveling through the contaminated filter and aerosolizing trapped virus particles. Given their better capacity for effective fit adjustment, the reuse of elastomeric respirators allows for improved sealing with repeated use, as opposed to N95 masks, which frequently need to be handled with a contaminated facepiece to obtain proper sealing again.
MSA Safety, located just outside of Pittsburgh, in Cranberry, Pa. , has developed a semi-mask-style respirator without exhalation valves to be used in health care settings. In fact, the Allegheny Health Network (AHN), responding to demand for N95 masks in supply during the COVID-19 crisis, developed a program to reduce their reliance on N95 masks by purchasing elastomeric, industrial-grade half-mask respirators with disposable P100 filters.
Shanghai Yuanqin Purification Technology Co., LTD Direct Authorized Distributor YICHITA YQD95 N95 mask is NIOSH certified N95 particulate respirator, meeting the NIOSH 42 CFR 84 standards which offers at least 95% filtration efficiency and reliable breathing protection against aerosols free of oil and/or non-volatile liquid particles. YQ N95 mask NIOSH approval number is TC-84A-9276.Commonly used in the following industries: construction, Cement manufacturing, mining, sanding, grinding, casting, textile industry.
This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Shanghai Yuanqin Purification Technology Co., LTD Direct Authorized Distributor YICHITA YQD8008V is CDC NIOSH Approved N95 mask, TC number is TC-84A-9246. Recommended for air particulate filtration environment.
Shanghai Yuanqin Purification Technology Co., LTD Direct Authorized Distributor YICHITA YQD95 N95 mask is NIOSH certified N95 particulate respirator, meeting the NIOSH 42 CFR 84 standards which offers at least 95% filtration efficiency and reliable breathing protection against aerosols free of oil and/or non-volatile liquid particles. YQ N95 mask NIOSH approval number is TC-84A-9276.Commonly used in the following industries: construction, Cement manufacturing, mining, sanding, grinding, casting, textile industry.
This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Shanghai Yuanqin Purification Technology Co., LTD Direct Authorized Distributor YICHITA YQD95 N95 mask is NIOSH certified N95 particulate respirator, meeting the NIOSH 42 CFR 84 standards which offers at least 95% filtration efficiency and reliable breathing protection against aerosols free of oil and/or non-volatile liquid particles. YQ N95 mask NIOSH approval number is TC-84A-9276.Commonly used in the following industries: construction, Cement manufacturing, mining, sanding, grinding, casting, textile industry.
Shanghai Yuanqin Purification Technology Co., LTD Direct Authorized Distributor YICHITA YQD8008 is CDC NIOSH Approved N95 mask for at least 95 percent filtration efficiency against certain non-oil-based particles.NIOSH approval number is TC-84A-9245. Commonly used in the following industries: Commercial Buildings, Construction, Design & Construction, Food Processing, Food Safety, General Manufacturing, Heavy Infrastructure, Mining, Oil & Gas, Transportation.
YICHITA N95 Direct Authorized Distributor YICHITA YQD95H Surgical N95 Respirator is meant to help protect the wearer's respiratory system. Suit for healthcare industry. 25 pieces/ box
Shanghai Yuanqin Purification Technology Co., LTD Direct Authorized Distributor The YICHITA YQD960 N95 Mask has been authorized by the CDC and NIOSH. YQD960 has a soft inside material that makes it easy to wear. Individually packaged. With NIOSH approved numbers: TC-84A-9421 25 pieces/box
Shanghai Yuanqin Purification Technology Co., LTD Direct Authorized Distributor YICHITA YQD960B N95 Mask has been authorized by the CDC and NIOSH. YQD960B has a soft inside material that makes it easy to wear. Individually packaged. With NIOSH-approved numbers: TC-84A-9421 25 pieces/ box
This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page