How can I tell if my dust mask is genuine and properly certified RPE?

Learn how to identify genuine and certified respiratory protective equipment (RPE) to ensure your dust mask is providing you with the protection you need.

With many types of respirators, masks in use and on the market, it is important to understand how to identify a genuine and conforming respirator. In applications where respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is required, it must be tested and certified to the relevant regulations and performance standards.

In the UK this means certification to the PPE Regulation with CE marking or UKCA marking and conformity with EN 149, the European standard for disposable dust masks.

Masks that meet this criteria display markings that detail performance and usage:

Conformity marking – CE / UKCA
Notified / approved body number – Four digit number below conformity marking
Standard reference – EN 149
Performance level – FFP3 (/FFP2/FFP1)
Usage type – NR (non-reusable) or R (reusable)

British Safety Industry Federation

"The British Safety Industry Federation is urging buyers and end users of PPE and safety equipment to follow a simple process when specifying products to ensure that they are fit for purpose. Under PPE Regulations, buyers of PPE and safety equipment have a responsibility to ensure that the products they buy are compliant, however many buyers don’t have the knowledge and resources to validate suppliers’ claims."-BSIF

JSP Ltd are proud to be a member of the Registered Safety Supplier Scheme giving our customers the reassurance that they are buying genuine safety products from a manufacturer that correctly tests and certifies products to the appropriate market standards.

To find out how to check if your vendor is committed to high standards of operation and is compliant with relevant regulations, click here

Respirators in other regions

Respirators in different regions conform to different regional standards. In the US, comparable NIOSH respirators are classified as N95 or N99. Australia and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1716 classifies particulate respirators as P1, P2, or P3.

What about KN95 masks?

KN95 masks are sometimes marketed as equivalent to EN 149 ‘FFP’ masks which is misleading due to differences in assessment requirements. The HSE issued a safety alert regardin KN95's which must not be used as workplace PPE unless their supply has been agreed by the |HSE's KN95's which must not be used as PPE at work unless their supply has been agreed by HSE's Market Surveillance Authority.

Medical / surgical masks and face coverings

During the recent covid pandemic, use of medical masks and face coverings was extensive. These products, while able to capture droplets exhaled by the wearer, do not provide respiratory protection.

The HSE have stated that medical masks are not classed as PPE outside of healthcare settings.

Medical masks and face coverings do not create a seal with the face to prevent inward leakage, as EN 149 masks.

Fit testing

Making sure that your dust mask is genuine and properly certified, with the required protection level, confirms that the respirator is adequate. To ensure the respirator is suitable, fit testing must be carried out.

As tight-fitting RPE, disposable respirators create a tight seal with the face to offer protection. Fit testing assesses respirator seal to ensure an individual can achieve a good confident fit with a specific model of mask.

If you need further support, please contact our Technical Support Team using the email: technical@jspsafety.com or contact us via WhatsApp.