The filter inside an FFP3 mask captures 99% of airborne particles, which is tested, certified, and printed on the packaging. What isn't printed is how much inhaled air bypasses that filter entirely through a gap at the seal.
The HSE sets FFP3 total inward leakage at a maximum of 2%. If it exceeds, the mask's protection is compromised regardless of its filter grade. This is why face fit testing is the only way to know the mask is working.
Workplace air isn’t always as safe as it looks. Dust, fumes, vapours and fine particles can be present at hazardous levels without being visible, which is why Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) is one of the most important and most misunderstood categories of PPE.
Silica dust is a rising concern which is creating occupational health risks in the UK. Occupations involving cutting and grinding of stones, bricks, and engineered stones expose workers to respirable crystalline silica, which, although invisible to the naked eye, when inhaled, leads to permanent lung damage.
Most people experience discomfort while wearing an FFP3 mask for a long time at work. This urge to remove the respirator mask and wear it again, clean the sweat, and adjust the ear straps can make you feel comfortable with the mask.
When it comes to respiratory protection, most people often use the words FFP3 mask and a respirator mask interchangeably. While they might be closely related, they are actually different. In simple words, an FFP3 face mask is a type of respirator, but a respirator is not an FFP3 mask.
