N95 Respirator Mask - Type of Respirator and Face MaskBreathing is inhaling air through our respiratory system in order to nourish all our vital organs and systems with oxygen. Air consisting of oxygen and air particle that needed by our body and some are not really harmful to human body. But air also consists of pollutants, irritants, Pneumonic Plague, and viruses that can cause great harm and illness. This is why many people use protective masks, such as the N95 Respirator Mask, to keep foreign objects and viruses from entering their respiratory systems. N95 filter 95% of very small test particles, these masks come in different styles and it is important to pick the right N95 Respirator Mask for the particular situation. There are varieties of N95 Respirator Mask and accordance to certain world’s standard, such as FDA, EN &etc. Below table illustrate the type of N95 facemask and its standard compiled.
European standard EN 143 defines the following classes of particle filters that can be attached to a face mask:
European standard EN 149 defines the following classes of “filtering half masks” (also called “filtering face pieces”), that is respirators that are entirely or substantially constructed of filtering material:
1. Surgical N95 Respirator Mask - for Health care professionals, who work in hospitals, medically assisted living facilities, or small doctor offices. Surgical N95 Respirator Mask act as the protective barrier to protect against patient who may be carrying infections or viruses. 2. Industrial N95 Respirator Mask – for Occupational workers in different environments. Depending on the industry, these workers can be vulnerable to many kinds of particles and foreign objects. Dusty and dirty environment, chemical fumes or particles floating around, smoke and other excessive particle, all these has prompted OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) to require the worker to wear the protective equipment including masks. 3. Ordinary N95 Respirator Mask – for general public use, whereby people used to protect themselves from viruses and other airborne germs.    A N95 mask offers protection in a variety of situations and function. It is important to choose the correct mask for the environment in order to get the full protection and benefits. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Protect Your Family, We Care For Life
Saturday, 9 April 2011
N95 Respirator Mask - Type of Respirator and Face Mask
N95 Respirator Mask - The Great History of Respirator and Face Mask
N95 Respirator Mask - The Great History of Respirator and Face Mask Face mask in general are used to cover our nose and mouth in order to prevent any airborne irritants like dust, small particles, and germs. However, with better enhancement and technology, the protective face masks, such as the N95 Respirator Mask, are becoming more common throughout the world. N95 - A mask that added protection from airborne viruses such as Air Particle, Pneumonic Plague, Swine Flu, Bird Flu and Air Filter. In the old day, there were similar devices in used for hundreds of years, scientists and inventors have developed and built on these earlier prototypes to create the modern group of protective face masks. On 16th century, facemask are formed simply by applying the finely woven cloth dipped in water as believed by Leonardo da Vinci that it could protect sailors from a toxic weapon made of powder. On 1799, Alexander von Humboldt introduced a primitive respirator in the mining industrial in Prussia. “In the old day, the facemask was designed with completely over the head, fastened around the throat with windows through which the wearer could see. A tank of compressed air or a reservoir of air under slight pressure was carried by the wearer to supply the necessary breathing air. In some devices certain means were provided for the adsorption of carbon dioxide in exhaled air and the re-breathing of the same air many times; in other cases valves were provided for exhalation of used air.” Resource from Wikipedia. But today’s N95 Respirator Mask are enhanced with partially cover the face and in lighter weight. In 1848, the first US patent for an air purifying respirator granted by Lewis P. Haslett to be used as dust filtered from the air and the filter was made of moistened wool or a similar porous substance. This was generally used as lung protector. While in 1879, Hutson Hurd patented a cup-shaped mask and became widespread in industrial use. Slowly, the scientists and inventors in several countries were also created a few type of facemask and respirators with widely different in function.  Majority of the facemask and respirators in old time are mainly created for the used of industrial purpose. And there is no much invention on the surgical facemask due to less awareness on the medical field. When chemical weapons began to be used, the facemask was then invented into more powerful device such as ability of capture and hold large volumes of gas, able to remove toxic gases from the air, added a filter of cotton wool saturated with lime, glycerin, and invented a 'fireman's respirator,' a hood that filtered smoke and gas from air. Today industrial facemasks are tested and approved by the FDA and NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health). With the hygienic awareness, facemask were also finding use in the medical field. This lead to doctors and nurses vigorously using the protective gear such as gloves and face masks. |
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