@jbond Comparing the non-valved respirators on your link and via the 3M uk site the US version doesn't appear to be available here. The closest version is on FFP2 rated and has a 404 product page! I wonder if this is a hangover from lockdown when export of such things was restricted by the orange president.
@jbond Further digging shows that these https://www.3m.co.uk/3M/en_GB/p/dc/v000078852/ are available this side of the pond and links to suppliers too! Apologies if teaching you to suck eggs but straps on FFP3 masks are coded red if you are physically adjacent to a box and want to buy.
@mycams Right. But even then 3M do seem to have a couple of very similar un-valved FFP3 Aura eg 9330+ and 1863+ To the amateur these look identical. But are they?
@jbond My guess is 1863 has been sterilised in some manner (probably gamma rays like contact lenses) otherwise choose your poison. Further research form the links shows that RUBIX have the industrial ones in as 20’s at a nicely priced £61 for a box delivered! TBF it's a while since I’ve delved into PPE since I left H&S consulting, interesting to see where we are nowadays.
@mycams@jbond the medical use respirators have an extra coating/layer that helps increase splash protection which allows it to be certified for use as a surgical mask. Not necessary to protect against airborne respiratory pathogens, pollution, etc
(in North America, the 1870+ is the 'surgical' Aura, and the 9205+/9210+ are the industrial Auras)
GAH! Sean, the difference is crucial to your level of protection. Red for me!
The straps are colour-coded in the 1800 series, indicating the level of protection offered: yellow for FFP1 (APF 4), blue for FFP2 (APF 10) and red for FFP3 (APF 20).
FFP3/FP3/N95 = red elastic
Surely 3M wouldn't use different colours for different reasons across their various ranges? I had a look at the 9330 leaflets but didn't find the info'.
@TalktoBeverley@sb in North America, the red straps are used exclusively on 3M's Aura 1870+ N95. Their Aura N95 non-surgical respirators have blue (9205+) or white (9210+). Same APF, though. As an aside, I don't understand why, but it seems rare for a respirator to be submitted for N99 certification. The Aura 9205+ N95 scored 99.7 in masknerd's tests and the Vflex 9105+ N95 scored 99.4. iirc, only the made-in-🇨🇦 Vitacore CAN99 scored higher among the FFRs he tested, at 99.9. Obv the tests are specific to his face, so ymmv.
@TalktoBeverley@sb very welcome! I̶ ̶b̶e̶l̶i̶e̶v̶e̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶'̶r̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶r̶r̶e̶c̶t̶:̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶1̶8̶6̶3̶+̶ ̶A̶u̶r̶a̶s̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶s̶t̶r̶a̶p̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶9̶3̶3̶0̶+̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶l̶u̶e̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶y̶'̶r̶e̶ The 1863+ and the 9330+ are both rated FFP3. The additional splash protection included in the former doesn't impact its rating vs aerosols/particulates, but whether occupational health+safety regulations permit its use in healthcare environments where staff are likely to be exposed to blood/sputum splatter.
The 1800+ series respirators also have colour-coded headbands, indicating the level of protection offered: yellow for FFP1 (APF 4), blue for FFP2 (APF 10) and red for FFP3 (APF 20).
@jbond@TalktoBeverley@sb that's actually the page for the whole 9300+ series, but fair enough. The model numbers I mentioned above are all considered FFP3, so they must have the red headbands. Assuming cost isn't a factor, the 9330+ sans splash protection would be the best option for non-healthcare settings.
@trendless@jbond@sb it's just the colour coding is different between North America and the UK.
(I always have to remind myself that blue represents the Democrats/red Republicans. In the UK, the party on the left is red and the Conservatives on the right wing use blue as their colour.)
Add comment