WHO's specifications for
masks/respirators worldwide*
particulate respirator
(non-fluid resistant)#
industrial
standard
high filtration for industrial users
NIOSH N95
(certification: NIOSH/FDA)
-
Fit test required
respirator
(certification:
certified testing lab)
-
non medical high-demand users/users who require high protection
-
e.g. construction workers
-
3D respirator (industrial protection)
products meeting this grade:
-
10A millefeuille (KN95^)
-
RB FFP2
particulate respirator
(fluid resistant)
highest
standard
both medical and industrial
NIOSH surgical N95
(certification: NIOSH/FDA)
-
N95 + ASTM improvement
-
N95 + blood penetration 120mmHg + good breathability + fit test
surgical respirator
(certification:
certified testing lab)
-
obtain EN149 FFP2 NR + EN14683 Type IIR at the same time
-
blood penetration 120mmHg + good breathability + fit test
-
hospitals
-
clinics
-
high-demand users/users who require high protection
-
3D respirator
-
medical surgery grade
products meeting this grade:
-
10A lotus plus
-
10A lotus
-
RB Pro
-
*upcoming* 10A fingerprint
/
/
/
WHO
specifications*
USA
EU
Hong Kong
adoption
mask,
medical for health care worker
(fluid resistant)
ASTM F2100
Level 1, 2 or 3
(certification: certified testing lab/FDA)
EN14683 Type IIR
(certification: certified testing lab)
-
general public
-
low-level 3D respirator
-
mostly 2D flat mask
-
Japanese 3D / Korean type
widely available in the market
EN14683 Type II
(certification: certified testing lab)
-
low-end, low price
-
2D flat Mask
mask,
medical for health care worker
(non-fluid resistant)
EN14683 Type I
(certification: certified testing lab)
mask,
medical for patient
* World Health organization. (2020, November 13). Technical specifications of personal protective equipment for covid-19. World Health Organization. Retrieved February 3, 2022, from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV-PPE_specifications-2020.1
# Fluid resistance represents the mask's resistance to penetration by synthetic blood under pressure (mmHg). A mask or respirator must be fluid-resistant in order to be regarding as surgical use. It measures the ability of a mask's material construction to minimize fluids from traveling through the material and potentially coming into contact with the wearer.
^KN95 is slightly different from N95. It is the Chinese standard for respirator. Please check our standard table on about-us page.