Originally Posted by
jakub.ner
So I stumbled upon this thread and read it multiple times over the last couple days as I was trying to learn more about the Respro, the EN149FFP1 standard, and compare it to my North B5500 and its slew of cartridges. If you want to learn more about the standard, search for "EN149 FFP1" instead of "EN149FFP1"
There is a whole slew of masks conforming to this standard. The masks are for fine particulates and water soluble solvents. I am not sure if this means they are good for organic solvents. (can anyone answer this please?)
Regardless, I believe the North B5500 is easier to breath through then the Respro, can be seal tested, has a good selection of cartridges to choose from, and sits better on the nose ridge (i.e. more comfortable) than the Respro. However, it does look much more post-apocalyptic than the Respro. Also, if you want to wear a helmet and put the mask or take it off, the Respro will suit you better.
There is some confusion about this respirator standard. The EN149 FFP1 is a respirator which is for filtering particulates. It seems to work, and is probably about equivalent to the N95 respirators used in the USA. But you will notice that the advertising states:
Again, it is for
Non-toxic solid and liquid aerosols. Aerosols are fine droplets suspended in the air, sometimes with a toxic component to them. Now, there are not threshold limit values (TLVs) from the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) for non-toxic materials except for "total dust." So to say that they are for "non-toxic solid and liquid aerosols" will protect up to 4.5 times the TLV shows some ignorance of what a TLV actually is. "Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) refer to airborne concentrations of chemical substances and represent conditions under which it is believed that
nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed, day after day, over a working lifetime, without adverse health effects." (ACGIH TLV Booklet, 2008, page 3.) This respirator should protect against airborne fine particles, such as the PM 10 and finer particles from diesel exhaust. This respirator will not protect against airborne organic vapors, such as those produced by burning gasoline (benzene, for instance). For that protection, you need some filtering mechanism which includes activated charcoal, which is what the cartridge respirators provide. I hope this clarifies the respirator situation.
Please note that the FFP1 is a "disposable" respirator; they are made for a single use. Cartridge respirators are made for multiple uses. So there is a big difference there. The FFP1 will do a good job protecting against the H1N1 virus, for instance, but not so good against any vapors.
John