Questions and answers about respiratory protection: Comprehensive information from uvex

Aerosols and fine dust particles are among the most insidious health risks in the workplace, as they are virtually invisible in the air we breathe. In the best-case scenario, workers are exposed only to unpleasant odours.

However, the most dangerous particles can be carcinogenic or radioactive, while others can damage the respiratory system over many years and lead to serious long-term health conditions.

To protect workers from these hazards, respiratory protection is an essential part of workplace safety. It is therefore important to understand how respirators work and how particles are filtered:

• Respirators are typically made entirely of multiple layers of filter material and may be fitted with an exhalation valve.
• They are classified as particle-filtering half masks, also known as fine dust masks.
• The individual layers fulfil different functions, including appearance, comfort, shape retention, tear resistance and, of course, filtration.
• Breathing resistance is one of the most important comfort features of a respirator. It refers to the resistance experienced by the wearer during inhalation and exhalation.
• To keep breathing resistance low, the filter material must allow air to pass through while still effectively capturing particles.
• For this reason, the filter material is given an electrostatic charge. This causes particles that would otherwise pass through the filter due to their small size to be retained by the material.

Particle-filtering respirators generally protect against microscopic particles. They also help prevent the inhalation of:

• water-based and oily aerosols
• smoke
• fine workplace dust

It is also important to note that particle-filtering respiratory protection does not protect against gases and vapours.

The exhalation valve opens when you breathe out, thereby significantly reducing exhalation resistance and making it more comfortable to wear the mask for longer periods. The warm, moist exhaled air escapes quickly from the mask. When you breathe in, the valve closes tightly again and air is inhaled through the surface of the material.

The exhaled air is not filtered but is released directly into the surrounding environment. It is therefore possible that droplets from the mask wearer may be released into the surrounding environment unfiltered.

The additional filter containers on respirators significantly reduce breathing resistance and, in combination with the inhalation valves, ensure a clearly noticeable climate-regulating effect inside the mask. Further details can be found at: Technologies.

The sealing lip and the adjustable nose clip ensure a secure fit for a respirator, particularly around the nose. uvex offers both respirators with a sealing lip and nose clip and completely metal-free masks. The metal-free masks utilise special 3D nose technology: thanks to the special ergonomic nose shape, the mask fits perfectly even without a secure fit – the main advantage being that you cannot forget to adjust the nose clip.

Respiratory protection products are classified as PPE category III. This means that the products are designed to protect against serious and irreversible health risks, including life-threatening hazards. For products in this category, it is therefore mandatory to provide training. This training covers various points, such as how to put on and take off the respirator correctly.

Both the selection of a suitable respirator and the training must be carried out or organised by the employer.

Find out here how to choose the right mask.

A secure fit on respirators is essential for the wearer’s protection. You will find instructions on how to fit the respirators correctly both in the user guide and on the packaging.

In addition, the following videos serve as a guide:

When wearing respiratory protection, you must follow not only the user instructions for the respirators but also the relevant national regulations and guidelines. In Germany, for example, this is BGR 190 ‘Use of Respiratory Protective Equipment’. You can find a brief overview of this at: Standards and regulations.

You can assess the secure fit of a mask using subjective and objective test methods, thereby determining which mask fits your face best. Detailed information on the test methods can be found at: Fit-Test for respiratory protection

Combining a respirator with uvex safety spectacles naturally always depends on the facial shape. To help you choose the right combination, we have carried out extensive fit tests and summarised the results for you: Glasses and mask combination.

When it comes to the use of respirators, it is also important to consider the duration of use. Disposable respirators are suitable for use during one work shift, i.e. an eight-hour working day. The instructions for use should specify how long you can wear the respirator.

However, for specific tasks involving toxic hazardous substances, the masks are in fact single-use only; this means that a new mask must be used every time the mask is removed (for example, when working with viruses, bacteria or carcinogenic substances). For hygiene reasons, too, disposable respirators should be worn for a maximum of one day and by one person only – only respirators with an ‘R’ marking can be hygienically cleaned using the special uvex cleaning spray and can therefore be used for a second shift.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to reprocess or decontaminate uvex respirators.

Respirators are made from electrostatically charged filter material (see also: How do respirators actually work?). This material can be destroyed by various processes, such as irradiation or steam treatment. The respirator’s protective function can no longer be guaranteed. Consequently, the service life of disposable respirators is limited to a single use.

We therefore advise against reprocessing the masks in any way. These are respirators intended for single use.

The filtering effectiveness of disposable masks is determined by the electrostatic charge of the filter material.

As the electrostatic charge of the respirators gradually diminishes, the shelf life of uvex disposable respirators is limited to 36 months or 60 months (depending on the model). The expiry date is clearly marked on each box.

The masks should no longer be used after this date has passed.

During certification in accordance with EN149, the mask is subjected to various conditions. The mask is tested at different temperatures and humidity levels and must continue to fulfil its protective functions.

Under normal circumstances, the respirator can therefore withstand a certain amount of moisture. In everyday use, moisture – such as from raindrops – does not pose a significant risk. However, please never submerge the mask in water.

When using the respiratory protection, please also observe the storage conditions and instructions in the enclosed user manual.

The duration of use for respirators is regulated by statutory guidelines and manufacturer’s recommendations to protect the health of the wearer. Within the specified usage period, you should be aware of the following details: 

• According to DGUV Rule 112-190, the maximum wearing time for particle filtering half-masks with an exhalation valve is 150 minutes, followed by a rest period of at least 30 minutes.
• For masks without an exhalation valve, uvex recommends a wearing time of 75 minutes, followed by a 30-minute break. These breaks are necessary to reduce the strain caused by increased breathing resistance and heat build-up.
• Regardless of the protection class, masks should be replaced as soon as they become damp, soiled or damaged in order to maintain their protective effect.

Proper storage plays a key role in maintaining the protective function of a respirator. Unused respiratory protection products should always be stored under the following conditions:

• in the original packaging
• in a dry environment
• at room temperature
• protected from direct sunlight

In addition, you should avoid moisture, dirt and mechanical stress. Masks that have already been used but are reusable should be stored separately in a clean, breathable container to prevent contamination. Also, take care not to crush masks together with other personal protective equipment – this ensures the fit is maintained and the secure fit remains reliable. Correct storage also affects how long a respirator can be used.

Face coverings are often referred to as surgical masks. They are designed to prevent droplets and bodily fluids from being transmitted from the wearer to the surrounding environment. However, these masks do not offer sufficient protection for the wearer themselves.

Unlike respiratory protection products compliant with EN149, they are not classified as personal protective equipment. With our uvex masks, the focus is on protecting the wearer, which is why, for example, the mask’s secure fit plays an extremely important role.

uvex respirators are capable of filtering out the smallest particles and droplets from the ambient air and reliably protecting the wearer. uvex focuses on the manufacture of personal protective equipment. That is why our range only includes respirators that comply with European Standard 149, and no so-called surgical masks.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have unfortunately noticed that an increasing number of counterfeit products are coming into circulation. We therefore advise you to purchase products only directly from uvex or from authorised dealers and partners.

Use our retailer locator to find an authorised partner near you

You can also look out for the following points:

• Unless there is an explicit description to the contrary by uvex, products are always supplied in uvex packaging.
• On the uvex respirator, you will find a label bearing the uvex logo, the relevant standards and the CE mark.
• Every pack includes a uvex instruction leaflet.
• uvex masks are sold in specified packaging units. uvex does not sell individual masks.
• Both the manufacturer identification date and the expiry date are printed on the packaging.
• Due to strict quality controls, it is highly unlikely that you will receive products that are no longer in their original packaging, have been incorrectly assembled, or that there are spelling mistakes on the packaging or in the instructions for use.

Should you have any concerns regarding any of these points, please contact our customer service team: serviceteam@uvex.de. We will be happy to help you.

You can find out more about how to tell whether a product is a genuine uvex product or a correctly certified respirator in our blog post (German only) or in our information sheet on respiratory protection, available for download.

The ‘D’ marking on disposable respirators indicates compliance with an additional requirement of the DIN EN 149 standard: the dolomite dust test. This test checks whether the respirator still achieves an acceptable level of breathing resistance after being exposed to dolomite dust. The “D” marking is therefore a quality indicator for the filter material used and ensures that a mask can be worn for a long period of time even in the presence of high dust concentrations.

The “R” marking on a disposable respirator stands for “reusable” in accordance with the DIN EN 149 standard. The masks are tested for cleanability, ensuring they can also be used during a second shift. If the mask is cleanable, it is given the “R” marking; otherwise, it is given the “NR” marking (“non-reusable”).

The occupational exposure limit (OEL) is the average concentration of a substance in the air breathed at the workplace up to which no harm (chronic or acute) is expected if employees work there for eight hours a day, five days a week.

The OEL replaces the maximum workplace concentration (MWC) and the technical reference concentration (TRC) – however, as long as these two values are not yet fully incorporated into the OEL, they may still be used on a transitional basis to assess workplace hazards.

CAS is the abbreviation for the English term ‘Chemical Abstracts Service’; the CAS number (also known as the CAS registration number) is an international identification standard for chemical substances. Every chemical substance registered in the CAS database (including biological sequences, alloys and polymers) is assigned a unique CAS number.

All uvex particle filtering masks fall into Group 1 of respiratory protection products, as they weigh less than 3 kg and the inhalation and exhalation resistance is well below 5 mbar. 
For Group 1, an occupational health examination must be offered by the employer, although it is not compulsory. For Groups 2 and 3, however, this examination is mandatory.