What Is The Difference Between N95 And R95 Respirators?

What Is The Difference Between N95 And R95 Respirators?

The dilemma of N95 and R95 respirator

Anyone who has studied disposable masks faces the dilemma of choosing between N95 and R95 disposable masks. Here comes the question: What is the difference between the two? Which one should I use?

The naming of N95 and R95 originated from NIOSH and was approved by NIOSH. NIOSH is the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. It was the government agency that tested these masks to confirm that they really filtered what they promoted to filter.

NIOSH confirms that the filtration efficiency of N95 respirators and R95 respirators is above 95%.

The difference between N95 and R95 respirators

The difference between the two is their resistance to oil-based particles.

3M Company said: "Under the NIOSH classification system, N-class respirators can only be used for particles that do not contain oil. However, R-class respirators may be used in environments that contain oily particles."

This means that a respirator with a NIOSH rating of "R" has a wider range of protection, and in this sense, it is a better mask. "N" class disposable respirator has no protective effect on oily particles.

So what is the difference between P95 and R95?

We have seen that N95 cannot filter oily particles, but R95 can. But what is a P95 respirator? NIOSH has two names for oil-based particle disposable respirators-R95 and P95. The "R" rating is considered "a certain degree of resistance to oil." The "P" rating is said to be "strongly resistant to oil."

In other words, R95 has a life span of 8 hours. P95 has a life span of 40 hours or 30 days (whichever comes first). NIOSH approved particulate filter masks.

To sum up: N95 disposable masks cannot protect oily particles; a R95; P95 is the same, and it has a longer service life than R95.

What are oil-based particles?

When oil-based products, such as some solvents or pesticides, are sprayed, the oil particles become air. These suspended oil particles are oil-based particles. The SDS of the product you are using should clearly state this.

Should I use N95 or R95 (or P95)?

Now this question can be answered and understood. Of course, the easiest way is to use R95 without oil-based particles. Why? Because it can do everything that N95 can do, plus oil-based particles. However, in general, R95 respirators are more expensive.

We also briefly mentioned the naming of P95. Like R95, it has an efficiency of 95% in processing oil-based particles. Its advantage is that the protection time is longer-the service life is 40 hours instead of 8 hours. It is generally more expensive than N95 and R95.

What is the grade of P100 or N100?

What we have just learned still applies to "P" or "N" naming. P100 can prevent oily particles. N100 does not. The difference is that these disposable masks now have a filtration efficiency of at least 99.9%, which means they can block finer particles. So the "best" disposable respirator you can buy is P100.

Note: As mentioned above, R95, P95 and P100 can do all the functions of N95 while preventing oil-based particles.

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