Medical masks and respirators: Information for users
Learn about the types of masks and respirators available to purchase in Canada and how to choose the device that's most appropriate.
On this page
- Choosing a mask or a respirator
- What to look for on the label
- What you should know about wearing a mask
- What you should know about wearing a respirator
Choosing a mask or a respirator
Masks and respirators each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Being aware of these will help you choose the right device for the situation.
In general, respirators provide better protection for you and your environment, but they must be fitted to form a seal against your face. Medical masks offer less protection for you but good protection to your environment. They also don't require a perfect fit to function well.
The following table compares respirators and medical masks.
| Characteristic | Respirator | Medical mask |
|---|---|---|
| Protection against inhaling infectious or hazardous airborne particulates | Provides superior protection against infectious or hazardous airborne particulates, as long as the respirator forms a seal | Provides some protection against infectious or hazardous airborne particulates, but less than a well-fitting respirator |
| Source control (protection of others in your environment) | Provides excellent source control, as long as the respirator forms a seal | Provides very good source control |
| Fit | Must fit properly to function If the respirator doesn't form a seal, the protection of the user and the environment is compromised Perform a professional fit test to ensure best protection |
No perfect seal is needed to provide protection Can more easily be formed to fit well against the face by using the nose wire, if available |
| Cost | More expensive per unit than medical masks | Less expensive per unit than respirators |
When to choose a surgical mask or surgical respirator
Some masks and respirators are labelled for surgical use. This means that they have been designed and tested to prevent pressurized fluid from penetrating the device.
This is important in a surgical setting because it protects health care workers from being exposed to potentially hazardous fluids during an operation.
When it comes to respiratory protection, surgical masks and respirators offer the same level of protection as ordinary masks and respirators. Unless you specifically require protection from pressurized fluids, a surgical mask or respirator will not provide additional benefits from its non-surgical counterpart.
What to look for on the label
Good quality masks and respirators are designed and tested according to specific safety standards. These standards are identified on the product's packaging or label and, in the case of some respirators, directly on the respirator.
There are different safety standards for masks and respirators. As long as a mask or respirator is labelled with 1 of the following standards or product designations, it should provide an acceptable level of protection.
Medical mask standards
Health Canada currently recognizes these medical mask standards:
- Standard specification for performance of materials used in medical face masks (ASTM F2100)
- Medical face masks – Requirements and test methods (EN 14683)
Respirator standards and product designations
The labels of respirators contain more information than the labels of medical masks. Instead of being labelled with the name of a safety standard, they are labelled with a combination of letters and numbers that specifies their performance. Typically, both the respirator and the packaging it comes in will be labelled.
A respirator that's labelled with 1 of the following standards or product designations can protect you and your environment, as long as it fits well and forms a seal against your face.
Respirators that do not form a seal may not provide adequate protection.
NIOSH respirators (for example, N95)
The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) classifies respirators according to their oil resistance and ability to filter very small particulates (0.3 μm in diameter). They're tested according to NIOSH criteria and classified and labelled with 1 of the following letter and number combinations:
- an N (not resistant to oil), an R (resistant to oil) or a P (oil-proof) and
- 95 (95% minimum filtration efficiency), 99 (99% minimum filtration efficiency) or 100 (99.97% minimum filtration efficiency)
The N95 designation means the respirator is not resistant to oil and can filter 0.3 μm particles with a minimum filtration efficiency of 95%.
Authentic NIOSH respirators are also labelled with the following identifiers:
- manufacturer name
- model number
- "NIOSH" (or the NIOSH logo) and
- "testing and certification" number (TC-84A-XXXX, where "XXXX" is some combination of numbers)
A respirator that's missing 1 or more of these identifiers may not be authentic.
NIOSH respirators have head straps. A NIOSH-labelled respirator with ear loops may not be authentic.
CAN/CSA Z94.4.1 respirators
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) respirator standard (CAN/CSA Z94.4.1) is a Canadian equivalent to the US NIOSH respirator standard.
Respirators adhering to this standard have similar labelling requirements to NIOSH respirators, with the addition of "CA-" before the performance designation. For example, instead of "N95", the respirator will be labelled with "CA-N95".
EN 149 filtering facepiece (FFP) respirators
EN 149 is a European respirator standard. There are 3 classifications of respirators under EN 149. These are defined in terms of particulate filtration and the amount of air that can leak into the respirator during normal use ("inward leakage").
FFP3 respirators provide the greatest protection (minimum 99% filtration and <2% inward leakage). These are followed by FFP2 respirators (94% and <8%) and FFP1 respirators (80% and <22%). However, FFP1 respirators still provide reliable protection for most everyday situations.
EN 149 FFP respirators should be labelled with the manufacturer's name, FFP level, "EN 149: 2009" and whether they can be reused ("R") or not ("NR").
FFP3 respirators should also be labelled with a CE mark.
Other respirators
There are other respirators certified to other international standards, such as KN95 (China) and KF94 (Korea). These respirators offer similar protection as N95 respirators, as long as they fit well and form a seal.
What you should know about wearing a mask
A well-fitting mask is superior to one that fits poorly. It should:
- be large enough to completely and comfortably cover your nose, mouth and chin without gaps
- not allow air to escape from the edges
- fit securely to your head with ties, bands or ear loops
- be comfortable and not require frequent adjustments
- keep its shape after washing and drying
- applies only to reusable non-medical masks
To ensure your mask fits properly:
- make sure it completely covers your nose, mouth and chin
- check for gaps between your face and mask
- check the top, sides and bottom
- check the edges for air leaks
- adjust it so it's snug and there are no gaps
- adjust the ties, bands or ear loops
- adjust the nosepiece
You can also:
- tie knots in the ear loops if your mask is too loose
- tuck in the sides of your mask so that it lies flat against your face
- use a mask fitter or brace to help provide a snug fit
- keep facial hair shaved or short if possible
What you should know about wearing a respirator
Check your respirator before you use it. This includes checking that the respirator:
- straps are intact
- forms a proper seal
- has no visible signs of damage
Respirators must form a seal to function properly. If yours does not form a seal against your face, then it will not protect you as well. When possible, we recommend professional fit testing of respirators.
Some commercially available respirators have exhalation valves to make the respirator more comfortable for the person wearing it. However, the valves also allow infectious respiratory droplets to be released outside the respirator.
If you are sick, using a respirator with exhalation valves will not protect others around you.
Page details
- Date modified: