An N95 mask is a popular, short acronymic name for an N95 particulate filtering mask, which is a very effective, lightweight particulate filter respirator that meets the federal standards of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. These masks are worn by many people who work with dust, pollen, smoke, fumes, or chemicals. A typical N95 mask can protect your health while still maintaining comfort. N95 filters are available for sale from a variety of sources including home improvement stores and from medical supply retailers and distributors. Some N95 masks are made with special fabric liners that filter even more dust and particulates than the standard face mask.
Most N95 masks come in two types, the positive pressure check (PPV) and the negative pressure check (NPV). With a positive pressure check mask, the face mask fits tightly across the nose and mouth to ensure that no air can escape. The pressure gauge on the mask will indicate how much air pressure remains in the mask at all times. With a negative pressure check mask, the mask is adjusted so that it can hold the most amount of air without leaking.
The advantage of HEPA filters
When selecting an N95 mask, you should pay close attention to the filtration system. The majority of masks are equipped with a HEPA filtration system, which is used to remove particles and odors from the air. HEPA filtration removes very small dust particles from the air as well as bacteria and other microorganisms that can irritate the respiratory system. Other filtration systems include UV filtration, which works to kill any mold or other microorganism that could cause serious problems for those who suffer from allergies.
In addition to wearing an N95 mask when you have to perform your job, wearing an N95 mask while you are around other people who are working at their jobs can be very effective. It can help to keep the other people in the same workgroup or company away from you when you are wearing a mask. One of the ways that this can be accomplished is by social distancing yourself from the other people at work who may be wearing N95 masks. For instance, if you are around a large group of people who wear N95 masks, and all of them notice you while you are wearing one, you might be perceived as being a walking pest, especially if they are the ones who notice you first.
You can also get around this by wearing an N95 mask that has an approval number. When the number is noticed, other people who are aware of the fact that you are wearing an N95 mask will not make eye contact with you but will turn their head to the side or even pass over you to another coworker who does not have the approval number on their mask. This can take away the perceived social stigma of wearing N95 masks around other coworkers. It is believed that some N95 masks can cause an increase in the production of particulates. These masks can be purchased from any retail store or online sellers like accumed.com for authentic N95 masks.
