Portwest - Do You Know Booklet

DO YOU KNOW 35

WHAT IS EN149? EN 149:2001- A1:2009 IS THE EUROPEAN STANDARD THAT COVERS THE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE DEVICES - FILTERING HALF MASKS TO PROTECT AGAINST PARTICLES HERE ARE THE 3 MANDATORY TESTS CONDUCTED UNDER THE STANDARD: There are 3 classes of masks as defined by the standard: FFP1 = Lowest class of protection FFP2 = Higher class of protection FFP3 = Highest level of protection

ACCEPTABLE LEVELS

1. TOTAL INWARD LEAKAGE This test measures the probability of the respiratory mask to protect the wearer against potential hazards. A test subject wearing the particle mask walks in an enclosed test room, with a constant concentration of sodium chloride aerosol. While the subject breathes, the air inside the mask is sampled and analysed to determine which % of sodium chloride could pass through the mask.

2. PENETRATION OF FILTER MATERIAL The goal of this test is to measure the filtering power of the masks. This test is carried out by exposing a dummy head with a mask to 120mg of 2 test aerosols (Sodium chloride & Paraffi n oil). The standard defines the maximum admitted penetration % of the 2 aerosols, for FFP1/FFP2 and FFP3 masks.

3. BREATHING RESISTANCE This test assesses the ability of the filtering mask to provide protection while allowing the wearer to breathe easily.

BREATHING RESISTANCE - mbar

PENETRATION LEVEL %

The permitted resistance is lower for FFP1 because it’s a lighter mask and it’s higher for FFP2 and FFP3 as they are thicker.

EXHALATION 160 I/MIN

INHALATION 30 I/MIN 95 I/MIN

CLASS

The higher the penetration levels the lower the protection

CLASS FFP1 FFP2 FFP3

SODIUM CHLORIDE

PARAFFIN OIL

Not greater than 22% Not greater than 8% Not greater than 2% INWARD LEAKAGE %

The lower the percentage the higher the protection

20%

20%

FFP1 FFP2 FFP3

FFP1 FFP2 FFP3

0.6 0.7 1.0

2.1 2.4 3.0

3.0 3.0 3.0

6% 1%

6% 1%

PORTWEST HAS 22 MODELS CERTIFIED TO EN149