Filtering Facepiece Respirators

Overview

FFRs remove particles from the inhaled airstream of the wearer. They provide protection against particles, but not gases or vapors.

FFRs are sometimes called disposable respirators because the entire respirator is discarded when it becomes unsuitable for further use. FFRs seal against your face around your nose and mouth. Some FFRs have an exhalation valve that opens to let air escape when you breathe out. This reduces breathing resistance and can make the respirator more comfortable to wear.

NIOSH published a report on the use of FFRs with an exhalation valve.

Filter classes

There are nine filter classes for FFRs. The classes are made up of three levels of filtration efficiency (95%, 99%, and 99.97%A) and three series of protection against oil aerosols: (1) Not resistant to oil (N-type); (2) Resistant to oil (R-type); and (3) oil Proof (P-type).

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Identifying NIOSH Approved® FFRs

The markings on an FFR and NIOSH approval label are key to helping you identify a NIOSH Approved FFR. NIOSH Approved FFRs should state NIOSH and the protection level, i.e., N95. Additionally, it will be marked with a testing and certification (TC) approval number (e.g., TC 84A-XXXX). You should make sure all the required approval marks are on your FFR. You can verify that an approval number is valid by checking the .

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For additional tips to identify NIOSH Approved respirators, see the resources below.

• Fact sheet - How to tell if your N95 Respirator is NIOSH Approved
• Video - How to tell if your N95^® Respirator is NIOSH Approved

Surgical N95 FFRs

Some FFRs, known as Surgical N95 FFRs, have spray- or splash-resistant facemask material on the outside to protect the wearer. These respirators are commonly used in healthcare settings. They provide healthcare personnel protection from both airborne and fluid hazards (e.g., splashes, sprays). Therefore, use of these respirators outside of healthcare settings is not necessary.

The NIOSH Science Blogs below describe how NIOSH works with the Food and Drug Association to approve/clear Surgical N95 FFRs.

Putting on and taking off your FFR

An FFR's effectiveness depends heavily on proper fit and use. For your FFR to provide you the protection expected, you must properly don (put on) and doff (take off) it.

Each manufacturer provides donning procedures for its respirator models. For donning instructions specific to the make and model of FFR you are using, see the donning instructions provided with, or on the packaging of, your respirator. If you do not have access to these instructions, please see the respirator approval holder (manufacturer) or private label entity website or contact the approval holder directly.

Conducting a user seal check

When using an FFR, you must perform a user seal check each time you don the device. A user seal check determines if you are properly wearing the respirator.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to perform a user seal check on the specific model you are wearing. This information is available on the box or individual respirator packaging. There are positive pressure and negative pressure user seal checks. The appropriate type of user seal check depends on the respirator.

• Positive pressure user seal check - The person wearing the respirator exhales gently while blocking the paths for air to exit the respirator to make sure there aren’t any leaks. A successful check is when slight pressure builds up in the respirator without any leakage.
• Negative pressure user seal check - The person wearing the respirator quickly inhales while blocking the paths for air to enter the facepiece. A successful check is when the facepiece collapses slightly under the negative pressure.

A user seal check is only applicable when you have been successfully fit tested with a respirator. It is not a substitute for fit testing.

For more information, see our user seal check fact sheet.

Reuse and extended use of FFRs

Reuse

In most workplace situations, you can reuse an FFR such as an N95 FFR as part of an employer’s respiratory protection program. Limited reuse refers to the practice of using the same FFR multiple times during a work shift. The respirator is stored between uses and donned again prior to the next potential exposure for a limited number of donnings.

Unless the manufacturer identifies a specified duration of use (for example, “single-use only”) or the employer’s respirator program excludes reuse (for example, when exposed to infectious agents capable of being transmitted by contact), you can wear an FFR until it is damaged, soiled, or causing noticeably increased breathing resistance. FFRs should only be reused by the same wearer and should be stored:

• According to the manufacturer's recommendations,
• In a way that protects them from damage (including deforming the straps), dust, contamination, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, damaging chemicals, and
• In a way that prevents deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve.

Regardless of the setting, the number of times you can reuse an FFR should be limited. Consult the FFR manufacturer for specific guidance regarding reuse and storage of the product.

Reuse in healthcare settings

Extra caution should be taken in certain workplaces where additional risks are posed by handling a used or potentially contaminated respirator. For example, some pathogens such as those found in healthcare settings and biosafety labs can remain infectious on the surface of the respirator for extended periods of time.

In some non-emergency situations (e.g., close contact with patients with tuberculosis) N95 FFR reuse has been recommended in healthcare settings and is commonly practiced (see TB Respiratory Protection Program In Health Care Facilities – Administrator's Guide).

Extended use

Extended use refers to the practice of wearing the same FFR for repeated exposures without removing the respirator. In general, you can safely wear the same FFR until it is damaged, soiled, or causing noticeably increased breathing resistance. Check with your respiratory protection program manager for additional guidance.