Reference

FFP2-Maske oder FFP3-Maske? Dieser deutschsprachige Leitfaden erklärt die Schutzklassen nach EN 149, die CE-Kennzeichnung mit notifizierter Stelle, die Zusätze NR, R und D, die deutschen DGUV-Schutzfaktoren und den internationalen Vergleich mit N95, P2 und KN95 — samt Kauf-Checkliste gegen gefälschte Masken.

The FFP3 mask is Europe's highest disposable respirator class: at least 99% filtration with tight leakage limits under EN 149. This guide covers FFP2 vs FFP3 selection, the UK's APF 20, silica and hardwood-dust uses, valve and NR/R/D markings, US N99/P100 equivalents, and a four-step check for spotting counterfeits.

Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is the umbrella term for every device that protects breathing — from disposable N95s and FFP3s to powered and supplied-air systems. This guide maps the full family tree, the adequate-and-suitable selection test, fit testing rules, and how the US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian rulebooks attach.

FFP2 and P2 respirators are not NIOSH-approved, so they cannot satisfy OSHA-required workplace use in the US. This guide covers the legal rule, the ended COVID exception, the FFP2-to-N95 and FFP3-to-P100 translation table, voluntary-use cases, the reverse question abroad, and a spec-conversion worked example.

Assigned protection factors differ by country: OSHA credits every half mask 10, the UK runs a 4/10/20/40 ladder, EN 529 defines nominal factors with national APFs beneath, and Australia gates P3 to full facepieces. One master table, the three cross-border traps, and a four-jurisdiction worked selection example.

NOM-116-STPS-2009 is Mexico's respirator standard, mirroring NIOSH's N95-to-P100 classes. This guide covers its scope and 2017 modification, the NOM-017 workplace PPE rules, STPS enforcement, how NIOSH-approved models serve the Mexican market, and a worked example for a cross-border manufacturing program in Monterrey.

AS/NZS 1716 is the Australian and New Zealand respirator standard: P1, P2, and P3 filter classes, certification marks, and the rule that P3 protection requires a full facepiece. This guide covers silica and bushfire selection, the engineered-stone ban, AS/NZS 1715 protection factors, and the N95-to-P2 translation both ways.

Face fit testing is the UK's proof that tight-fitting RPE actually seals. This guide covers INDG479's seven-exercise protocol, qualitative vs quantitative methods, Fit2Fit accreditation, the UK's 4/10/20/40 protection-factor ladder, CE vs UKCA status after Brexit, and a worked example fit-testing a site crew with a qualitative kit.

EN 149 grades European disposable respirators FFP1, FFP2, and FFP3; EN 143 grades P1-P3 filters. This guide decodes the classes, the CE marking string, NR/R/D suffixes, gas-filter types, and Regulation (EU) 2016/425 — plus how the European system maps to NIOSH N95 and P100, with a dual-certified GVS Elipse worked example.

CSA Z94.4 is Canada's respirator standard — a selection, use, and care program built on NIOSH-certified equipment. This guide covers the 2018 edition, the two-year fit-testing cycle, provincial enforcement from WorkSafeBC to Ontario, wildfire-smoke selection against the AQHI, and a worked example for a silica-exposed BC crew.

Canada reports air quality on the AQHI, a 1-10+ health index built from three pollutants; the US reports the 0-500 AQI keyed to the worst single pollutant. There is no exact conversion, but wildfire smoke drives both with PM2.5, so the bands line up in practice. This guide maps the scales, decodes the bands, and sets N95 thresholds.

European gloves wear an EN 388 shield with digits and letters; US gloves wear ANSI/ISEA 105 cut levels A1-A9. Both now use the same TDM cut test, which makes honest conversion possible: EN letter grades in newtons map onto ANSI gram levels. Here is the conversion table, a worked 4X42C decode, and the impact-rating caveat.