Models of 3M’s N95 Masks:

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3M 8000 Particulate Respirator N95 3M 8000 N95 particulate respirator for light duty applications. May be used for particles associated with sweeping, sanding, dusting and certain other substances. Box/30

3M 8210 N95 Particulate Respirator The 3M 8210 features a padded noseguard for long lasting comfort. Its lightweight and double strap design will give protection against most dusts, pollens, and grasses. 20 masks per box.
3M 8214 N95 Particulate Respirator w/Exhalation Valve and Face Seal3M™ recommended for welding stainless steel, aluminum, galvanized steel, and other applications where low level ozone and nuisance organic vapors may be present.Available Individually

3M 8511 N95 Particulate Respirator w/Exhalation Valve"The 3M™ 8511 Particulate Respirator is uniquely designed to help provide comfortable, reliable worker protection. It is ideally suited for work settings that involve heat, humidity or long periods of wear." Box of 10 masks. 3M is currently allocating this item. Ships by the end of June. 

3M 9211 N95 Disposable Particulate RespiratorThe 3M 9211 disposable particulate respirator is a breakthrough in comfort and convenience. The three-panel low profile design conforms to a wide variety of face sizes allowing the adjustable noseclip to provide a custom fit and secure seal. The Cool Flow Exhalation Valve allows efficient operation in both hot and humid locations for all day comfort. Box of 10 masks.

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Guests Members Profile Find Members Posts Guest Group	Quote Reply Topic: Models of 3M’s N95 Masks: Posted: June 26 2006 at 9:59pm
	3M 8000 Particulate Respirator N95 3M 8000 N95 particulate respirator for light duty applications. May be used for particles associated with sweeping, sanding, dusting and certain other substances. Box/30 3M 8210 N95 Particulate Respirator The 3M 8210 features a padded noseguard for long lasting comfort. Its lightweight and double strap design will give protection against most dusts, pollens, and grasses. 20 masks per box. 3M 8214 N95 Particulate Respirator w/Exhalation Valve and Face Seal3M™ recommended for welding stainless steel, aluminum, galvanized steel, and other applications where low level ozone and nuisance organic vapors may be present.Available Individually 3M 8511 N95 Particulate Respirator w/Exhalation Valve"The 3M™ 8511 Particulate Respirator is uniquely designed to help provide comfortable, reliable worker protection. It is ideally suited for work settings that involve heat, humidity or long periods of wear." Box of 10 masks. 3M is currently allocating this item. Ships by the end of June. 3M 9211 N95 Disposable Particulate RespiratorThe 3M 9211 disposable particulate respirator is a breakthrough in comfort and convenience. The three-panel low profile design conforms to a wide variety of face sizes allowing the adjustable noseclip to provide a custom fit and secure seal. The Cool Flow Exhalation Valve allows efficient operation in both hot and humid locations for all day comfort. Box of 10 masks.

Pegasus Members Profile Find Members Posts V.I.P. Member Joined: May 20 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 68	Quote Reply Posted: June 27 2006 at 7:26pm
	Annere, thank you for the comparison information. I know it can be overwhelming to shop for something you don't normally keep on hand then be faced with 10 varieties of the 'same' product. This way everyone can see what might work best for their comfort/fit, exposure situation or budget. Not every store carries every style so you can do a little online or phone shopping if you want to track down a particular model.
	"We do not know the true value of moments until they have undergone the test of memory." unknown author

Guests Members Profile Find Members Posts Guest Group	Quote Reply Posted: June 27 2006 at 7:57pm
	I checked the store and see they have 20 N95 "masks" for $14.00 and 1 N95 "respirator" with exhale valvle for $4.75. Are they just different styles, perhaps one more comfortable than they other, but equally effective?

Guests Members Profile Find Members Posts Guest Group	Quote Reply Posted: June 28 2006 at 4:50am
	Hi, A mask will probably not do the trick for you. A Respirator protects it's user. They usually have a rubber gasket around the rim for a better seal (which a mask does not have). The exhale value is very important. It makes wearing the respirator for long periods of time, more comfortable.

Guests Members Profile Find Members Posts Guest Group	Quote Reply Posted: June 28 2006 at 1:30pm
	If they are calling them N95 masks and they are labelled N95 on the mask they are the same as N95 respirators. P95 are ok too if there are not oily substances in the air where you work. Try one on for fit before you buy a lot. Depending on your face size and shape, they may not fit you at all. Read an article about fit testing, and one about "qualitative fit testing". see e.g. http://www.rjsafety.com/RS24.html RESPIRATOR FIT CHECK AMPULES Provides a fast, safe and easy method to perform qualitative respirator fit check. When activated, the ampules give off a non-irritating odor of banana oil (Iso Amyl Acetate). If banana odor is detected by the wearer, the respirator must be adjusted or replaced. You can't afford a complete test kit, more instructions at http://www.americanairworks.com/fittesting.html near complete instructions at http://www.esd.uga.edu/chem/pub/respprotect/fittesting.pdf Basicly if you cant detect air leaks inhaling or exhaling (with valve plugged if there is one) you should still test that you cannot smell liquid saccharine or banana oil with that mask on. You can buy Bitrex (liq. saccharine) to test several people for about $5

Guests Members Profile Find Members Posts Guest Group	Quote Reply Posted: June 28 2006 at 6:38pm
	Dlugose, I disagree with you! There are a lot of N95 masks on the market -- from simple duck bills to the blue cone shapes, to the REAL respirators. The cones and duck bills do not seal against the skin during exhalation -- and a gap is created where microorganisms can get in. A Respirator has a rubber gasket around the mask edges which does not allow any gaps during respiration. It protects the wearer.

Guests Members Profile Find Members Posts Guest Group	Quote Reply Posted: June 29 2006 at 11:51am
	Whether or not any approved N95 respirator has a rubber gasket, it will fit some faces, and is suitable when properly fit tested, with training of the employee, to be used where a 95% filtering of particles is needed. It doesn't matter whether you agree with me, it is NIOSH that makes respirator standards. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/n95list1.html If a respirator is on this list it will protect someone whom it fits. For employees NO respirator is suitable without instruction and fit testing. For you own use if you want to use one without fit testing by someone trained, just be sure it fits you well, because it is hard to tell if there is a little leak.

Guests Members Profile Find Members Posts Guest Group	Quote Reply Posted: June 30 2006 at 9:22am
	KR105, I agree a proper fit is essential, don't rely on a mask because maybe it fits. As an aside, at http://www.occupationalhazards.com/articles/15345 The leaders of six respirator manufacturers representing approximately half the respirator production capacity of the United States are calling upon President Bush to back federal legislation that would preempt lawsuits claiming defective design or insufficient warning if a respirator is NIOSH-approved. ... The letter from the industry echoes a letter sent to the administration in May by a bipartisan group of 86 members of Congress calling for the National Strategy for Pandemic Flu Influenza to stockpile N-95 respirator masks instead of surgical masks. "Without legislation, the ability for American manufacturers to address emergency preparedness or have surge production capacity is and will be severely constrained," wrote the corporate leaders. "Already, one major manufacturer has announced that it will no longer produce N-95 respirators for the industrial market. Another is seriously considering withdrawing from the market, and it has become difficult to convince shareholders to invest in new capacity in the United States." France has begun stockpiling 685 million N-95 respirator masks just for first responders, while the U.S. government to date has had one request for proposals for 50 million masks. The recent experience with SARS showed that countries will embargo exports of respirator masks in the case of a global pandemic and the United States will need its domestic sources for these masks. *********** on the other hand, perhaps the real liability problem is related to lack of fit testing for disposable respirators. See http://spewingforth.blogspot.com/2005/11/respirator-manufacturers-frivolous.html "The problem, according to government regulators, is that the disposable masks can't be satisfactorily tested to ensure that they form a tight seal around the face. Without fit-testing that ensures a tight seal, toxic dust gets around the mask into the lungs. But much scarier to respirator manufacturers than a few coal miners are the 1.7 million U.S. workers who are exposed to silica dust in jobs like construction, sandblasting, and mining and several hundred deaths that are reported each year. Respirator manufacturers (and other businesses) fear that silicosis will take the place of asbestos suits and are trying to nip this "crisis" in the bud."


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