3 tips to choose the best respirator mask for the job

In the pro trade industry, there are numerous potential breathing hazards on any given jobsite. Whether you’re a plumber, builder, HVAC contractor, painter or insulator, protecting your lung health is essential. Discover the two main types of respirator masks and how to find the right one to protect you no matter what you’re doing on the job.

How to choose the best respirator mask

Workplace hazards factor into why failing to properly use respiratory protection continues to land on OSHA’s top 10 safety violations year over year. Below are some personal respirator basics to help you pick the right respirator protection and breathe better on every job.

1. Know the types of respirator masks available.

According to OSHA, there are two main types of respirators, atmosphere-supplying and air-purifying.

Atmosphere-supplying respirators

Areas that have contaminated air or have limited or no oxygen require this type of respirator. Occupations that require this type of respirator could include industrial plant workers, municipal road pavers and surfacers, hazardous material response professionals and welders and pipefitters.

Air-purifying respirators

Air-purifying respirators, which filter contaminants out of the air as you breathe, are the type commonly used by trade professionals. Air-purifying respirators fall into three main categories:

• Particulate respirators: Use this type of respirator when working around heavy amounts of dust, dirt and non-toxic vapors, such as when sanding wood or hanging fiberglass insulation. The N95 mask is a commonly used respirator in this category, rated to filter 95% of particulates from the air.

• Gas and vapor respirators: Use this type of respirator when working in areas that have high levels of gases and vapor in the air, such as on construction sites during the painting application process.

• Combination respirators: These respirators are dual purpose and filter the air from both particulates and fumes. For example, you should use a combination respirator on construction demolition sites as both dust and fumes could be present.

Pro tip: Gas and combination respirators require chemical cartridges to filter toxic fumes. Cartridges are labeled using an industry-wide color-coding system to indicate which gases or vapors they are capable of filtering. Scroll to the chart at the bottom of the page to guide you to the right cartridge.

Using the right type of respirator is not only important for your personal safety but can also help you comply with legislation that limits worker exposure to silica dust.

2. Determine the respirator fit you need.

OSHA categorizes respirator fit between two distinct categories: tight-fitting and loose-fitting. The respirator fit you need will depend on the air quality in a work space.

If the air is contaminated by toxic substance or is lacking oxygen, then it is said to be immediately dangerous to life or health, or IDLH.

Tight-fitting respirators

• Must be worn in areas that are determined to be IDLH

• Are required by OSHA to be fit-tested by a qualified tester the first time it is worn and at least once annually after that

Loose-fitting respirators

• Can be worn in areas that are not determined to be IDLH

• Do not need to be fit-tested according to OSHA requirements

3. Consider respirator mask size and seal.

A respirator must be the right size in order to create a seal around the face. This is especially true for tight-fitting respirators.

Because all respirators fit differently, employers must provide a range of different respirator sizes and models for their crew in order to comply with OSHA regulations. Several features can compromise the respirator seal, including:

• Eyeglasses and safety goggles

• Beards and facial hair

• Facial piercings

• Dental gear

• Facial structure

Be sure to inform your crew about what can impact respirator seal and enforce compliance on the jobsite.

Find the right respirator cartridge for different gases

To get the best respirator mask for chemical fumes, you’ll need to add the appropriate cartridge for the chemical.

Explore our offering of cartridges, filters and retainers.

When to wear a half-mask or full-face respirator

A properly fitted full facepiece respirator mask can provide the most complete protection from particles, chemicals, gases and more. These masks can offer a better seal around the whole face if the wearer doesn’t need to wear additional protective gear or prescription eyeglasses.

Covering the full face can help prevent small particles of dust or oils from entering the eyes and protect the whole face from splashing or spraying liquids.

Half-mask respirators can be appropriate when hazard exposure is below a certain limit. For example, in an environment with benzene present, a half-mask respirator could comply with short-term exposure limits up to 50 ppm.

Ferguson also offers a range of disposable respirators to cover the mouth and nose.

Best respirator masks for specific tasks on the jobsite

Working with wood, dust and paint are common tasks for trade professionals. To select the right air-purifying respirator, understand what the classifiers for masks mean, such as N95 or P100.

The letters in front of the number align with the rating class: Non-oil, oil resistant and oil proof.

N filters should not be used in environments with oil mists. R means the filter can resist oil for up to eight hours of use. P means the filter can resist oil over multiple uses.

The numbers after the letter refer to how many particulates the mask can filter. A 95 means the respirator is at least 95% efficient of filtering particles .3 microns and larger, while 100 can filter at least 99.97% of those particles.

Remember that respirators alone won’t filter out gases and odors—adding an appropriate cartridge from the chart above for different chemicals will be necessary to block those. Make sure you have a fit-tested respirator and the appropriate filter cartridge for each of the tasks below.

Woodworking

Sanding and sawing wood can create very fine particles of dust, so the best respirator mask for woodworking is an N, R or P100 to protect your lungs. If the lumber has been treated with chemicals, add an organic vapor cartridge to keep gases out.

If you decide on a half-mask respirator, make sure to choose the best safety glasses for the job.

Dust

Dust on a jobsite can come from multiple sources: wood, minerals, concrete, lead and more. If there are oil mists at your jobsite, the best respirator mask for dust will be either R or P of at least 95 or 100. If no oil mists are present, an N95 or N100 is best.

Painting

Spraying paint pushes more chemicals into the air than rolling paint, so your choice could depend on your task. If spraying an oil-based paint, the best respirator mask is R or P of at least 95 or 100. Adding a light vapor cartridge can also help protect you from paint chemicals.

Find your respirator mask at Ferguson

When you know the type of job you’ll be doing, finding the right respirator mask gets easier. Protect the health and safety of yourself and your crew with our selection of respiratory safety products.