Choosing a dust mask

Carrying out repairs and construction is associated with "dirty" work, when a lot of dust is formed in the air - these tiny abrasive particles can damage the respiratory system. To protect yourself from their adverse effects, you should use personal protective equipment, they prevent the penetration of polluting particles into the human body. In this article, we choose a protective dust mask.

With the existing variety of mask products, the basic principle of their operation is described as follows:

• they are needed to prevent contamination of the respiratory tract - the mask isolates them from direct interaction with external adverse factors;
• depending on the design features of the product, it either supplies a person with breathable air from a cylinder, or purifies the air inhaled from the atmosphere using filters;
• promotes the removal of exhaled air for its subsequent processing.

The main area of ​​use of such masks is repair and construction, carpentry, as well as carpentry., they allow to protect the respiratory tract from small polluting particles and prevent the development of pathology of the bronchopulmonary system.

It should be noted that the use of masks is far from limited to the construction industry. Life in a metropolis dictates its own conditions, unfortunately, in our country the situation with cleaning cities is far from being the best. Utilities are in no hurry to do their job, the situation is aggravated in spring, when the snow melts and the sand that covered the roads against the ice in winter turns into huge clouds of dust. In European countries, this is fought, for example, in Germany, the streets are washed several times a year with shampoo, removing all the dirt and dust from the sidewalks. In Russia, rains are waiting for the water from the sky to help carry the sand to the side of the roads. Cars that bring mud from lawns and dirt roads also make their negative contribution to the environment, in addition, moving at high speeds, they lift this very sand into the air. All this leads to the fact that many people develop allergic diseases, as well as lung diseases - which is why they are forced to wear protective equipment in order to prevent their condition from worsening.

All the variety of products on sale for protecting the face from dust particles can be conditionally subdivided into several categories. So, depending on the functional purpose, the following types are distinguished:

• medical;
• household;
• production;
• military.

By design features, models are distinguished with a valve, as well as without it. According to the operational period, one - and reusable models are distinguished. Disposable are designed for single use - after use they are immediately disposed of. Reusable ones include special dust absorbers, most often black carbon filters, so they are worn for a long time.

Respirator filters are usually made of artificial fine fiber cloth. Professional respirators are capable of providing the highest level of protection against dust, which is why they are especially relevant during construction work, as well as any actions related to mixing and cutting concrete, using building mixtures.

The most common dust mask is a single-use product called "Petal"... They are made from specially manufactured filter material. However, it should be borne in mind that this is the simplest filtering system, it is not effective enough against highly concentrated abrasive dust particles.

Respirator U-2K differs in greater efficiency, it has a pair of protective layers - this is the upper layer made of polyurethane foam and the lower one made of polyethylene. A filter is placed between them, which fully protects the respiratory system from various types of industrial dust (cement, lime, as well as mineral and metal). The model is suitable for performing renovation work in the room - chipping, surface grinding and cutting ceramic dust.

Such a mask is not recommended to be worn in contact with substances emitted by highly toxic volatile vapors. If you have to come into contact with paints, as well as enamels and solvents, it is better to use combined models, for example, RU-60M. This model is indispensable for protection against industrial dust and aerosols, it provides a pair of breathing valves, in addition, replaceable filter blocks that absorb hazardous substances. This mask can work continuously for up to 60 hours. Nowadays on sale you can find more improved analogues of the product - these are "Breeze-3201".

When buying respirators for respiratory protection, one should take into account the technical nuances of the work performed, as well as the general condition of the room being repaired. If it provides a high-quality ventilation system, then it will be enough to do with the lightest type of mask. If you need to make repairs in a closed room without a hood and windows, you should give preference to more practical versions. In this case, it makes sense to additionally think over the system for protecting the eyes and skin so that the dust does not irritate the sensitive mucous membrane - the best solution would be a mask that combines a respirator with polycarbonate goggles.

Before purchasing a product, you must make sure of its high quality and exact correspondence between the declared and actual dimensions. Strong seams, perfectly straight lines and sturdy fittings are a sign that the product is sewn with high quality. It is very important that the protective mask gives complete tightness and fits as tightly as possible to the skin, since even the smallest gaps will make the design completely ineffective. At the same time, when wearing it, you should not feel perceptible discomfort, squeeze soft tissues and squeeze your head.

The main functional element of any mask is a filter. It must necessarily exactly correspond to the category of harmful substances with which it is to be contacted, it is important to take into account their content in the airspace. As a rule, all basic parameters are indicated in the user's manual. Having an idea of ​​all the technical features of the product, it will not be difficult to decide which respirator model will be optimal for you.

So, loose filters with large meshes are able to cope only with rather large particles, which are released into the air, for example, during the processing of wood with coarse emery.If you plan to knead a cement composition, cut a wall or cut concrete, then you will need a model that can trap the smallest particles of dust in suspension. Also, keep in mind that an overly dense filter will interfere with proper breathing.

When performing construction work, it is extremely important not easy to choose the most practical mask, but also to use it correctly. Of course, this only applies to those products that belong to the group of reusable ones, since disposable ones are thrown away immediately after use. Try to buy only original replacement parts - this will ensure the correct operation of the structure and maintain the highest level of security. During breaks in work, unused masks must be kept in a separate bag or box. At the same time, the filters themselves should be wrapped in polyethylene to maintain tightness.

For information on how to choose a dust mask, see the next video.