October 11, 2024

FFP2 masks for external and self-protection

Masks slow down the spread of viruses

The mask has been an integral part of our wear since the outbreak of the corona pandemic.
has become part of everyday life. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), in addition to droplet infection, the main transmission route of the coronavirus is infection via aerosols. When coughing or sneezing, infected people release fine droplets into the environment that carry viral particles. If these get to the mucous membranes of another person via the air, he can become infected. If an infected person wears a mask, some of the droplets are retained and therefore cannot spread as much as without protection. Larger droplets fall to the ground faster. In addition, the risk of infection decreases with increasing distance. Therefore, to avoid droplet infection, the distance of at least 1.5 meters should be maintained.

With the Infection Protection Act, the following regulations for wearing a mask will apply nationwide until 7 April 2023:

  • For access to hospitals as well as full and semi-inpatient care facilities and comparable facilities, the wearing of an FFP2 mask is required. This applies to both visitors and staff. Employees in outpatient care services and similar services must also wear an FFP2 mask during their work.
  • Patients and visitors to medical practices and all other healthcare practices are required to wear an FFP2 mask.
  • Children under the age of 6, people who cannot wear a mask for medical reasons, and deaf and hard of hearing people are generally exempt from the mask requirement.

In addition, the federal states may impose additional regulations on the wearing of masks. More information can be found here. Study shows: Medical masks significantly reduce the risk of corona infection

A study by the Max Planck Institute investigated how high the respective corona infection risk is in situations with and without a mask. One thing is clear: Even a distance of three meters to an infected and contagious person leads with one hundred percent certainty to a corona infection. Medical masks can drastically reduce this risk. Different ways of wearing medical masks are shown:

  • Scenario 1: An infected and an uninfected person each wear a well-fitting FFP2 mask – the risk of infection is hardly more than one thousandth after 20 minutes, even at the shortest distance.

  • Scenario 2: An infected and an uninfected person each wear an ill-fitting FFP2 mask – the probability of infection increases to about four percent.

  • Scenario 3: An infected and an uninfected person each wear a Face mask well-adapted surgical mask – the probability of infection within 20 minutes is a maximum of ten percent.

In some areas of public life, masks are currently mandatory. Make sure your mask fits well when worn. You protect yourself and your fellow human beings from the coronavirus and a possible illness from COVID-19. Aerosol hazard

Aerosols are tiny droplets that are also released into the environment by whispering and speaking, but especially when speaking, screaming or singing loudly. Aerosols do not fall to the ground nearly as quickly as droplets. Depending on their size, they can stay and distribute in the room air for hours. The risk of infection does not only exist here if you cough at nearby or someone sneezes at a short distance. Therefore, the room air should be replaced regularly by ventilation.

Infection with COVID-19 by droplet infection

Photo: Federal Ministry of Health

Especially in situations where the minimum distance cannot be maintained or several people meet for a longer period of time, particle-filtering masks of the standards FFP2, FFP3 and KN95/N95 offer very good protection against aerosols in addition to protection against droplet infection when worn correctly. You can also protect yourself and others with medical masks or so-called surgical masks.

With a view to the respective infection process, the federal states decide on their own responsibility on the exact regulations in which places which mask must be worn. An overview of different types of masks and information on mask use in everyday life can be found at the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). Masks remain important in pandemic response

The AHA+L formula – keeping your distance, observing hygiene and wearing a mask in everyday life and ventilating regularly – is a helpful way to protect yourself and others. Wearing a mask remains necessary in certain situations, because even vaccinated and recovered people have a residual risk of infecting themselves and others. If it cannot be ruled out that people who are particularly at risk are present – such as people who are not or not fully vaccinated or people with weakened immune systems – everyone present should wear a mask. Outdoors, the risk of infection is usually lower. In case of gatherings of people or longer conversations, however, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) also advises a mask.What makes an FFP mask and how do I recognize it?

FFP masks protect the mask wearer primarily from particles, droplets and aerosols. The FFP stands for “Filtering Face Piece”. In German, one also speaks of particle-filtering half masks. The FFP2 mask is originally known as a professional protective mask from the craft also as a “dust mask”. It is usually white, often dome-shaped or foldable and can be equipped with or without exhalation valve. What distinguishes FFP masks from each other and influences their labeling is above all their respective filter performance.

Mask types and protective visors in comparison

Federal Institute for Drugs & Medical DevicesDoes the mask protect against aerosols?

All FFP masks must be tested and filter a different number of test aerosols. FFP1 masks must filter at least 80% of test aerosols, FFP2 masks at least 94% and FFP3 masks 99%. The test is carried out according to the European standard EN 149:2001+A1:2009 with aerosols and clarifies that the FFP masks on the market comply with technical standards and demonstrably protect against aerosols. The CE mark printed on the mask surface indicates that the FFP masks have undergone a successful verification procedure.

The good filtering performance of a medical mouth-nose covering only provides comprehensive protection if the mask fits close to the face over the entire edge. Why exhalation valves are a problem

In contrast to medical masks, FFP2 masks serve not only for external protection but also for self-protection. However, masks with an exhalation valve have much less external protection than masks without an exhalation valve. Exhaled aerosols are not intercepted by the valve by the filter material, but only slowed down and swirled to a certain extent by the valve. Thus, the self-protection against infection is ensured, but not that of the environment, which is still exposed to the aerosols of the mask wearer in a mask with valve. The correct handling of an FFP2 mask