Wildfires are becoming more and more serious every year. This summer in California alone, wildfires have caused thousands of acres of land to burn. In such situations, proper respiratory protection is essential. If not protected, one can inhale smoke, dust, dirty air, and all the accompanying hazardous particles, which can cause serious respiratory issues and diseases.
So, in the following paragraphs, we’ll take a look at some of the best respirator masks one can use to get proper protection in case of fire, smoke, and dust. Let’s get started!
Respirator Masks For Smoke And Dust: 4 Things You Must Know
1. Why Use Respirator Masks In The First Place?
Wildfires, for example, can cause smoke, dust, and ash, which can have some serious impact on your health. Therefore, hazardous particles from the smoke and dust can cause serious eye, throat, nose, and lung irritation.
They can cause serious cases of coughing and result in breathing difficulties. The same goes for workplaces where workers are exposed to smoke, dust, ash, and similar hazardous particles. However, that can be avoided with a simple respirator mask.
A respirator mask covers your nose and mouth, protecting your lugs from smoke, dust, and ash. Such a respirator has a tight seal fit, which means, nothing’s going to pass the mask. It filters out some or ash particles before they even come to your nose and mouth, with an incredible filtering efficiency.
2. How Do You Know If You Need A Respirator Mask?
When a wildfire occurs, it can be hard to determine the seriousness of the situation right away. Most of the time, we cannot even see the smoke and ash particles in our immediate environment.
Therefore, it can be hard to determine whether you need to wear a respirator mask or not. The same goes for particular workplaces, where you need protection from particles you don’t even see. Well, here are some situations where you need to put your mask on and protect your precious lungs;
- You’re not staying indoors – upon the wildfire, or fire in general, if you’re not going to stay indoors, you should be wearing a respirator mask. People who are staying in are avoiding direct exposure to smoke and dust. But, if you decide to leave the house, you are exposing yourself directly to the hazardous particles without a mask, even when you cannot see the particles right away.
- You’re helping fight a fire – regardless of whether you’re a professional or not, helping out with the fire can put you at a dangerous risk of inhaling hazardous particles and destroying your lungs. So, if you’re going to spend time around the fire, smoke, and ash, you might want to put the mask on as soon as possible.
- Your health is not good – if smoky environments and settings affect your health, or you’re already having some serious health issues, you should be wearing a respirator mask. Also, make sure to stay indoors, and if that isn’t possible, wear a tight-fitting respirator mask.
- Your workplace features smoke and dust – in such case, you should already be aware of the need to wear a respirator mask. Any workplace that has respirator danger for the workers is required to have the workers protected. So, if there is an estimated level of pollution, flame, ash, or dust surrounding you during work, you need to wear a suitable respirator mask.
3. How To Choose The Best Respirator Mask For Smoke And Dust?
Here are some tips on how you can choose the best respirator mask;
- Buy your respirator mask at PPE stores (personal protective equipment), hardware home repair stores, or pharmacies.
- Choose a ‘particulate’ respirator mask, that has been tested and approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, or NIOSH.
- Choose a respirator mask that features 2 straps that go around your head.
- Choose a respirator mask that has a tight seal fit, especially around your nose and under your chin. Make sure it has no leakage around the edge because if it does have leakage, it is useless against hazardous particles.
- Choose a mask that is made of high-quality materials. Such materials often include silicone, rubber, or neoprene. We recommend you opt for silicone because it is flexible, most comfortable, and very easy to wash.
4. How To Stay Safe With Or Without Respirator Mask?
- Stay indoors – regardless of whether you have a mask or not, if the situation doesn’t require otherwise, make sure to stay indoors. Ensure the windows and doors are closed, and if you have the HVAC system, ensure the filters are proper and functional. There’s no need for a mask indoors, so you shouldn’t worry about that.
- If out, go inside – if you find yourself outside during a hazardous event, try to find a public indoor space. Make sure to cover your nose and mouth if you don’t have a mask, and if you do have one, put it on immediately.
- Create a safe-breathing room – try to create a safe-breathing room in your house. For example, you can choose your bedroom as a safe-breathing room. So, make sure to not to open windows in that room, or keep the doors open. Ensure the air isn’t leaking by placing some towels or other fabrics under the door or by the windows. You can even get an air purifier into the room if you already have one of course.
- Buy an air purifier – if you live in an area where wildfires, for example, are frequent, consider purchasing an air purifier. It can be useful in hazardous situations, as it filters out smoke particles using a high-grade HEPA filter. It also eliminates toxic gases and wood smoke particles, keeping you and your family safe from inhaling anything hazardous.
3 Best Respirator Masks For Smoke And Dust
1. 3M Rugged Comfort Quick Latch Reusable Respirator – Best Reusable Respirator Mask
Regardless of whether you need it for a workplace or an emergency wildfire situation, this mask will have you protected without a doubt. Currently, the 3M reusable respirator mask is one of the best on the market. It is designed to keep you protected while you need protection. When not, you can uncover your nose and mouth, without taking the mask off. This allows you a quick cover and uncover whenever you need to and can get some fresh air.
Top Features
- High-quality materials – made from silicone, to ensure comfort, durability, and stability on the face.
- Comfortable and skin-friendly – even though it has a firm and tight seal, it is still soft on the skin and comfortable to wear even for a longer time.
- Quick Latch mechanism – this mechanism allows you to drop down the nose and mouth parts of the mask, without actually removing the mask from the head.
- 3M Cool Flow valve – helps reduce heat and moisture to make breathing easier.
- Low profile facepiece – the design ensures a wide field of view and is compatible with welding and grinding shields.
Drawbacks
- Chemical odor – the initial use of this mask can cause some discomfort because it has a strong chemical odor to it. However, the odor tends to dissipate after a few uses, so this shouldn’t be a huge problem.
- Possible head strap issues – some customers have complained about the head strap being difficult to adjust. This usually resulted in the mask being lower than it should, putting additional pressure on the nose bridge.
2. 3M Particulate N95 Respirator – Best Disposable Respirator Mask
N95 masks are generally known for their exceptional filtering efficiency. A traditional N95 mask has 95% filtering efficiency, which means it will keep the hazardous particles, viruses, and bacteria away from your respiratory system. The N95 particulate respirator mask is just as good. It has a more sturdy design, made for long-term wear. Nevertheless, the mask is exceptionally comfortable and gives you enough space to breathe. It won’t make your goggles or glasses foggy, and it will fit tightly around your nose and under the chin. Not to mention, the mask is NIOSH approved, so you know it is top-notch quality.
Top Features
- 3M Cool Flow Exhalation valve – this valve reduces heat build-up inside of the mask and works as a dehumidifier.
- Adjustable nose clip – the adjustable M-nose clip ensure easier adjustment for less pressure on the nose and better comfort overall.
- Better fit – the mask features braided headbands, which now ensure better, tight seal fit, as they keep the mask in place for hours.
- High-quality materials – the carbon layer on the mask reduces the exposure to acid gases, while the soft inner materials and padding provide skin-friendly touch and support where needed.
Drawbacks
- Chemical odor – some customers have complained about the chemical odor of the mask. It seems to not dissipate in some cases even after several days, so that might be an issue. We recommend you leave the mask, unpacked, to air out a little bit before use.
- Price – the majority of the customers seem to complain about the price of the mask becoming incredibly higher after the coronavirus outbreak. This can be an issue for people who dislike such business practices.
3. Moldex Particulate Respirator Mask With Exhale Valve – Best Workplace Respirator Mask
If you’re looking for a durable mask that is comfortable but also tight-fitting, then the Moldex Particulate Respirator mask is the one for you. The mask is naturally contoured, to provide less pressure on the nose and around the chin area. It is also tested, certified and NIOSH approved, which speaks of its high standard efficiency and high-quality. The mask can be used during wildfires, or at the workplace (for example, if you’re working with wood or around fire and smoke).
Top Features
- Dura-Mesh shell – this shell provides exceptional resistance in heat and humidity.
- Exhale valve – the valve ensures the workers breathe easily and properly even during the most strenuous work. It also ensures the workers stay cool, so there’s no humidification within the mask.
- No metal noseband – to ensure the mask is skin-friendly and leaves no marks, the mask doesn’t have a metal noseband. Instead, it has a molded nose bridge that seals easily and perfectly on anyone.
- Softspun lining – the lining and padding within the mask ensures comfort and durability. The soft foam nose cushion further enhances the mask comfort, even when worn for hours.
- Certified – the mask is NIOSH certified to have a filtering efficiency of 95% and more, for non-oil particulates. Furthermore, it meets heat and flame resistance standards and is certified under 42CFR84.
Drawbacks
- Weak lower straps – it seems that the only complaint about this mask regards the lower straps. Customers complain that the lower strap can be too weak, or too loose, and there is no adaptability of the straps. So, this might be a potential issue.
Other Products You Can Also Consider
SolidWork N95 Particulate Respirator Anti-Dust Mask
Now, this mask won’t only protect you from smoke and dust. It will protect you from all sorts of particles, including wood flour, sawdust, metal shavings, pollen, allergens, mold, coal, fumes, and much more. The mask is safe and because of its tight seal, it will also keep you and your lungs safe. It is compatible with goggles, safety glasses, helmets, earmuffs, and other protective equipment.
The mask is made for professional protection but can be used in emergency settings where fire, smoke, and ash present a danger to you and your health. Not to mention, the mask is also NIOSH certified and approved, so you know you’ll be getting your money’s worth with the SolidWork mask.
Moldex EZ-ON N95 Single Strap Particulate Respirator Mask
The EZ-ON N95 mask is the first and only NIOSH approved single strap cloth particulate mask. It is designed for a quick fit, with the EZ-ON (easy on) design. It provides a more comfortable fit that the masks with two straps.
The mask is overall high-quality and designed to resist collapsing in heat and humidity. It can be used in the workplace but also emergency situations. The mask fits comfortably, stays in place, and with 95% filtering efficiency, keeps your and your health protected.
The mask is also flame resistant and is effective against non-oil particulates. Overall, for a single strap cloth respirator, this mask is quite good.
Anti Smoke & Dust Masks: More FAQs
Q: Can Carbon Filter Masks Help Against Smoke And Dust?
A: Carbon filter masks or PM 2.5 filter masks can be effective against smoke, dust, ash, and other hazardous particles. PM 2.5, for example, stands for the term ‘fine particulate matter’, or air pollutant matter that is up to 2.5 µm in size. Such particulates occur in cases of burning fuel, car exhaust, processing of metals, chemical reactions, burning of garbage, etc. So, those particles comprise sulfates, nitrates, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and other hazardous heavy metal particles. So, yes, carbon filter masks can surely provide the necessary protection for your lungs and health in cases of smoke, fire, fumes, burning, and other harmful events.
Q: What Other Masks Can I Use For Protection?
A: It is believed that surgical masks can be used in cases of smoke and dust if you don’t have a 3M or N95 mask at hand. However, surgical masks, even though standardized, aren’t generally used against smoke, fire, fumes, and similar particles. It is also believed they’re a third as good as N95 masks.
On the other hand, cloth masks are not recommended to be used against smoke and dust, because they’re the least effective and have the worst filtration. But, in cases of fire and smoke, you should wear them anyway, because any kind of protection is better than no protection.
Q: Can A Mask Protect My Child In Case Of Smoke And Dust?
A: Face masks are not generally recommended nor approved to be worn by children. Dust masks, surgical masks, bandanas, or even N95 masks are not designed to protect your child from smoke and dust, according to CDC. These masks also won’t fit them properly and might even create further breathing difficulties. So, what you can do is evacuate your child as soon as possible and diminish the exposure to smoke and dust. Try to get medical help right away. Also, keep your child away from dust and ash, and wash your child’s skin, mouth, nose, and eyes if they become exposed to smoke, dust, and ash.
Final Thoughts
We hope that our mask list and tips were helpful. Sure, masks may not be the ultimate solution in serious and hazardous events, but they can surely reduce the risk of inhaling hazardous particles and harming your lungs. Not to mention that each mask has its pros and cons, so make sure to look into each of the products and see if it fits your needs and requirements. Only then will a mask truly be useful to you, your coworkers, or your family and friends.