Anti-dust masks for many types of people

 Occasionally I get a question from homeowners about whether they should wear any type of respiratory protection and when they should wear it.

This is not a topic that is often talked about, but perhaps it should be. Probably the reason it is rarely discussed is that most people don't even think about it, and those that do either don't think it's important or don't know which one to get.

I'm not suggesting you should cover your face every time you roll some paint on the wall, but there are definitely paint products out there that I wouldn't even consider exposing my lungs to without adequate protection.

Disposable particulate respirators - Many people often refer to these as "dust masks", but they can help filter more than just dust. Most of these masks are labelled 'N95', which means that if worn correctly they are 95% effective at filtering out oil-free solid particles and liquid aerosols down to 0.3 microns in size. This makes them a very good solution for filtering out harmless dust in sanding, grinding, sawing and insulation
What use is this in the world of painting, you may ask? These will come in handy if you are sanding plasterboard before painting, or sanding wood veneer before staining and lacquering. Micronized masks usually come in multi-packs or boxes as they are disposable and should not be reused in multiple projects or they will lose their effectiveness.

The full respirator mask - One upgrade I would consider when buying this type of respirator is a valved type with a small plastic box on the front of the mask. These valves are designed to release the hot, moist exhaled air you exhale, helping to prevent heat build-up inside the respirator and making breathing easier. The full facepiece and back strap fit most head sizes and are designed to be compact and comfortable. Full protection against fog splashes and the ingress of small substances. If you've ever worn one of these without the respirator feature at work, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

This type of respirator - although much more expensive - is undoubtedly more versatile, more effective and more comfortable to wear. Although they come in different styles, they are designed to accommodate replaceable cartridges and pre-filters, and you can choose them according to how well you want to protect your lungs from damage - they filter up to 99.97% of particles and liquid aerosols, including oils.

Whether you are using a disposable respirator or a reusable respirator, be sure to read the packaging carefully to determine which model you need for your particular application.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4N6YND8