--- title: "Choosing respiratory protection | Product assistants | uvex safety" url: "https://www.uvex-safety.ie/en/product-assistants/choosing-the-right-respiratory-protection/" description: Choosing the right respiratory protective devices is essential for ensuring the safety of the respective wearer and is a process that requires the utmost care. date: 2024-01-30 modified: 2024-05-15 locale: en_IE --- # Choosing respiratory protection | Product assistants | uvex safety Choosing the right respiratory protection =========================================== Choosing the right respiratory protection is essential for ensuring the safety of the respective wearer and is a process that requires the utmost care. In order to choose the filtering respirator that meets your requirements, be sure to observe the following points: - The type, composition and concentration of the hazardous substances must be provided/known (note the CAS number and OEL). - After determining the protection class required (**FFP1**, **FFP2** or **FFP3**), the table below can be used to select a respirator model that meets the requirements of the respective working conditions. - If further PPE is required, this must be compatible. uvex respirators are ideal for use in combination with uvex safety spectacles — [see our compatibility table](https://www.uvex-safety.ie/en/product-assistants/combining-respiratory-protection-and-safety-eyewear/). - Respiratory protective devices are not suitable for people with beards, sideburns or deep scars near the respirator sealing lines as these prevent a secure fit. - Masks marked “NR” should not be used for more than eight hours. Masks marked “R” may be used for up to 24 hours but must be cleaned after each period of use. Masks should be replaced without delay if the breathing resistance becomes noticeably higher. - If a half-mask with gas filters is required for the workspace, please note that the uvex respirator models do not offer adequate protection. - The **Standard Assigned Protection Factor (APF)** helps employers comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), aimed at controlling exposure to and protecting workers health when working with chemicals. The APF is an estimate of how much protection a respirator provides. When fitted (face fit test) and worn correctly an **FFP1** respirator should reduce exposure to airborne particles by a factor of 4, an **FFP2** by a factor of 10 and an **FFP3** by a factor of 20. - European harmonised standards for respiratory protective equipment have been developed as a means of demonstrating equipment conformity with the basic health and safety requirements of the EC Personal Protective Equipment Directive (89/686/EEC). This directive is implemented in Ireland as the European Communities (Personal Protective Equipment) Regulations, 1993. Selection based on working conditions --------------------------------------- | **Brief periods of use or lighter activities at normal ambient temperatures** | |---| | Protection class | Folding mask (with or without valve) | Cup-style mask (without or without valve) | | **FFP1** | 8763100, 8763110 | 8732100, 8732110 | | **FFP2** | 8733200,8733210 | 8732200, 8732210, 8762220 | | **FFP3** | 8763310 | 8762310, 8762312 | | **Long periods of wear or hard, strenuous activities at increased ambient temperatures** | | Protection class | Folding mask (with valve) | Cup-style mask (with valve) | | **FFP1** | 8763110 | 8732210 | | **FFP2** | 8733210 | 8732210, 8762220 | | **FFP3** | 8763310 | 8762310, 8762312 | | **With activated carbon layer to protect against unpleasant odours** | | Protection class | Folding mask (with valve) | Cup-style mask (with valve) | | **FFP1** | - | - | | **FFP2** | 8763220 | 8732220 | | **FFP3** | - | - | [ ![uvex silv-Air c range](https://d3rbxgeqn1ye9j.cloudfront.net/images/be8J3KT9SyPYWfoiSOPKpsH8NRN2mthIVGyhbrMDpko/w:255/h:340/fn:Y3NtX3V2ZXgtc2lsdi1haXItcmFuZ2VfMmRjMTdkYTY5NQ:t/cb:585da575dfa64de9e0893ee690aa70c933565a34/el:1/fq:jpeg:85:avif:70:webp:80/aHR0cHM6Ly9kM3JieGdlcW4xeWU5ai5jbG91ZGZyb250Lm5ldC9maWxlYWRtaW4vd3d3LnV2ZXgtc2FmZXR5LmNvLnVrL01lZGlhL3Byb2R1Y3QtYXNzaXN0YW50cy91dmV4LXNpbHYtYWlyLXJhbmdlLmpwZz8xNjI1MTMzMjIz "uvex silv-Air c range") ](https://www.uvex-safety.ie/en/products/respiratory-protection/) [ ![Contact us](https://d3rbxgeqn1ye9j.cloudfront.net/images/4I69u9k-Vhq4cfOZxFlXiEYDbtOpDEVNnAW5k_IfGsI/w:350/h:263/fn:Y3NtX2dvdC1hLXF1ZXN0aW9uLTM1MF8zODUzYmYwODFh:t/cb:d755217c971628ed706c57295de96dbb39815df3/el:1/fq:jpeg:85:avif:70:webp:80/aHR0cHM6Ly9kM3JieGdlcW4xeWU5ai5jbG91ZGZyb250Lm5ldC9maWxlYWRtaW4vd3d3LnV2ZXgtc2FmZXR5LmNvLnVrL01lZGlhL3RlYXNlci9nb3QtYS1xdWVzdGlvbi0zNTAuanBnPzE2MjEyNjAyMjE "Got a question?") ](https://www.uvex-safety.ie/en/about-uvex/how-to-contact-us/contact-form/) Got a question about one of our products? Fill in our quick form and we will get back to you [Contact us](https://www.uvex-safety.ie/en/about-uvex/how-to-contact-us/contact-form/) Which protection factor suits your needs? ------------------------------------------- Particle filters are divided into three classes | | **FFP1** Respirators | **FFP2** Respirators | **FFP2** carbon layered Respirators | **FFP3** Respirators | |---|---|---|---|---| | Assigned Protection Factor (APF) | APF 4 | APF 10 | APF 10 | APF 20 | | Typical applications | Low level fine dust/oil or water based mists (hand sanding, drilling and cutting) | Moderate level fine dust/oil or water based mists (plastering, cement, sanding and wood dust) | Options for metal fume, ozone and nuisance levels of certain gases and vapours | Higher level fine dust/oil or water based mists (hazardous pharmaceutical powders, biological agents and fibres) | **APF** = Assigned Protection Factor **FFP1** Identified by **blue** valve lettering **FFP2** Identified by **orange** valve lettering **FFP3** Identified by **grey** valve lettering When correctly used by a wearer who has passed a face fit test, an FFP1 respirator should reduce exposure to airborne particles by a factor of 4, an FFP2 by a factor of 10 and an FFP3 by a factor of 20. uvex silv-Air c range ----------------------- ![uvex silv-Air c 3100 FFP1 folding mask](https://d3rbxgeqn1ye9j.cloudfront.net/shop-media/lnAvmGxMJpRFGIm4oNkpIuWfdXr5x1yfVmxXT20q68w/cb:1756915399/w:540/h:540/bWVkaWEvMDcvNjUvNzAvMTc1NjkxNTM5OS84NzMzXzEwMF9jbGFzc2ljXzMxMDAuanBn "uvex silv-Air c 3100 FFP1 folding mask") [uvex silv-Air c 3100 FFP1 folding mask](https://www.uvex-safety.ie/en/products/respiratory-protection/uvex-silv-air-c-3100-ffp1-folding-mask-8763100-UK/) ![uvex silv-Air c 2100 FFP1 preformed mask](https://d3rbxgeqn1ye9j.cloudfront.net/shop-media/NxNMBBJDnfdJEM_xhUH0BjVeZTj-ypXZBzS-U56YDFM/cb:1756915394/w:540/h:540/bWVkaWEvYTIvMjQvNjcvMTc1NjkxNTM5NC84NzMyXzEwMF9jbGFzc2ljXzIxMDA1NWM4NGRkMTVkZjg2LmpwZw "uvex silv-Air c 2100 FFP1 preformed mask") [uvex silv-Air c 2100 FFP1 preformed mask](https://www.uvex-safety.ie/en/products/respiratory-protection/uvex-silv-air-c-2100-ffp1-preformed-mask-8762100-UK/) ![uvex silv-Air c 3110 FFP1 folding mask](https://d3rbxgeqn1ye9j.cloudfront.net/shop-media/G7KwsObPTaTgmHjtP3AjrDNEfOTqqxTD1Ix45J2OBpE/cb:1756915400/w:540/h:540/bWVkaWEvNDEvNGYvMGMvMTc1NjkxNTQwMC84NzMzXzExMF9jbGFzc2ljXzMxMTAuanBn "uvex silv-Air c 3110 FFP1 folding mask") [uvex silv-Air c 3110 FFP1 folding mask](https://www.uvex-safety.ie/en/products/respiratory-protection/uvex-silv-air-c-3110-ffp1-folding-mask-8763110-UK/) ![uvex silv-Air c 2200 FFP2 preformed mask](https://d3rbxgeqn1ye9j.cloudfront.net/shop-media/gZyMxa6qvlEEicw3VovUklWsE7PhU9-UKJhl57wMLYc/cb:1756915396/w:540/h:540/bWVkaWEvZmYvZDgvM2IvMTc1NjkxNTM5Ni84NzMyXzIwMF9jbGFzc2ljXzIyMDA1NmMzMjIyOGQwZjgwLmpwZw "uvex silv-Air c 2200 FFP2 preformed mask") [uvex silv-Air c 2200 FFP2 preformed mask](https://www.uvex-safety.ie/en/products/respiratory-protection/uvex-silv-air-c-2200-ffp2-preformed-mask-8762200-UK/) ![uvex silv-Air c 2220 FFP2 preformed mask](https://d3rbxgeqn1ye9j.cloudfront.net/shop-media/wcMY_s65RbZRJljD0oV7DMT0cGbxYkBbaqlZx1zhH74/cb:1756915465/w:540/h:540/bWVkaWEvNWUvNjIvNTcvMTc1NjkxNTQ2NS84NzMyXzIyMF9jbGFzc2ljXzIyMjA1NmMzMjI2ZjE5OTNjLmpwZw "uvex silv-Air c 2220 FFP2 preformed mask") [uvex silv-Air c 2220 FFP2 preformed mask](https://www.uvex-safety.ie/en/products/respiratory-protection/uvex-silv-air-c-2220-ffp2-preformed-mask-8762220-UK/) ![uvex silv-Air c 2210 FFP2 preformed mask](https://d3rbxgeqn1ye9j.cloudfront.net/shop-media/QjujJbcBbDn-QS7lPOR37qB6C0nUdHvtf_JMlCU2jpQ/cb:1756915403/w:540/h:540/bWVkaWEvY2IvOTQvOTUvMTc1NjkxNTQwMy84NzMyXzIxMF9jbGFzc2ljXzIyMTA1NmMzMjI0Y2NkNTBkLmpwZw "uvex silv-Air c 2210 FFP2 preformed mask") [uvex silv-Air c 2210 FFP2 preformed mask](https://www.uvex-safety.ie/en/products/respiratory-protection/uvex-silv-air-c-2210-ffp2-preformed-mask-8762210-UK/) ![uvex silv-Air c 3200 FFP2 folding mask](https://d3rbxgeqn1ye9j.cloudfront.net/shop-media/4PGt4prQFwqlFV5_zH_PViLQoEcwTy965bjf7AHpcCc/cb:1756915399/w:540/h:540/bWVkaWEvMGEvYjAvMDkvMTc1NjkxNTM5OS84NzMzXzIwMF9jbGFzc2ljXzMyMDA1NWM4NGM3Y2M1NWViLmpwZw "uvex silv-Air c 3200 FFP2 folding mask") [uvex silv-Air c 3200 FFP2 folding mask](https://www.uvex-safety.ie/en/products/respiratory-protection/uvex-silv-air-c-3200-ffp2-folding-mask-8763200-UK/) ![uvex silv-Air c 3210 FFP2 folding mask](https://d3rbxgeqn1ye9j.cloudfront.net/shop-media/UKHvyLMu9_K6pZqMpBOdegquLX0d3GYuuecarUzIHJ0/cb:1756915400/w:540/h:540/bWVkaWEvOTcvMjUvMzEvMTc1NjkxNTQwMC84NzMzXzIxMF9jbGFzc2ljXzMyMTA1NWM4NGM2NzdmY2E3LmpwZw "uvex silv-Air c 3210 FFP2 folding mask") [uvex silv-Air c 3210 FFP2 folding 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![uvex silv-Air c 2312 FFP3 preformed mask (small)](https://d3rbxgeqn1ye9j.cloudfront.net/shop-media/nVVlE3QzVggqPsR8ZRk8X9E8l4h7WHPxwbxgaMp2w0o/cb:1756915198/w:540/h:540/bWVkaWEvMTcvMzkvZmUvMTc1NjkxNTE5OC84NzMyMzEyLmpwZw "uvex silv-Air c 2312 FFP3 preformed mask (small)") [uvex silv-Air c 2312 FFP3 preformed mask (small)](https://www.uvex-safety.ie/en/products/respiratory-protection/uvex-silv-air-c-2312-ffp3-preformed-mask-small-8762312-UK/) How to fit a flatfold P2 mask ------------------------------- ![How to fit a folding mask](https://d3rbxgeqn1ye9j.cloudfront.net/images/MUr_Vu1eY4k2Z2ufWubJaWDkxVn-NWUUfDLPUlPwWqA/w:345/h:194/fn:Y3NtX2hvdy10by1maXQtZm9sZGluZy1tYXNrXzNmNGU1Y2FiNmU:t/cb:e0b044993f89e47a2121211f17298b4ce00065b3/el:1/fq:jpeg:85:avif:70:webp:80/aHR0cHM6Ly9kM3JieGdlcW4xeWU5ai5jbG91ZGZyb250Lm5ldC9maWxlYWRtaW4vd3d3LnV2ZXgtc2FmZXR5LmNvLnVrL01lZGlhL3Jlc3BpcmF0b3J5L2hvdy10by1maXQtZm9sZGluZy1tYXNrLmpwZz8xNjIyMTk1MjI2 "How to fit a folding mask - watch the video") How to fit a preformed mask ----------------------------- ![How to fit a preformed mask](https://d3rbxgeqn1ye9j.cloudfront.net/images/vhIXXWJrlVBXdlPEJ8uuKm2lmI07yMANdFQVuMmrkW0/w:345/h:194/fn:Y3NtX2hvdy10by1maXQtcHJlZm9ybWVkLW1hc2tfODQwZmE4YzZhZg:t/cb:9403b6f4ce80964f59767735b88da2f955450055/el:1/fq:jpeg:85:avif:70:webp:80/aHR0cHM6Ly9kM3JieGdlcW4xeWU5ai5jbG91ZGZyb250Lm5ldC9maWxlYWRtaW4vd3d3LnV2ZXgtc2FmZXR5LmNvLnVrL01lZGlhL3Jlc3BpcmF0b3J5L2hvdy10by1maXQtcHJlZm9ybWVkLW1hc2suanBnPzE2MjIxOTUyMjY "How to fit a preformed mask - watch the video") --- ### Discover the uvex silv-Air c range [ ![uvex silv-Air c filtering face masks](https://d3rbxgeqn1ye9j.cloudfront.net/images/132rmZ55aauJ99fqCv_2RL1i4FnSvrOhTpyGS8MNAlU/w:345/h:259/fn:Y3NtX3Jlc3BpcmF0b3J5LTMzMTBfZmY1YmJlMDY2Mg:t/cb:47a33724938e96b76a5cacaca4274f5d387e14f7/el:1/fq:jpeg:85:avif:70:webp:80/aHR0cHM6Ly9kM3JieGdlcW4xeWU5ai5jbG91ZGZyb250Lm5ldC9maWxlYWRtaW4vd3d3LnV2ZXgtc2FmZXR5LmNvLnVrL01lZGlhL3RlYXNlci9yZXNwaXJhdG9yeS0zMzEwLmpwZz8xNjI1NzU5ODcx "uvex silv-Air c filtering face masks") ](https://www.uvex-safety.ie/en/product-group/uvex-silv-air-c-face-masks/) ### Browse uvex respiratory protection [ ![uvex respiratory protection](https://d3rbxgeqn1ye9j.cloudfront.net/images/AqhDXurHaZBrJs10puTAnK9Ffi9TmjObJ_1cBOXWBc4/w:345/h:259/fn:Y3NtX3Jlc3BpcmF0b3J5LXJhbmdlX2NmMzQzZGY2MzY:t/cb:5ff827dbb12572aee7b0de048d13e6da15befa6a/el:1/fq:jpeg:85:avif:70:webp:80/aHR0cHM6Ly9kM3JieGdlcW4xeWU5ai5jbG91ZGZyb250Lm5ldC9maWxlYWRtaW4vd3d3LnV2ZXgtc2FmZXR5LmNvLnVrL01lZGlhL3RlYXNlci9yZXNwaXJhdG9yeS1yYW5nZS5qcGc_MTYyNTc2MDc5MQ "Browse our respiratory protection range") ](https://www.uvex-safety.ie/en/products/respiratory-protection/) ### Meaning of FFP protection classes [ ![The meaning of FFP protection classes](https://d3rbxgeqn1ye9j.cloudfront.net/images/ZcO49xp644h8bfuFid4AJ5NOzS8pP4s2PRW_Br_QN34/w:345/h:259/fn:Y3NtX3Jlc3BpcmF0b3J5LTg3MzJfNDY5YTk5ZDVmNQ:t/cb:592e2ea44c2c1feb2fad74afb42da140177b23ab/el:1/fq:jpeg:85:avif:70:webp:80/aHR0cHM6Ly9kM3JieGdlcW4xeWU5ai5jbG91ZGZyb250Lm5ldC9maWxlYWRtaW4vd3d3LnV2ZXgtc2FmZXR5LmNvLnVrL01lZGlhL3RlYXNlci9yZXNwaXJhdG9yeS04NzMyLmpwZz8xNjI1NzYwNzkx "The meaning of FFP protection classes") ](https://www.uvex-safety.ie/en/meaning-of-ffp-protection-classes/)