WEARABILITY - The key to respiratory protection compliance

At uvex we know the best PPE is the PPE that is worn - which is why we design WEARABILITY into every face mask we make. But what do we mean by that? WEARABILITY = Compliance. It’s PPE that doesn’t get in the way allowing you to focus on the task at hand. Ultimately, it’s the perfect balance of four main factors:

Fit

Fit

Proper fit
When it comes to RPE, one size does not fit all. RPE is available in different sizes to ensure that the sealing surface of the respirator matches different facial features. Compatibility with other PPE also determines if a mask remains worn, helping to avoid accidents, reduce discomfort, and give wearers confidence.

Comfort

Comfort

All day comfort
One of the most important aspects of comfort when wearing a particle-filtering mask is breathing resistance, or the resistance that the wearer feels when breathing in and out. The higher the resistance, the harder the lungs have to work. It’s only when PPE fits well and is comfortable that it remains worn throughout the day.

Performance

Performance

Product performance
Particle-filtering face masks offer effective protection against dust, mist, smoke and microorganisms from the air flowing through them. uvex face masks can reliably filter particles and droplets from the air and comply with the European standard DIN EN 149.

Style

Style

Modern style
Lightweight and nice-looking PPE that feels good is more likely to be worn. It is possible to have high-performing, comfortable, properly fitted PPE in a style and design that appeals to the wearer. As a result, the mask is more likely to be worn throughout the day and employees will remain compliant.

Properly fitting respiratory protection

In addition to fulfilling the required safety standards, premium details and tightly-nested accessories that work as a system can enhance comfort, versatility and compatibility with other PPE - helping to maximise compliance. Even the best mask can only offer limited protection if the instructions for the right fit and use are not observed. Our decades of experience in developing and producing personal protective equipment, across multiple product groups, allows uvex to combine expertise and deliver integrated design concepts that ensure the WEARABILITY and compatibility of our PPE. This is certainly true when it comes to combining eyewear and respiratory protection. The mask designs have been influenced by uvex safety eyewear to ensure they fit and work together to provide uncompromised protection levels and enhanced performance.​ Gender, ethnicity, build and many other factors mean that one size of facepiece will not fit everyone.

Perfect combination with eyewear

Perfect combination with eyewear

The design of the uvex silv-Air c face masks were developed to ensure a compatible fit with uvex eyewear, allowing the products to work together. Wearers can therefore achieve the best possible fit, providing uncompromising protection.

Ergonomic design

Ergonomic design

uvex face masks can be flexibly adjusted and have been designed in combination with uvex 3D mask technology to ensure optimum ergonomics and a perfect sealed fit. The soft elastic headband can also be adjusted to meet the individual needs of the wearer.

Adjustable components

Adjustable components

uvex silv-Air c face masks feature soft elastic headbands, adjustable nose clip and flexible seal that can all be adjusted to suit the individual. The soft material edges offer greater comfort and wearer acceptance, helping to increase compliance.

Innovative features for comfortable protection

The many design features of the uvex silv-Air c range have been developed with the wearers comfort in mind. These include; field of vision, design and materials, size, weight and balance, compatibility with other PPE, pressure points, ease of adjustment and secure fitting, heat and moisture build up, and, breathing resistance. Depending on the model, the soft foam or PE sealing lip allows the wearer to achieve a customised seal without risk of leakage. Ensuring a mask has a low breathing resistance makes the experience more acceptable. Masks should have no sharp edges, staples, or seams that over time can dig in. Head straps should grip, be secure and without too much pressure when trying to ensure a good seal. It’s only when PPE fits well and is comfortable that it remains worn throughout the day.

Breathing resistance

Low breathing resistance

The carefully chosen combination of highly functional filter materials and the uvex fine-dust filter technology ensures that the individual layers ‘clog up’ at a slower rate offering maximum protection and making breathing easier.

No pressure points

No pressure points

The soft sealing lip gives the mask a secure, comfortable and pressure-free fit. Different materials and designs are used depending on the model. The soft material edges prevent uncomfortable pressure points.

Exhalation valve

Exhalation valve

The exhalation valve with an ultra thin membrane is ideally situated for maximum efficiency and increased speed of opening and closing. This supports the easy transfer of humidity and reduced breathing resistance helping to improve the internal mask climate.

High-performing products

uvex face masks can reliably filter particles and droplets from the air and comply with the European standard DIN EN 149. Masks are divided into three basic protection classes based on their differences in filtering capacity; FFP1 masks filters out at least 80% of particles from the ambient air, FFP2 masks can filter out 94% of particles, and FFP3 masks have a filtering potential of 99%. The higher the filtering capacity required, the more filter layers that are used in the production of the mask, or the higher the grammage that is used in the filter layers. The different filter layers determine the shape retention, tear resistance, natural filtration and look and feel of the mask. As protective masks create increased breathing resistance over time, uvex has developed special high-performance masks. These masks keep breathing resistance as low as possible and improve the climate under the mask.

Quality made in uvex

Quality made in uvex

To keep the breathing resistance low, the filter material used in uvex silv-Air c masks is electrostatically charged. This ensures that small particles that would normally be small enough to pass through the filter material stick to it instead.

EN149:2001+A1:2009

EN149:2001+A1:2009

All uvex respirators have been tested and approved in accordance with EN149:2001+A1:2009. This standard sets out a wide range of requirements for particle-filtering respirators, with the aim of providing the user with the highest level of protection and comfort.

High-performance masks

High-performance masks

uvex silv-Air c masks feature minimum breathing resistance and maximum wearer comfort. The particularly large filter areas to allow the wearer to breathe as naturally as possible.

Style meets comfort and safety meets design

uvex protective masks also vary in shape: The preformed or cup-style masks are particularly sturdy and can also be worn for long periods of time. Flat-fold masks , on the other hand, are easy to store and are suitable for travel. Both types of respirator are available from uvex with or without an exhalation valve.

Manufacturing expertise in respiratory protection

Progressive technology, unwavering commitment to innovation, maximum experience – with this winning combination, we produce ultra-modern respiratory protection with a clear eye for detail. Access to the entire value chain enables us to use and continuously improve high-end materials. With production processes under continuous development and strategic partnerships with selected producers, we achieve a leap forward in quality that our customers rightly expect from the uvex brand.

As a producer of highly functional face masks and a global leader in industrial eye protection, we consistently co-ordinate our development processes. For you, this means: at uvex, you get perfectly combinable respiratory and eye protection. No pressing. No slipping. Reliable protection in all conditions.

Manufacturing expertise in respiratory protection

uvex safety manufacturing plants bring together the latest technology, innovative power and decades of experience to produce our respirators. Our quality management system ensures compliance with the highest demands and all uvex plants are certified in accordance with ISO 9001:2008. Through strategic partnerships with select manufacturers of high-quality respirators, the uvex safety group has added disposable face masks to its production expertise in the area of personal protective equipment.

We collect, store and use your data solely to process your request. For more information, please see our data privacy statement.

* Please fill in the fields marked with an asterisk. The data is only used for answering your inquiry.

WEARABILITY across all product groups

WEARABILITY in safety eyewear

Simply wearing any old pair of safety eyewear isn’t enough to protect your eyes. We design and manufacture a range of styles, sizes, lens tints, lens coatings and colours to ensure wearers derive true WEARABILITY from uvex safety eyewear.

WEARABILITY in safety gloves

An ill-fitting glove can be as much a hazard as not wearing any at all. We design and select materials that provide protective properties, grip, dexterity, comfort and fit to ensure wearers derive true WEARABILITY from uvex safety gloves.

WEARABILITY in prescription safety eyewear

Facial shapes all differ requiring a range from which employees can select. We have developed frames with adjustable features and striking designs, offering the best possible protection in the workplace.

WEARABILITY in safety footwear

The best safety footwear should be supple, allowing freedom of movement without discomfort when walking or kneeling and comfortable enough to wear all day to ensure wearers derive true WEARABILITY from uvex safety footwear.