Mask and Respirator Standards

What are KF94, N95, KN95, P2, FFP2?

All of the above are various standards for masks and respirators that come from various standards organisations around the world.

They set out criteria such as filtration efficiency, maximum air leakage, allowable breathability restriction and other characteristics for various different types of occupational and public health hazards.

Most standards define several different tiers. NIOSH for example has N100 (a grade above N95).

We're hearing a lot about N95, KN95, P2 etc. right now because these are the tiers of the respective standards that are designed for hazards like COVID-19.

What's the difference? Which is the best?

There's not a whole lot of practical difference between these standards, and for COVID purposes they are almost interchangeable. 3M provides a detailed comparison here for those who want finer detail.

In practical terms for a New Zealand audience, in our opinion:

• N95 and P2 respirators are the best, but they are expensive, can be less comfortable for all day wear (usually have head straps instead of ear loops), and have had restricted supply.
• Counterfeit N95 products are rife, especially 3M branded, and can be difficult to spot.
• KN95 products are a bit of a wild west. Some brands and manufacturers are very good, some are very poor. It's very difficult for an average consumer to know what they are getting without an independent test.
• FFP2 is less commonly found in New Zealand currently, but is often added to KN95 products as a secondary standard.
• KF94 is the best combination of: high standard requirements, easy sourcing of genuine masks, ease of spotting counterfeits and copies, and cost.

Why KF94?

Design, regulation, and quality.

Firstly, the design of most KF94 masks (while not unique to KF94) is excellent for everyday use. It's a semi-rigid style that keeps the mask material away from your mouth making talking and make-up wear easier. The KF94 standard also has particularly strong requirements for breathability, so masks have to be easy to breathe through.

Second, the South Korean government regulates that any mask displaying the KF94 label is a registered model, manufactured by a registered producer. These registrations are issued by the MFDS and require manufacturers produce evidence that their products meet the claimed standard.

The Korean Ministry for Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) provides an online database where anyone can look up a manufacturer and KF94 product to see whether it is registered or not, and it is illegal to sell fake KF products in South Korea.

What this means for us small timers is that KF94 products sourced directly from Korean distributors are almost certainly genuine, and almost certainly high quality.