Very often the terms “filter mask” and “surgical mask” are used as synonyms. However, these are two different types of masks.
Filter mask
Filter masks are devices capable of protecting only the wearer. Since they have filtering capacity only inwards but not outwards, they do not have the ability to protect those around us.
In fact, this type of mask is mostly used in professional environments and can be divided into three macro categories, by protection class:
- FFP1, con capacità filtrante pari ad almeno 80%
- FFP2, caratterizzate da una capacità di filtrazione di almeno 94%
- FFP3, in grado di filtraggio di almeno il 99%
The acronym FFP derives from “Filtering Face Piece”, or filtering mask of the particles.
Surgical mask
iVision Health currently produces only surgical masks, or “altruistic” devices capable of protecting both the wearer and the other subjects with whom it comes into contact. Their advantage is therefore to reduce the risk of spreading potentially infecting particles.
Surgical masks are classified into two types:
- Type I, with a B.F.E equal to or greater than 95%
- Type II: with a filtering capacity greater than or greater than 98%, as in the case of the masks produced by iVision Health.
The acronym B.F.E indicates the “Bacterial Filtering Efficiency”, a parameter that allows to evaluate the ability of the mask to avoid the expulsion of bacterial particles to the outside.
iVision Health surgical masks are medical devices entirely produced in Italy, with Italian TNT material (non-woven fabric). They are also certified by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità and CE.