If a country requires an n95 mask will a kn95 mask meet that requirement?
Posted by
Freedonia
15000 posts
In most cases an N95, KN95, KF94 and FFP2 masks are all interchangeable. They want something better than your typical surgical mask.
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5384 posts
They are all the same thing. Here in Europe we call then FFP2. There is no "Mask Police" checking exactly what type of mask you are wearing.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
7549 posts
If you want the technical difference, it comes down to what countries mask specification the mask is made to. N95 is a US standard, KN95 a Chinese Standard, FFP2 a European Standard. Basically all are intending to provide the same level of protection, filtering out 95% of particles over a certain size, though I am sure there are minor differences in each.
The only thing to be aware of, is for the construction industry, some N95 masks have an exhaust valve, to make exhaling easier, great for dusty environments, not so great for preventing disease transmission, and are not allowed where N95/KN95/FFP2 masks are required.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6502 posts
My understanding is that the N95 has two straps that each go over the back of your head, one higher and one lower, while the KN95 has loops that go around the ears. That means the N95 is harder to put on and take off, which is why I use KN95s. Both provide good protection and meet the requirements everywhere I know of.