AMD P2 Masks vs Surgical Masks

Why you should choose P2 masks over surgical masks

With masks being mandated, people have turned to the most popular option on the market: medical-grade masks, which are commonly known as surgical masks. These are the blue or white coloured masks that fit loosely around the bottom half of your face, as pictured below: 

You’ve probably worn or are currently wearing this type of mask. But is it really offering you the protection you need? Surgical masks can prevent the transmission of disease via fluids – which can happen through coughing or sneezing – but they are essentially useless against airborne transmission. And with the emergence of the Delta strain, protection against airborne particles has become vital. 

A scientific paper found that particles of the virus can remain in the air for more than 16 hours, due to the virus’s high aerosol efficiency. P2 respirators will protect against these particles due to their high PFE (Particle Filtration Efficiency) of 99.6%, but surgical masks are not designed to protect against airborne transmission. 

The Australian Government has released a fact sheet that outlines the different levels of protection among the mask options available on the market. As you can see from the table below, surgical masks are recommended for droplet protection, but not airborne transmission prevention. 

Why do AMD P2 masks offer more protection than surgical masks?

So what exactly is it about AMD P2 respirators that make them more effective against airborne prevention compared to surgical masks? Unlike surgical masks, which are mainly used for medical procedures to protect surgeons against disease transmission via fluids, P2 respirators are specifically manufactured to filter out particles in the air. 

Because of this, they are often used as protection against air pollution, and are effective in filtering out particulate matter. Particulate matter can refer to either PM10 particles — which have a diameter of 10 micrometers or less and can enter your lungs — or PM2.5 particles, which have a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less and can enter the lungs and even the bloodstream. For reference, the thickness of a human hair is about 75 micrometers.

AMD P2 respirators have such a high particle filtration efficiency that they are able to filter out these particles from the air, and thus offer the best protection against airborne transmission. 

Unlike surgical masks — which often fit loosely around the face — when fitted properly, all AMD masks offer an airtight seal that protects against the particles in the air. This means that you get a face contouring, low leakage mask with excellent breathability and high water resistance. 

Additionally, as opposed to surgical and even N95 masks which are manufactured with a melt-blown filter, AMD P2 respirators are manufactured with nanofiber technology, which filters 99.6% of airborne particles (most imported masks only filter ~60%). This has been tested by VICLAB (BSI) 17.7.20 and you can learn more about the tests our AMD P2 respirators have undergone here.

The efficiency of nanofiber filters over melt-blown filters

So what’s the science that puts nanofiber filters over melt-blown filters? 

Nanofiber technology initially emerged as a form of protection against air pollution, but as the aerosol droplets that disperse viruses are of similar size, P2 respirators with nanofiber filters have quickly become a strongly recommended form of protection in the pandemic.

The nanotechnology used to produce our AMD P2 respirators gives it an extra boost to remove additional particles when compared to masks with melt blown filters. The nanofiber filters in our AMD P2 masks also have a higher absorption surface area, meaning they have a greater ability to capture droplets and particles as opposed to the melt-blown filters which are used in N95 and surgical masks.

When testing melt-blown filters against nanofiber filters, a study found that nano-treated masks have a significantly lower perception of heat, humidity, and overall discomfort. That means that when your AMD P2 respirator is fitted properly, you’ll have a mask that’s easier to breathe in and doesn’t constantly cause your glasses to fog up.

AMD masks do not compromise safety for comfort. Not only are they more comfortable — our AMD P2 masks offer better and longer protection compared to the melt-blown filters in surgical and N95 masks. This is because the nanofiber filters in our P2 masks maintain their effectiveness even after being exposed to moisture and can offer you protection for up to 24 hrs. 

With four layers of protection and the ability to filter out 99.6% of airborne particles, AMD P2 respirators are a much better choice than your typical disposable mask.

Keep you and your family safe with AMD P2 respirators

To put the high PFE of 99.66% that our AMD masks offer into perspective, a recent study tested the filtration efficiency of common consumer-grade masks, and it was found that a medical-grade procedure mask with ear loops only offered 38.5% filtration efficiency. This is the  mask that most consumers are wearing right now.

A folded cotton bandana had 50%, a surgical mask with ties offered 71.5%, and a washed nylon mask with ear loops and an aluminium nose bridge had 79%. But as you can see, this is little protection compared to the 99.6% PFE our AMD masks offer.

Hopefully by now you’ve been convinced by the science that places AMD P2 respirators above the typical surgical mask and other options on the market. By purchasing our AMD masks, you can rest assured that you are investing in the best form of protection against airborne viruses and the recent Delta strain.

Our AMD P2 respirators are manufactured right here in Australia, so not only are you obtaining the best protection for you and your family, but you’re also supporting Aussie businesses and Aussie manufacturing. 

Our AMD masks have been made keeping the consumer in mind. Multiple fit tests have been conducted to ensure they provide airtight protection and prevent air leakage in order to effectively filter out airborne particles that might contain the virus. AMD has also consulted with numerous medical professionals and used this feedback to produce a better P2 mask. 

To keep you and your family safe, you can purchase a box of 50 AMD P2 respirators here.