Use of face masks designated KN95
- Safety Flash
- Published on 31 July 2020
- Generated on 9 November 2025
- IMCA SF 23/20
- 1 minute read
What happened?
The UK HSE (Health and Safety Executive) has issued the following notice regarding the use of face masks designated KN95. The full notice can be found here:
https://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/use-of-face-masks-designated-kn95.htm
A substantial number of face masks, claiming to be of KN95 standards, provide an inadequate level of protection and are likely to be poor quality products accompanied by fake or fraudulent paperwork. These face masks may also be known as filtering face piece respirators.
KN95 is a performance rating under the Chinese standard GB2626:2006, the requirements of which are broadly the same as the European standard BSEN149:2001+A1:2009 for FFP2 facemasks. However, there is no independent certification or assurance of their quality and products manufactured to KN95 rating are declared as compliant by the manufacturer.
Actions
Members may wish to make careful checks with regards to the provenance of locally sourced surgical standard masks.
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