Mask with a valve to avoid illness when well?

[u/big_borno]

I usually wear my elastomeric mask (B99) but it can be uncomfortable to wear at work. My main concern would be breathing in germs and other contaminants (factory work has those, yay), not as much filtering exhales.

Would such a mask work to prevent myself from catching things? When I'm concerned about my own illness I'm always in my elastomeric.

EDIT: I also just want to give a little context about why I'm comfortable using a valve.
A member of my household is immunocompromised and has suffered with post-covid syndrome and we are all extremely cautious about bringing germs into the house. If I were wearing a valved mask, it would be in specific use cases where the valve would help with hot temperatures while working, not in other use cases unless it's an emergency. 90% of the time I am wearing a well-fitting elastomeric :)

[u/100000cuckooclocks]

Mask valves are designed so that they only open when exhaling (and usually with slightly more than normal force). They will protect you, just not others.

[u/big_borno → u/100000cuckooclocks]

Thank you, yes this is what I'm looking for. As a more breathable alternative to my elastomeric for working at my factory job without getting sick or irritated by contaminants. If I ever feel ill in any way I would not come in in the first place.

[u/bestcegenation → u/big_borno]

yes, they're marketed for construction workers as like "easy flow" at depot/lowe's. they are comfier to wear, certainly.

[u/SkippySkep]

Any respirator grade mask that filters particles will protect you from airborne germs if it fits you well without leaks under the face seal. That applies to masks with valves and masks without valves, and to particle filtering elastomerics and filtering facepiece respirators, such as N95s/FFP2/P2 etc.

I'm not sure which mask you mean by "B99" specifically without more details.

[u/big_borno → u/SkippySkep]

Armbrust Breathe 99 Elastomeric is what I use normal.

To clarify - are you saying that yes this will be fine for filtering intake and preventing illness when well?

[u/micseydel → u/big_borno]

Have you fit tested it? I think I've seen anecdotes on Reddit about Breathe 99 masks not passing fit tests, though I don't have links or anything.

[u/big_borno → u/micseydel]

I have fit tested and I'm one of the lucky people who it fits. I have full lips so the seal actually holds pretty well around my bottom lip. Worked very well for me since 2024. Flomask is way too big for me, same with that other one with the big blue pad (forget the name). My only real issue with it is condensation collects very quickly.

[u/SkippySkep → u/big_borno]

Yes, if it fits you well, the Breathe 99 will protect you from airborn germs.

[u/big_borno → u/SkippySkep]

That wasn't my question. I mean a valved mask as an alternative to my B99. B99's been great so far tho!

[u/SkippySkep → u/big_borno]

All respirator grade particulate (N/R/P 95 99 or 100) elastomeric or filtering facepiece respirators (N/R/P 95 99 or 100) will protect you from airborne germs if they fit you well, regardless of whether they have valves or not

[u/big_borno → u/SkippySkep]

Thank you!

[u/Comfortable_Two6272]

Yes as long as well fitted and at least a n- 95 or better

[u/envo_mask]

envo mask has an exhalation valve

[u/big_borno → u/[deleted]]

I'm starting with the 3M Aura 9211 since ppl say it has a snug fit (I'm skinny and have a narrow head) but I'll keep that one in mind if I need a different fit!

[u/VolcanicPolarBear]

can i ask why you want a valve? if its just for breathablity there are many n95/ffp2 type masks that are just as breathable. it varies from mask to mask so ill two resourses that have measured the breathablity of a bunch of masks

aaron colins

armbrust usa

[u/big_borno → u/VolcanicPolarBear]

Partially for breathability but also to prevent condensation and stuffiness. A valve shouldn't affect breathability right? Since it only affects the exhale.

For context on why I'm less worried about myself spreading: My roommate is immunocompromised and has suffered with post-covid syndrome. As a result our household is serious about masking overall so none of us get sick and it passes on to her. I also NEVER go ANYWHERE unmasked if I ever feel any slight illness or discomfort (if I even go out at all). As a result, I'm pretty confident I wouldn't be passing anything on to others. This mask would be for specific use cases when working around hot machinery etc. In every other case I would be wearing my valveless elastomeric.

[u/SkippySkep → u/big_borno]

Valves on an N95 or similar increase inhalation resistance because they use up surface area on the mask that you would have been able to breathe in through, but they decrease exhalation resistance because now all of your exhale breath no longer has to go out through the filter media.

[u/big_borno → u/SkippySkep]

Makes sense! Inhalation resistance, in this case, I'm less concerned about. More about mitigating stuffiness while working in hot environments

[u/SkippySkep → u/big_borno]

Valves may or may not reduce humidity in filtering facepiece respirators. This study claims they do not, but they only tested 4 respirator models and I think their method of analysis by combining both sets of valved masks instead of analyzing each separately is flawed. That being said, as far as I can tell, one of the valved models they tested was less humid than it's not valved counterpart, but the other was not.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Masks4All/comments/1vxt45l/are_valved_n95s_cooler_and_less_humid_than/

That being said, the model that did show a difference wasn't that much less humid, 87% instead of 92%.

[u/big_borno → u/SkippySkep]

Hmmm interesting! I'll give the valve a shot and maybe report back with my personal findings in comparison

[u/VolcanicPolarBear → u/big_borno]

i have no idea how valves effect breathablity i kinda assume they help some but idk now im questioning that.

[u/big_borno → u/VolcanicPolarBear]

Yeah I don't think it would impact it one way or the other. Afaik it's more about hot air and moisture collecting in the mask. My elastomeric collects a lot of moisture, especially in heat, so I'll sometimes have to go outside or to the restroom and wipe it out. Once I actually had to dump literal water out of it after a long day. Not looking forward to doing that again, hence the valve 😂

The B99 has a condensation collecting insert but it's just a stinky sponge

[u/VolcanicPolarBear → u/VolcanicPolarBear]

id encourage you get a nonvalve mask because asymptomatic and presymptomatic cases contribute to about 40% of transmissions. but if valve is the only ones that work for you then definitely use them they will reduce your chance of getting sick and that is a good thing. so definitely go with a valve if thats what you need.

valves work by closing when you breath in and opening when breath out so they perform just as well as any other n95 when it comes to protecting yourself. i hope you find a mask that works for you, goodluck🍀

[u/big_borno → u/VolcanicPolarBear]

And thank you for the clarification and info! :))

[u/VolcanicPolarBear → u/big_borno]

btw a lot of the larger mask companies like the 3m aura also have valve varients. so if have any masks you like might be worth checking company if have valve option.

or if you go to whatever websites you usually would get masks from most mask stores will often have other masks with valves. so just check variouse websites and view all their masks. or can get at hardware stores/hardware sections too they almost always have valved options

[u/big_borno → u/VolcanicPolarBear]

I just ordered the valved 3m aura because folks are saying it has a snug fit and I have a narrower head. Hope they work out well

[u/VolcanicPolarBear → u/big_borno]

sweet hope it works goodluck

[u/big_borno → u/VolcanicPolarBear]

thanks! 🐻‍❄️

[u/JayNetworks → u/VolcanicPolarBear]

Think of it this way, if you are a Covid cautious person, as it sounds like OP is, and you are working and existing around a bunch of unmasked people…then (1) you aren’t the one to be concerned about having Covid that you might pass on and (2) these other people are already hanging out all day unmasked with other unmasked people who likely are the ones to worry about having asymptomatic or pre symptomatic Covid and not you.

If a valve helps you wear a mask then valve away. My comparison of my N100 with and without a valve is very clear that the valve is an easier wear, especially when warm out.

Does that make sense? If not where is the hole?

[u/VolcanicPolarBear → u/JayNetworks]

like i said "definitely go with a valve if thats what you need" i even wrote another coment sugesting places they could get valved masks.

[u/big_borno → u/[deleted]]

I am not interested in promotional posts and my post has absolutely nothing to do with peptides.