Masonry is dusty work, and with dust comes the risk of silicosis, a hazard avoided by wearing a dust mask. Typical N95 paper masks can do this job, but besides being a pain to put on and take off, those masks fog up my glasses and soon just fall apart. That’s why I decided to try out the RZ M2 mask, a washable mesh mask that can be fitted with several different filter options. My favorite part of the RZ M2 mask is that it does away with the most annoying aspect of paper dust masks: their stifling, snappable elastic straps, which force me to constantly take off my glasses and hat when I need to put on a mask. I purchased the M2 mask with the optional Velcro strap, though other models have straps more like surgical masks; all allow a quicker release.
My mask came equipped with an F1 filter, which is rated for about 30+ hours of use with heavy dust. The filter slips into the mesh shell and is held in place by the two plastic breathing ports, which pinch the filter and the mask together. It’s a simple process with only a few moving parts, making replacing the filter or washing the mesh outer mask relatively simple. The filters are sold in 3 packs for $6.95 to $12.95 depending on strength.
The RZ M2 dust mask has a nylon mesh shell with a velcro strap enclosure, and an adjustable metal nose clip. One-way ABS exhalation ports keep the mask dry during use.
Filters designed for use with the shell consist of an outer layer that screens out particulates as small as 0.1 microns, and an active carbon inner layer effective against chemical and organic vapors.
The company claims that their F1, F2, and F3 filters have been tested to be 99.9% efficient against particulates down to 0.1 microns in size (a NIOSH N95 rating means that a mask filters at least 95% of particulates down to 0.3 microns in size). But these filters aren’t NIOSH-approved yet. It’s also worth pointing out that the masks are equipped with one-way exhalation ports, so while they might be effective against the coronavirus (apparently many consumers are buying them for everyday use, judging by the colorful models available on the company’s website and by the fact that they seem to be perpetually low on stock), they won’t prevent transmission to others if you already have COVID-19.
At $35, it may feel like a steep a price to pay when there are 100-count packs of the basic paper masks (with an actual NIOSH N95 rating) for much less, but I felt that the RZ M2 mask was effective for the kind of work that I do, and quickly paid for itself with its added comfort level and reusability. My glasses fogged a lot less even in our North Carolina heat, thanks to the mask’s better breathing ports and better nose clip. Another plus was the inclusion of three extra filters with the mask (which comes with the fourth one pre-inserted), which means there will be plenty of wear-time before a replacement filter will be needed. rzmask.com
