General Information
Do the masks protect against COVID 19?

Products such as Virshields medical masks or FFP2 masks reduce particles, liquids and aerosols in our periphery that could contribute to the spreading of the virus.

KN95 / N95 / FFP2 half masks are among the protective measures against COVID-19 recommended by the WHO (World Health Organization) and help protect people in our environment from respiratory secretions (KN95 and N95 are not approved in the EU).

However, wearing a masks does not replace other forms of protection, such as frequently washing one's hands, and should be done in addition to these measures.

Only wearing a mask does not sufficiently protect against COVID 19.

Are KN95 and N95 masks approved in the EU?

An FFP mask is in the EU what a KN95 mask is in China and an N95 is in the U.S. However, neither one meets the European standard or is approved by the EU. The only respirators approved for use in the EU are FFP masks.

What is a clean room?

Cleanrooms are used in virtually every industry where small particles can interfere with the production process or product. They vary in size and complexity and are widely used in industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical technology and life sciences, as well as critical process manufacturing in the battery, aerospace and optical industries.

The clean room in which our masks are manufactured meets the cleanliness criteria of ISO 14644 / Class 8.

Do the masks cause an allergic reaction?

Wearing a mask, especially for longer periods, can cause abrasion and changes in the skin's ph. If you suffer from side effects such as itching or rashes, it is important to consult a doctor.

A soaked mask has to be removed and changed. There should be sufficiently long breaks between wearing periods.

What is the recommended duration of use for a mask?

In order for a face mask to play its part in reducing the transmission of viruses, it is important to ensure that it is handled correctly. If the mask is soaked, it must be replaced immediately.
Medical face masks are for single use only.

FFP masks (without exhalation valve) are recommended to be worn for a maximum of 75 minutes followed by a recovery period of at least 30 minutes.

In which industries can masks be used?

Masks are recommended wherever there is a risk of transmission via respiratory secretion and wherever others need to be protected from the particles we exhale. Depending on the type of mask, they are intended for everyday public use and for industries with higher requirements for microbiological purity, such as hospitals, laboratories, etc. Filtering half masks are specially designed for clinical use etc.

Why do masks contain a nose clip?

The masks serve as protection. Only a mask that fits close to the face can assure protective effectiveness. Breathing unfiltered air between the face and mask should be avoided as much as possible. Masks with nosepieces fit snug to the nose. The bracket can be adjusted to the shape of the wearer's nose and face by bending it slightly.

Do masks cause breathing problems?

Masks do not cause respiratory problems in healthy people. The materials of the masks guarantee high breathability and at the same time filter out unwanted particles with a diameter of 0.3 micrometers and more. However, for people with upper respiratory tract diseases (respiratory insufficiency, asthma) it is recommended to consult a doctor before use.

Should people with a heart condition omit masks?

Users with a heart condition should stop using masks immediately if they feel unwell.

In general, we recommend that you consult a doctor before use!

Virshields masks
What distinguishes "Virshields" masks from Asian masks?

The masks from our brand "Virshields" are designed by a team at Mask Authority in Germany.
However, the biggest and therefore
most important difference is the production. Our masks are
all produced in Europe. The quality specifications also come from
Germany and the production of our masks takes place in our own
production facilities in Wroclaw (Poland) and in Prague (Czech Republic).

Our warehouse is currently located in Egelsbach with more than 20
million masks available daily. In our production facilities
we can call up to 10 million masks at any time. Within 2-3
days, depending on the purchase quantity, we can deliver the orders of our customers
. This speaks for short delivery times as well as short routes.

All products are certified according to the EU directives. Both in
Germany and in Poland we have a quality management team, who focus on high
quality of the products.

Do your masks always come from Europe?

Our masks are all made in the EU. It is important to us
that we produce high quality masks within European territory according
to the EU directives.

How many layers do Virshield's facemasks and FFP respirators consist of?

Virshields mask is a class I medical device and consists of
three layers. An FFP Virshields mask is a personal protective equipment and
is subject to the PPE Regulation (EU 2016/425). It consists of five layers.

What does the packaging of Virshields masks look like?

Our medical masks
are welded in foil, our FFP masks are welded
in single foils to ensure your quality to
. Then the packages are packed in bulk cartons according to product type and
size, which are available in the online store.

Which testing facility certifies your products?

The link below will provide you with an overview of all
Notified Bodies within the EU. These bodies are organizations monitored
by the government and act on behalf of manufacturers to control
conformity assessment. 1437 and 1463 are the notified bodies
that provide the assessment and certification for Virshields masks.

https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/nando/index.cfm?fuseaction=notifiedbody.main

Smell of Virshields masks: How do your masks smell? Do the smell of plastic?

When it comes to comfort, odor neutrality is very important. At Virshields we make sure that all our masks are odorless.

Why are your children's masks only Type I certified?

We have deliberately chosen Type I for the children's mask. This is due to the fact that children are advised not to wear a Type II or IIR, as these are too tight. This makes it more difficult for children to breathe. However, our children's masks meet both Type I and Type II requirements.

FFP & medical masks
What is the difference between a medical face mask and an FFP mask?

The medical face mask is a medical device. These masks have
clearly defined filtration properties and are primarily used for external protection.

FFP masks serve as personal protective equipment (PPE) and are used for self and external protection. They protect against
particles, droplets and aerosols.

What is the difference between Type I, Type II and Type IIR?

Medical face masks are divided into two types according to bacterial
filtration performance - Type I and Type II. Type II
is further classified as to whether the mask is liquid resistant or
not.


Type I medical face masks should only be used on patients and
others to reduce the risk of spreading infection
especially in epidemic or pandemic situations
. Type II and IIR are used by healthcare professionals.

Type IIR is equivalent to Type II with additional requirements for
fluid resistance. Type I masks have a bacterial
filtration efficiency (BFE) of at least 95%, Type II and IIR at least 98%.

What is the difference between FFP1, FFP2 and FFP3?

FFP masks are available in three protection levels:
FFP1, FFP2 and FFP3. Generally, the higher the number, the higher
the protection level.


FFP1:

FFP1 masks protect against non-toxic particles that are based on
water and oil. The maximum total leakage is 22% and the
filtration percentage of pollutants from the air is at least 80. The
Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) may be exceeded by a maximum of 4 times,
so that the mask is still acceptable for the work area. This mask is used
mainly in the construction industry and in the food industry.

FFP2:

For work environments where harmful and
mutagenic substances are present in the air, the FFP2 masks
are particularly suitable. The mask must capture at least 94% of airborne
particles. They may be used when the
occupational exposure limit of the hazardous substance in question is no more than 10 times the
concentration. Masks of this level also protect against toxic dusts
(calcium oxide, concrete dust, etc.).

FFP3:

At high levels of respiratory exposure, the FFP3 mask provides reliable
protection. The mask must filter at least 99% of the air. They can be used in
working environments where the occupational exposure limit is exceeded by up to 30 times the
industry-specific value. They protect, for example, against toxic
dusts of chromium, cobalt, nickel or mold spores.

FFP masks are available with and without exhalation valve. What are the differences?

FFP masks without exhalation valve protect the wearer as well as his environment.
In the case of masks with a valve, the external protection is less present.

What are the requirements for FFP masks?

Like medical face masks, FFP masks must comply with requirements of
the law. EN 149:2001 + A1:2009 must be complied with.
In addition, FFP masks must comply with EU Regulation 2016/425. Virshields
products are only produced according to EU directives.