What is the difference between FFP3, N95, and KN95 respirators?
FFP3, N95, and KN95 are filtering facepiece respirators certified under different national systems: FFP1/FFP2/FFP3 under European EN 149, N95/N99/N100 under US NIOSH 42 CFR 84, and KN95 under Chinese GB 2626, with KF94 under the Korean standard. Roughly, N95, KN95, KF94, and FFP2 filter about 94-95% of particles, while FFP3 filters about 99% and N99/N100 filter 99% or more. They are not automatically interchangeable across markets because each standard has its own test method, leakage limits, and approval body.
These labels all describe filtering facepiece respirators, but the letters and numbers come from different countries standards. The number broadly reflects filtration efficiency, while the standard determines how that efficiency is tested and what total inward leakage is allowed.
The main standards and ratings
| Class | Standard | Region | Approx. min. filtration |
|---|---|---|---|
| FFP1 | EN 149 | Europe | about 80% |
| FFP2 | EN 149 | Europe | about 94% |
| FFP3 | EN 149 | Europe | about 99% |
| N95 | NIOSH 42 CFR 84 | United States | at least 95% |
| N99 | NIOSH 42 CFR 84 | United States | at least 99% |
| N100 | NIOSH 42 CFR 84 | United States | at least 99.97% |
| KN95 | GB 2626 | China | at least 95% |
| KF94 | KMFDS standard | South Korea | about 94% |
The N-series letter also signals oil resistance: N means not oil-resistant, R means somewhat oil-resistant, and P means oil-proof, so P100 is a common US class. EN 149 instead distinguishes single-shift (NR) from reusable (R) marking on the respirator.
Why they are not automatically interchangeable
- ·Different test aerosols and flow rates: NIOSH, EN 149, and GB 2626 do not use identical test conditions, so a 95% rating is not measured the same way everywhere.
- ·Different leakage limits: EN 149 sets total inward leakage limits per class; the US system focuses on filter efficiency plus separate fit testing.
- ·Different approval bodies: NIOSH approval, an EN 149 Notified Body, and GB 2626 approval are separate legal regimes, so one market may not accept anothers mark.
- ·Counterfeits are common: during COVID-19 many KN95-labelled units did not actually meet GB 2626, so the printed class is not proof of compliance.
How MPBxChange handles respirator sourcing
On MPBxChange a buyer specifies the exact certified class required for their market (for example EN 149 FFP3 with a Notified Body, or NIOSH-approved N95), and matching is on that declared protection level rather than on a generic mask label. The counterparty stays sealed until both sides accept, and where milestone escrow is used the conformity evidence, such as the EN 149 or NIOSH approval and test reports, can be attached to the quality milestone for review before it releases.
Frequently asked questions
They are similar in target filtration (about 95%) but certified under different standards, GB 2626 for KN95 and NIOSH 42 CFR 84 for N95, with different test and leakage requirements. They are broadly comparable for filtration but not legally interchangeable, and KN95 has had significant counterfeiting issues.
FFP3 targets a higher filtration floor (about 99%) than N95 (at least 95%) and has tighter leakage limits, so for that reason it sits above N95 and FFP2. The closer US equivalents to FFP3 are N99 or N100. Real-world protection still depends on fit.
Not by default. A regulated workplace usually requires the respirator class named in its own jurisdiction (for example NIOSH-approved N95 in the US), so a KN95 is not automatically accepted unless the relevant authority explicitly allows it.