Can the mask be reused? Anqing Sankang Medical Technology will tell you.

ANQING, China – 15 Jan 2026 – Since the pandemic, “Can I wear this mask again tomorrow?” has become one of the most frequently asked questions on every construction site, in every hospital corridor, and in every household. Today, Anqing Sankang Medical Technology Co., Ltd. (Sankang), a TÜV-Rheinland-certified manufacturer of FFP2/FFP3 respirators, releases an official white-paper and animated explainer that finally settles the debate—and shows how proper re-use protocol can cut PPE costs by up to 40 % without compromising safety.

What the science says
Sankang’s R&D team, in cooperation with the Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Respiratory Protection, tested 1,200 pcs of its flagship SK-F920V FFP3 valved respirators after 8-hour shifts in three critical environments: cement dust (8 mg/m³), hospital COVID wards, and urban PM2.5 (300 µg/m³). Key findings:

• Filtration efficiency remained ≥ 99.2 % (EU requirement ≥ 94 %) after three cycles of 8-hour wear, provided the mask was stored in a breathable paper envelope for 72 h between shifts.
• Exhalation-valve leakage stayed below 30 mL/min (EU limit ≤ 300 mL/min).
• Inward leakage (total fit-factor) dropped only when elastics were over-stretched—highlighting the importance of head-band integrity rather than filter degradation.

“Filters do not ‘wear out’ after one shift,” explains Dr. Li Wen, Sankang’s Chief Scientist. “What kills protection is moisture build-up and mechanical damage. If you let the electrostatic layer dry and you don’t crush the shell, the mask can be safely re-used—within strict limits.”

Sankang’s 3-step re-use protocol

1. Don & Doff Cleanly: Remove by the straps, avoid touching the front.
2. Paper-bag “Dry Quarantine”: Write the user’s name and date on a kraft envelope; store 72 h minimum.
3. Inspect & Count: Before re-donning, check for broken welds, collapsed nose-foam, or soiling. Maximum three shifts or 24 h total wear-time, whichever comes first.

The protocol is valid only for Sankang’s TÜV-certified FFP2/FFP3 models printed with the new green “Re-use Track-&-Trace” QR code. Scanning the code opens a mini-program that logs each wear cycle and reminds workers when to discard.

Economic & environmental impact
A mid-size cement plant using 500 masks/day can reduce monthly PPE spend from USD 18,000 to USD 11,000 and cut landfill waste by 210 kg—equivalent to planting 120 trees every month.

“Safety and sustainability no longer have to be a trade-off,” says CEO Sam Gao. “With the right mask, the right testing, and the right discipline, re-use is both responsible and economical.”

Free implementation kit
From 20 January 2026, every bulk customer will receive a complimentary “Re-use Starter Kit”: 2,000 kraft envelopes, 50 wall-mounted storage racks, bilingual SOP posters, and on-site staff training via Sankang’s mobile VR classroom.

About Anqing Sankang Medical Technology
Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Anqing, China, Sankang operates a 28,000 m² GMP campus with 60+ automated FFP2/FFP3 lines and a Class 100,000 cleanroom. All products carry EU 2016/425 module B & C2 certificates issued by TÜV Rheinland (NB 0197). The company exports to 42 countries and is a nominated supplier to the UN and three Fortune-500 pharmaceutical giants.