The company says it is in the process of seeking NIOSH approval. I dont work for (or with) them and they dont pay me.. NIOSH has a not very user friendly website where you can check if the mask is on its certified list. 28K views 1 year ago Self-described "Mask Nerd" Aaron Collins is an aerosol scientist who tests masks in his home laboratory and rates their ability to filter out aerosol. I dont work for (or with) them and they dont pay me.. These elastomerics were not designed with a pandemic in mind. You can verify the approval number on the NIOSH Certified Equipment List (CEL) or the NIOSH Trusted-Source page to determine if the respirator has been approved by NIOSH. If you must fly on long flights, an elastomeric is also a great option that should provide excellent protection and comfort and not look too strange. In some cases, carbon dioxide might build up in masks that are hard to breathe. The filter will provide more resistance to the air coming through the mask, so it may in some cases result in more unfiltered air coming in from leaks in the mask. Its a duckbill style, so it does look a bit weird. Aim for zero visible condensation around edges and a lot adjacent to front of mask. All rights reserved. MR. COLLINS' FULL TESTING DATA SET CAN BE FOUND HERE. 2023 The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Also, if you think youve found a mask that appears to offer high levels of protection, but is not listed, please let us know. Here is a spreadsheet by Collins, which summarizes his results. Of the mask fitters on the market, we believe the Fix the Mask brace is the best for teaching. Aaron measures various numbers for each mask: Filtration efficiency, on his own face. Valved versions are available at Lowes and Tractor Supply. According to him: For now, choose a kids' mask made by a manufacturer which also makes good-quality adults' masks. It does have a higher price, but the manufacturer says it can be reused until the filter gets clogged with dust and becomes hard to breathe through, or if the insides get dirty and contaminated, or if the respirator is punctured, crushed, or otherwise structurally damaged.. Aaron Collins ( u/coll0412) tests and reviews various KN95 / KF94 masks, so that you can know which ones are best. One way to protect yourself from this and other potentially harmful mutations is to wear a better mask. The mask stays on your face through use of a special self-adhesive material. When worn correctly, they are designed to filter out around 95% or more of airborne particles. Its not clear to us how well this would work for teaching if you need to speak loudly. And youll probably look for excuses not to wear it. "You've got to kind of find your respirator, which is a weird thing to say these days. Green percentages are best; red percentages are worst. That guidance in part states the following: As explained in https://tinyurl.com/FAQ-aerosols, masks work to reduce the aerosol spread of COVID-19. Green numbers are best. People who leave ratings for masks dont have the expensive equipment needed to test masks for filtration. Kids can be hard to fit, so you might have to try a few brands to find a respirator that not only fits your child but is one they can put on correctly by themselves during the school day. Aaron Collins tests masks on his YouTube page and compiles a spreadsheet of test results here. Its a good idea to check manufacturer websites to see where they sell their products and who their authorized distributors are, Dr. McCullough said. . Here is the official NIOSH guidance regarding facial hair, which is available here. Since no one has a sharp v-shaped nose, you will need to reshape the nose wire to get a better fit. And people have questions! So consider a mask that comes in different sizes. The only difference between the two levels is the Level 3 resists blood and other fluids that medical professionals have to worry about. The samples were tested using a modified version of NIOSH Standard Test Procedure Only particulate filter efficiency was assessed. If you buy a KN95 at a national retail chain, the hope is that the chains buyers will insist on independent tests and get a mask that meets or comes close to the specifications. Leading manufacturers of these masks include MSA, 3M, and Honeywell. CDC recommends the use of a mask fitter in its official Feb. 13, 2021 guidance titled Improve How Your Mask Protects You. A recent CDC research paper said that results [from another study] indicated that when fitters are secured over a medical procedure mask, they can potentially increase the wearers protection by 90% for aerosols in the size range considered to be the most important for transmitting SARS-CoV-2 (generally <10 m).. But many people dont know how to wear an N95 properly. Some of the surgical style masks filter just as well as the certified ones. You also have good flexibility to get more comfort when heading outdoors, where the risk of transmission is lower, by taking off the brace, but continuing to wear the surgical mask. My pressure drop measurement is not great so take that with a grain of salt (0.05 typ). This suggests that (in general) it is easier for end-users to form a face seal with an elastomeric than a disposable. Under a microscope, the filters look like dense forests of tangled fibers that capture even the hardest-to-trap particles that can bounce around and escape the fibers of cloth masks. One mask they tested, the Zubrex, did just as well as the masks built to pass one of the ASTM 2100 standards. Their results are. NO, 4.1 Filtration 4.2 Fit 4.3 Breathability 4.4 A note about beards and facial hair, 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Cloth masks 5.3 Surgical masks how to choose 5.4 Surgical mask hacks to get better fit, 6.1 Introduction, Better Masks = High Filtration + Good Fit + Breathable 6.2 Our Recommended Minimum Better Mask Option a Cloth Mask on Top of a Surgical Mask What About Cloth Masks With Filter Inserts? So a surgical mask will provide more filter area to filter air coming through the mask into your lungs. This disposable mask respirator has a soft silicone seal that likely makes it more comfortable than a standard disposable N95. 4/ Repeated with good seal and no visible condensation. Mechanical engineer and self-described "mask nerd" Aaron Collins joins CBSN anchor Lana Zak to break down which masks are best. For protecting yourself in daily life, either will work equally well. A reasonable price for N95 masks is $2 per mask or less. Several cloth mask options come in different sizes. On February 2, 2021 the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) published International Assessments for many foreign made masks, including KN95s. But with surging demand for respirators, she says, mask manufacturers and others along the supply chain are having a hard time getting them out the door fast enough. (scroll down to Appendix A) from October 15, 2020 is nice, but the February NPPTL report is more useful. Thats excellent for a cloth mask. Unavailable Add to Wish List -54% Sold Out Add to Wish List . Video on masking for kids under 12 and companion spreadsheet of tested kids masks from Aaron Collins (also a parent). Their product information page is full of useful information on how to protect healthcare workers. Please include the date and version number given at the top. We dont recommend trusting high ratings left on those websites. There is no need to ask permission. (see video) [1/4]Here is the recommendations right now, and remember buy a few of a variety of sizes, faces are unique and there is a huge range. NO 2.3 Is it ok to remove my mask to talk? NIOSH doesn't require respirators to be marked with a shelf life date, though some manufacturers will include this information. You should also be sure to buy one with a nose wire that will help you get a tighter fit around your nose where leaks are common. If you do go this route, we recommend you choose a mask found by the Wirecutter reviews to come with a relatively effective but breathable filter. If you can find a tight fitting and breathable cloth mask for your face, then combining it with a surgical mask should give you a substantial boost in protection. , which will provide consumers with some basic information on filtration efficiency of cloth masks. For reasons we do not yet understand, this approval with use of the plug does not appear on the, If you decide to use an elastomeric, be sure to carefully follow the manufacturers instructions for putting it on and taking it off. Updating spreadsheets and other shared documents when necessary. Ballistic droplets are not exhaled at all when breathing. Here's a link to the full text of a scientific research paper about pressure drop. Avery Dennison Medical and Global Safety First have a unique strapless mask, which is the only NIOSH approved strapless N95 respirator on the market. Dont buy the surgical mask only schtick. We do not endorse any product listed in this guide this is for your information only. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. We will indicate which ones have at least listed data on their websites indicating high levels of fit and filtration. However, it is not clear how well it fits. The company website shows test results, and the company claims, with Nelson Lab test results to document it, exceptional filtration and breathability. There is no safe distance indoors. No action should be taken based upon any information contained in this website. (without valves) The company provides evidence of high filtration levels (over 95%) and claims breathability of no worse than 7.8 mm H2O/cm2 (its, showed all of the five samples tested at under 6.3 with most at 5.0). Aaron Collins, aka "Mask Nerd," is a mechanical engineer at Seagate Technology with a background in aerosol science. indicated the Outdoor Research mask was the most breathable. Six of them failed to filter at even half the standard. The specifications for Chinese KN95 masks are similar to those for the USA certified N95. The C.D.C. Both of these masks have at least 98% bacterial filtration efficiency and 98% for sub-micron particulates at 0.1 micron. I know - I . Design for additive manufacturing is the process by which parts and products are specifically designed to be made using AM technologies. Here are some tips when it comes to exhalation valves: Wear a respirator without an exhalation valve when both source control and respiratory protection are required. Their results are listed here. How to Find a Quality Mask (and Avoid Counterfeits), https://www.nytimes.com/article/covid-masks.html. I wonder how many lives have been saved by Aaron's work. From the video you can get a better idea of how it fits to your face and how easy it is to talk. Consider carefully the size and shape of your face when choosing a mask. Using this guideline, a rotation of just five respirators could last you 25 days, Miller notes. (Emphasis added. Trisha Greenhalgh, a highly-respected Professor of Primary Care at the University of Oxford, on Feb. 3, 2021 that Im road-testing [the facegaiter] that develops the bandana pulled up over your nose idea. National. Aaron Collins' Kids's Masks Spreadsheet. Mr. Collins, the Mask Nerd, has created a number of lists and resources for mask buyers. To see it in action, Aaron Collins tested it here. If you do buy a KN95, be sure it has filtration results of over 95% from this report or updates to it. While there is no N95 mask for kids approved in the United States, mask makers in China and Korea have created KN95s and KF94s for children, including some with child-friendly colors and prints. One concern is the filter inserts are smaller than the cloth mask. KN95 and N95 masks are required to have specific text stamped on the front. (NOTE: The reviewer received a free sample.) If a manufacturer starts making shoddy masks, NIOSH will yank approval. 5 Popular Applications for Design for Additive Manufacturing. If you want top protection, you should only buy versions with a headband design, not earloops. list to find KN95 masks made in China, and this list for KN95 masks made in other countries. , Tying the ear loops and tucking in the corners of the procedure mask to minimize gaps in the sides of the mask increased the mean (SD) FFE to 60.3% from 38.5%. As discussed above in Section 5.3, an ASTM rated Level 2 or Level 3 surgical mask filters just as well as the materials used in the N95 masks. We recommend you use an N95 or similar grade mask. Jan 29 So excited about this. A note of caution: If you dont find a particular mask, make sure youve looked it up the correct way, said Anne Miller, executive director of Project N95. It could be other types of disposable N95s would give good results, but one study of what appears to be the popular 3M Aura mask appears to indicate that this mask isnt a good choice if you have a beard. Similarly, KN95 masks are the Chinese equivalent to N95 masks. Early in the pandemic, high-quality medical and respirator-style masks were in short supply. The problem with buying a KN95 is that it is difficult to know if you have a good one that meets the standard or not. 2. summarizes the evidence for this combination. If a manufacturer starts making shoddy masks, NIOSH will yank approval. the Mask Nerd and his YouTube videos. Masks have-understandablybeen incredibly popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, though when officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that people who are fully. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The price of yearly membership depends on a number of factors, so final price will be calculated during checkout. The 6 feet rule also helps with aerosols that do not settle to the ground because they are most concentrated close to the person who released them, like cigarette smoke is most concentrated close to the smoker. . Real KN95s have GB2626 imprinted ON the mask, 2. Aaron Collins @coll0412 27.2K subscribers Subscribe Home Videos Live Playlists Community Channels About Recently uploaded Popular 19:21 Quarter Mask Elastomeric Review - Flo, Envo & Breathe. Full disclosure: I speak from experience. Signs that a respirator may be counterfeit: No markings at all on the filtering facepiece respirator, No approval (TC) number on filtering facepiece respirator or headband, Presence of decorative fabric or other decorative add-ons (e.g., sequins), Claims for the of approval for children (NIOSH does not approve any type of respiratory protection for children), Filtering facepiece respirator has ear loops instead of headbands. He says these started out as importers of South Korean beauty goods but now also import KF94 respirators, which are extremely common in South Korean drugstores. While weve studied many materials, none of us are aerosol scientists or doctors. We recommend checking a mask manufacturers website to see if it lists authorized stores or online sellers where their masks can be bought. If you cant place a surgical mask over the valve, another option is to plug or cover the valve, which is likely fine for short term use such as shopping. Collins likes trifold or boat-shaped N95s like the 3M Aura 9205+, which has foam over the nose clip for added comfort. The Wirecutter regularly publishes updated reviews of what they consider the best cloth masks on the market. They ship to the USA and the cost is about $56 (converting pound sterling into dollars) including shipping. See the figure below from Science.. Some of them he has been gifted, but many of them he bought himself. Another option to consider is a filter made from the same material as a surgical mask, such as this or this, if your mask has a filter pocket but no custom shaped filter. We also consider Project N95 a trusted supplier of the Powecom and N95 masks. There is no need for a filter that is rated for organic vapors to protect yourself from the virus. Collins, an aerosol expert, compiled a list of the best child-sized masks to. . Another social media community has started to blossom around Aaron Collins a.k.a. We list the MSA Advantage 290 in this group because it claims it was the first NIOSH approved respirator without an exhalation valve. The KF94 wont be stamped with text, but the package should say Made in Korea and include the product name, manufacturer and distributor name. If it does not fit well or it becomes hard to breathe, you should discard it. With omicron, you need a mask that means business. Below are two of the many colors available. Higher percentages are better. Thats because some cloth masks provide a good fit while a surgical mask provides high filtration. The nonprofit site Project N95 is also a reliable place to shop. The package will also have an expiration date and a lot number printed on it. The government also offered no guidance early on to help users select the right one. Earloop masks. Where will the concentrated aerosols from a person go? Do not use if the face mask is broken or with hole or leakage Wearing instruction (for 9501 earloop mask) 1. This picture also illustrates the difference between a loose fit and and a tight fit: In fact, the materials in a medical grade surgical mask filter air the same or better than the materials in an N95 mask. A, indicated that the Kitsbow solid, Cottonique Elite and Baggu masks were the most breathable among the favorite masks they tested. You are welcome to use any of this as you see fit. Many uncertified and fake foreign masks put 95 in the name. The CDC recommends the use of mask fitters like the Fix the Mask brace. If you have a hard-to-fit face, consider trying the SoftSeal brand masks, which have a silicone seal around the edges. Show this thread 23 Show replies 3. Some 12 year old have small faces, and some 8 year olds have buckets. He and Miller say N95s with a breathing pocket or duckbill shape tend to fit . Miller says a mask can lose some of its particle-trapping electrostatic charge over time, and the headbands or ear loops can lose elasticity all of which may render it less protective. As for N95s? It is surprisingly affordable at a list price of about $40 for a pack of 20 masks. You can check out his Twitter feed, his YouTube channel and a spreadsheet he has created of nearly 450 different masks and how they performed in his tests. 9.1 Teaching 9.2 Masks for retail sales employees and wait staff at restaurants 9.3 Clear Masks Communicating with deaf persons, use by persons using American Sign Language, or persons who need to convey facial expressions 9.4 Hair Salons. Far too many people focus on how well the materials in their mask filter the air. And if you do get infected, experts believe you have a better chance of having a mild case because your infectious dose would be smaller. A legitimate KN95 should also be stamped with text, including the name of the manufacturer, the model, and GB2626-2019, which is a reference to a quality control standard approved by the Chinese government. Privacy and Security Statement There are likely many other N95 or better masks with special features or designs on the market, but here are several we are aware of. [T]en respirators were submitted for evaluation. , if your mask has a filter pocket but no custom shaped filter. Counterfeit respirators are products that are falsely marketed and sold as being NIOSH-approved and may not be capable of providing appropriate respiratory protection to workers. Given that Aaron Collins is in the US, and generally doesn't test many elastomeric or quasi elastomeric masks, it is unsurprising that he has not tested your favorite European certified mask. If the number is too high, the mask can be harder to breathe through. Whereas in a study published by the American Medical Association, the differences were less pronounced, 92.2% of participants passed fit testing with elastomerics compared to 88.5% using disposable N95. Keep in mind these studies were conducted on healthcare professionals, so your likelihood of getting a proper fit is probably worse. An article by the Business Insider summarizes the evidence for this combination. . Home Depot offers a great guide to respirator masks here. Pack or store respirators between uses so that they do not become damaged or deformed. Aaron Collins tests these masks for filtration and fit himself. In the United States we have NIOSH to check if masks meet the standard or not. The science is clear, everyone should wear a mask during the pandemic. . No vendors have provided us with any free samples. YES, Is it OK to just wear the mask over my mouth and leave my nose out? Once the mask's pressure drop gets sufficiently low, then lowering it even further may offer no additional benefit. INCLUDED: 50 children's masks. There are many other elastomerics, too numerous to cite here, that are aimed at the construction and industrial markets.

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