aaron collins mask spreadsheet
(Emphasis added. Please include the date and version number given at the top. Collins also compiles a spreadsheet on masks for kids, which you can access here. Collins, who tests respirators on his Youtube channel, agrees with the CDC's recommendation to ditch cloth masks for tight-fitting masks that feature polypropylene filters: tightly woven. I've spent a fair amount of time over this pandemic researching masks, calling experts who study them and fielding questions like from family and friends. 1.1 What is the goal of these FAQs? The best mask is the one that fits snugly against your face and is comfortable. 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. We recommend you use an N95 or similar grade mask. Many people understand that better filtration will better protect you from inhaling viruses. "There is not much difference between 94 and 95% filtration," said Dr. Andrabi . A mask fitter fixes the surgical mask to get a tight fit such that you can effectively get N95 level protection if you use a well constructed mask brace and a high quality surgical mask. If half the air goes around your 99% filter your effective filtration falls to less than 50%. Remember, if the mask doesnt fit tightly, it wont protect you well. On February 2, 2021 the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL). If you have a cloth mask that already fits well on your face, and has a nose wire, there is no need to buy a new one. It comes in a range of colors and claims to provide N95 level fit and filtration and the company says it is working toward NIOSH approval. This helps the wearer speak more naturally and with more confidence that their mask wont slip off when speaking relatively loudly. Korean KF94 masks are similar in performance to the USA certified N95. It comes in 16 different colors, and one is shown below. Please note that the translation is by machine, not a person. Many of the options described below have not yet passed NIOSH certification. 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. www.youtube.com/channel/UC3fF_rzkmZD0ufN685YE7lg Posts Tagged That said, these may provide good levels of filtration and fit comparable with double masking with a tight-fitting cloth mask over a good quality surgical mask. Some KF94s are made in China. 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. ), We cant recommend you buy a KN95, but if you do, you should buy one at a major US retailer that was tested and exceeded filtration standards in the report cited above. Redefine the new normal. When worn correctly, they are designed to filter out around 95% or more of airborne particles. The problem with surgical masks is they dont provide a tight fit. Lack of visible condensation does not mean zero leakage, but does give a good indication of relative fit. 3-ply disposable face mask, you can still carefree breathing. The filtering materials in an ASTM Level 2 or Level 3 mask are just as good, or better, than the materials in an N95 mask. on the box itself and/or within the users instructions). You may also see an N99 or N100 rated mask. Aaron Collins is a mechanical engineer who wrote his Master's thesis on the science of aerosolstiny particles in the air from things like smoke or virusesand worked for years developing instruments to measure and describe them. page to determine if the respirator has been approved by NIOSH. 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. Readimasks stick to your face & have no metal. . Carbon dioxide is not a silent killer like carbon monoxide, but high levels can lead to impaired consciousness and other health effects. The company says it has applied for NIOSH certification on adults. It is not NIOSH approved, though the company says it is working toward approval. Be sure to read the information in section 7.1 on getting a good fit. Our guide can help. The initial cost for elastomerics aimed at the medical market typically ranges between $40 and $80. Earloop masks. Collins, the Mask Nerd, has created a number of lists and resources for mask buyers. The Airgami, which is profiled above here, has several features that may make it especially suitable for teaching. Use of the old FDAs logo on the bag or box, 100% of the masks Ive tested with either have been fake (this one bought from the airport tested at 45% filtration) https://t.co/gAaExyegFY pic.twitter.com/bwwjM3oin8, Lloyd Armbrust (@larmbrust) August 23, 2021. And once you choose one, its still a gamble; many people discover theyve ordered a mask thats too big or too small for their face or just doesnt fit right. Its not that Chinese-made KF94s are necessarily worse, its just that many fake masks appear to be manufactured in China. cited below, the reduction in exposure with an ear loop design to the tested particles was just 7.5%. Collins's spreadsheet of brands he's tested is a good place to start. (I say "around" because technically the "94" in a KF94 indicates that it has a 94% filtration efficiency.). You might get a better fit from a different size or even different type of mask. The mask provides two way filtration. PERFECT BREATH-ABILITY: Block particulate matter, dust and other inhalable fine particles. If you wish to go the cloth route, you should read their review. 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. Even though you cant feel it, indoor air is constantly moving (typically between 0.05 to 0.1 m/sec, or 0.15 to 0.3 ft/sec) due to heat from your body (adults typically give off as much heat as an old incandescent light bulb, 75 to 100 W), sunlight warming surfaces, people moving and breathing, and mechanical heating and cooling induced airflows. Compared to N95s disposable masks, which are supposed to be thrown away after a single use, elastomeric respirators use filters that need to be replaced only once a year unless they become damaged, soiled, or clogged. See these reports. Even then, that is NO guarantee that the one you buy will perform the same. Far too many people focus on how well the materials in their mask filter the air. You may need to type a note specifying this as you checkout. The following elastomeric masks with two-way filtering provide test results indicating they would pass NIOSH filtration and fit standards. pic.twitter.com/yDMHqkxZYp, Amanda Hu (@amandalhu) December 20, 2021. The masks sell for $30 for a package of 10 at. It only appears available from foreign suppliers, such as here. Just let them rest for a few days in a non-airtight container (like a paper bag or a Tupperware container with holes) and replace one only when it no longer fits well or the elastics have gone soft, or if it is soiled. Also, dont get fooled into thinking any mask with 95 in the name provides the same protection as a NIOSH N95. Open. The CDC recommends the use of a mask fitter to greatly improve the protection capabilities of a surgical mask. Discard any respirator that is obviously damaged or becomes hard to breathe through. Disposable respirator masks are supposed to be disposed of after one use by medical professionals. For example, I dislike rigid cup-shaped N95s, though Miller says many men prefer that style "for reasons I don't understand." N95s come in different shapes and sizes these days. The idea is to let it rest for five days so any viral particles trapped on it can die off. The paper did not specify which model of the Easy Mask was tested this is our best guess by examining the paper and the Easy Mask website descriptions of their mask options. 11. That's MaskGod Mr. Aaron Collins, P.B.U.H.*. Lloyd Armbrust, the CEO of mask manufacturer Armbrust American bought every mask he could find on Amazon. One final thing to look for be sure to check the test results on the manufacturers website. Once the mask's pressure drop gets sufficiently low, then lowering it even further may offer no additional benefit. However, some fake masks made in China may be labeled KF94, so shoppers still need to do their homework. Aaron Collins (@masknerd) Instagram photos and videos masknerd 10 posts 7,245 followers 3 following Aaron Collins On the hunt for the best hi-fi masks to protect you from COVID. The manufacturers of the following masks have confirmed to us that the following masks have no metal parts. 5 Popular Applications for Design for Additive Manufacturing. Higher tech materials, which are usually made out of a meltblown polypropylene layer, can do a much better job of filtering the smaller particles. . You should also not allow others to talk to you without a mask from a close distance., Recent coronavirus mutations appear to be much more transmissible. Aaron Collins goes by the "Mask Nerd" now that his unofficial job is reviewing face masks in his bathroom. It is not NIOSH approved, though the company says it is working toward approval. Or youll be more likely to wear it incorrectly. Search for Half Facepiece Reusable Respirator or a similar term and you will find many options. Here is the official NIOSH guidance regarding facial hair, which is available here. Keep in mind what NPPTL said in releasing the report: The results of these tests are for the sample tested and may or may not be representative of a larger lot or population of similar respirators. Thats excellent for a cloth mask. 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. You can also look up the TC approval number using the certified equipment list. In many masks with poor fit, half or more of the air you breathe in may not go through your masks filtration at all. $175.00 $90.00. On Feb. 13, 2021 the CDC website recommended placing a disposable mask underneath a cloth mask as one way to improve how your mask protects you. We believe you are likely to get the best result by wearing a breathable and tight fitting cloth mask on top of a surgical mask. Another great option is to combine a surgical mask with a mask brace or mask fitter, two phrases for the same thing. Big retailers like Home Depot and Lowes typically work directly with manufacturers approved by NIOSH or their distributors, so if you find an N95 mask in a major retail store you can be confident youre getting the real thing. But others had very high filtration. 8/9, Trevor Bedford (@trvrb) January 20, 2022. 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. Leading manufacturers of these masks include MSA, 3M, and Honeywell. By contrast, both KF94s and KN95s attach with ear loops, which many people find more comfortable but that don't seal quite as tightly to your face. The CDC recommends the use of mask fitters like the Fix the Mask brace. The thattha is an under-mask beard cover. Anyone who has shopped for a mask online or in stores has discovered a dizzying array in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. The Content is intended to complement, not substitute, the advice of your doctor. Some minimum KN95s filtration results were under 26%! 1. The South Korean standard KF94 masks, on the other hand, performed better in testing than Collins expectedtypically greater than 98 percent filtration efficiency. Some cloth masks provide good fit, but surgical masks have a loose fit. My pressure drop measurement is not great so take that with a grain of salt (0.05 typ). Its best to rely on the list of approved respirators. One way to protect yourself from this and other potentially harmful mutations is to wear a better mask. Aaron Collins, a Minnesota-based mechanical engineer, who wrote his master's thesis on the science of aerosols and calls himself a "citizen scientist," has been reviewing masks on his . There are a disturbing number of counterfeit masks on the market that claim NIOSH certification as N95, N99, or other types of respirators. Some of the surgical style masks filter just as well as the certified ones. But the best filtration materials in the world wont help protect you very well if you dont also have an excellent fitting mask that is breathable. This study did not specify the quality of the procedure mask used. But if I were wearing one all day, every workday, Id consider having one for each day and replacing them maybe every month. KN95 is a Chinese respirator standard, but these respirators aren't strictly regulated by the Chinese government, according to both Collins and Miller. So far, he's made approximately three review videos. 2. Fold the wire flat and you can seal it around the your nose. It is one of the few masks that come in multiple sizes, including small. We recommend checking a mask manufacturers website to see if it lists authorized stores or online sellers where their masks can be bought. Where can I buy a legitimate one? This. Six of them failed to filter at even half the standard. 33. r/Masks4All. One other note: Masks can expire. Before you buy a box of 50 or more of a particular brand, you may want to try to buy one or get a sample if possible. It appears the minimum purchase size is 50 in a box, but this option may well be the most affordable mask that offers N95 protection while talking. You can find that page here. Green percentages are best; red percentages are worst. You can also go to big-box stores like Home Depot and Lowes, says Collins. We think, but cant prove, that these options will provide better protection than any of the options listed above. "But, then, I never thought I'd be doing this in the first place." Clean hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after touching or adjusting the respirator (if necessary for comfort or to maintain fit). Another option is to block the valve with tape. CreditCharlie Rubin for The New York Times. December 2021. Handle them gently, because a good fit is essential to getting the most out of it. How to check to see if your mask is providing a good fit. Hold the particle filtering half mask . There is a version without a valve so you can wear it and protect others in the event you are infected. While it's possible that some expired N95s may still work well, once they're past their shelf life, they're no longer considered NIOSH approved. Then it counts how many particles are inside the mask Collins is wearing, which is hooked up to the condensation particle counter through a plastic tube that allows the . A mask that fits a friend or even a sibling well might not fit your face well. National standards are expected soon, which will provide consumers with some basic information on filtration efficiency of cloth masks. On February 2, 2021 the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) published International Assessments for many foreign made masks, including KN95s. Thats excellent for a cloth mask. It points out that, if a mask's pressure drop is low enough, there may be no need to try to reengineer the mask and make it even lower. 123. As noted in https://tinyurl.com/FAQ-aerosols: Like other recommendations, these social distance rules will reduce risk, but not eliminate it. It was one of 10 Phase 1 winners in the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority Mask Innovation Challenge:Building Tomorrows Mask. It costs $50 with five filters. Until standards are published, you should buy only masks that have been tested for the fabrics filtration efficiency. . "I know I said I was done last March," Aaron Collins said on his YouTube channel, where he'd been posting his reviews of KF94, KN95 and 95 masks for the past 18 months. Pressure drop. And remember, the mask does need to fit very snugly the whole idea is not to let air come in and out around the edge. You can sometimes find N95 and KN95 masks for sale directly on the website of a mask maker, like Demetech and Armbrust USA. Cloth masks dont provide good filtration, but medical grade surgical masks have excellent filtration. You can verify the approval number on the. Thats because it might be so hard to breathe through the materials that more unfiltered air instead comes from leaks in the mask. If you are using a disposable respirator mask for personal, not medical use, it is safe to reuse it. Updating spreadsheets and other shared documents when necessary. The CDC says :The Delta variant is highly contagious, nearly twice as contagious as previous variants.. It only comes in one size, so it may not work well for your face. The design of your elastomeric may or may not allow for covering the valve with a surgical or cloth mask or it may make it too hard to breathe.