aaron collins mask spreadsheet

Generally speaking, he has found nearly all KF94 masks from Korea to be of high quality. Cloth masks dont provide good filtration, but medical grade surgical masks have excellent filtration. Do not use if the face mask is broken or with hole or leakage Wearing instruction (for 9501 earloop mask) 1. 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. Green percentages are best; red percentages are worst. hide caption. KN95 is a Chinese respirator standard, but these respirators aren't strictly regulated by the Chinese government, according to both Collins and Miller. In many cases, the masks will eventually get certification. This study did not specify the quality of the procedure mask used. We take no responsibility and assume no liability for any Content made available over this website. Additionally, an abbreviated approval is on the FFR itself. But others had very high filtration. ASTM rated surgical masks are also made out of high quality filtration materials. The Content is intended to complement, not substitute, the advice of your doctor. A mechanical engineer by day, Collins' master's degree research focused on aerosols. KN95 and N95 masks are required to have specific text stamped on the front. National standards are expected soon, which will provide consumers with some basic information on filtration efficiency of cloth masks. Collins tested several KN95s that registered in the low 80s for filtration efficiencyfar less than the 95 percent efficiency advertised. The mask provides two way filtration. But if air leaks out, it will leak when you breathe in too. Effective filtration efficiency accounts for the quality of the filter and the fit of the mask. Far too many people focus on how well the materials in their mask filter the air. Again, for persons speaking relatively loudly over an extended period of time, this design feature should be a strong plus. The KF stands for Korean filter, and the 94 means it filters 94 percent of particles. Moldex 2600 Series Special Ops N95 Particulate Respirator Mask with HandyStrap - Medium/Large. I'm pretty sure you could run a marathon in that thing and not have a problem," says Collins. Clear Masks Communicating with deaf persons, use by persons using American Sign Language, or persons who need to convey facial expressions, FAQs on Protecting Yourself from COVID-19 Aerosol Transmission. There is no need to ask permission. And youll probably look for excuses not to wear it. The mask also comes in three sizes, one appropriate for kids and two for adults. In addition to high grade protection, we assume that priorities for wait staff include breathability, comfort, ability to talk while maintaining good fit, and style. The mask appears popular with many dentists, who have substantial potential exposure to possibly infected patients. Having ~40% of the population infected by a single pathogen in the span of 8 weeks is remarkable and I cant think of an obvious modern precedent. In short, if you want to get the full benefit of a better mask or the highest possible protection from your better mask, you will need to shave any facial hair where your mask needs to contact your face to get a good seal. Aaron Collins has made a series of useful videos testing KF94 and other masks. Theres no way to say for sure. You can access the. by Fix The Mask that explains the importance of mask fit and why a mask brace works. The best mask is the one that fits snugly against your face and is comfortable. High Point or Eden, with a nose bridge and filter, achieved a fitted filtration efficiency (FFE) of over 70%. This constantly changing environment will dilute plumes of aerosols. . In concept, a cloth mask plus a filter insert will better protect you than just a cloth mask. Carbon dioxide is not a silent killer like carbon monoxide, but high levels can lead to impaired consciousness and other health effects. . Masks and Respirators. Its elastomeric construction and use of head straps, which we recommend, should provide a good fit. You may also see an N99 or N100 rated mask. Unfortunately, current federal regulations provide no pathway for rapidly certifying consumer grade protection or emergency use testing to certify these HiFi masks as meeting N95 level standards. 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. Without the mask hack, a surgical mask only reduced exposure by 7.5%. So breathability is important in a better mask. TheFlo Pro is worth considering, especially if you are looking for a very breathable mask. NIOSH-approved respirators have an approval label on or within the packaging of the respirator (i.e. If you want to have a good possibility of effective filtration assurance in the 80% to 90% range or better, youll need to get one of the better mask options described in Section 6. 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. Heres an example. Where can I buy a legitimate one? Since no one has a sharp v-shaped nose, you will need to reshape the nose wire to get a better fit. A one-size-fits-all mask may well not fit you well. Readimasks stick to your face & have no metal. Here are two tips to spot fakes: Heres an almost foolproof way to see if your #KN95 is fake. Fix The Mask independently tested a number of the most commonly available surgical style and surgical masks. 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. Attendees at the February 2022 Friday Night Mask Party could be excused for feeling a twinge of sadness when the Mask Nerd dropped his bombshell: That night would mark the end of his career as a mask reviewer; at least for now. It isnt possible to get a tight seal against any skin with facial hair. The same paper found that either use of an ear saver type guard or claw hair clip to pull the earloops tighter behind the head produced similar FFE gains. While surgical masks provide very high filtration materials, they dont fit well. However, there are many better masks that either do not have or will not be able to get NIOSH certification that will provide very good protection. So a surgical mask will provide more filter area to filter air coming through the mask into your lungs. Higher tech materials, which are usually made out of a meltblown polypropylene layer, can do a much better job of filtering the smaller particles. . There was a shortage of N-95 masks for health care workers at the . 6.6 Risky Foreign-Made Masks (the Chinese KN95) 6.7 Elastomeric Masks 6.8 Consumer Grade Powered Air Purifying Respirators 6.9 Fancy N95, N99 and N100 Masks 6.10 Unique Designs Not in Any Other Category 6.11 Avoiding Fakes 6.12 Other Consumer Grade Better Masks Worth Considering 6.13 Other Resources To Find New Types of Better Masks We dont recommend trusting high ratings left on those websites. The samples were tested using a modified version of NIOSH Standard Test Procedure Only particulate filter efficiency was assessed. However, the company warns that it works best on a clean, shaven face. Green results are best; red ones are worst. 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. 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. You can find his reviews on his YouTube channel. 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. From the video you can get a better idea of how it fits to your face and how easy it is to talk. Collins, an aerosol expert, compiled a list of the best child-sized masks to. Aaron Collins is helping Americans find high-quality face masks that will protect them and others from COVID-19 without taking supplies away from frontline medical workers. How to identify a NIOSH-approved respirator: NIOSH-approved respirators have an approval label on or within the packaging of the respirator (i.e. There are some clues to detect fakes. NIOSH-approved N95 respirators are recommended for preventing transmission of the omicron variant of the coronavirus. For the highest assurance of top quality, you should look for a mask made to the ASTM 2100 Level 2 or Level 3 standard. Photo from instructions for a 3M mask showing how to use a surgical mask for source control on a half facepiece reusable respirator with an exhalation valve. You can verify the approval number on the. 9. Its a duckbill style, so it does look a bit weird. 2. If for some reason you are not willing or able to remove the facial hair, then you should at least consider wearing the shortest facial hair possible to reduce leakage around your mask. The Fix the Mask brace plus surgical is thought to protect better than many N95s when speaking because it is flexible. summarizes the differences, which are minor. 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. Weve seen plenty of politicians on TV who have no clue how to wear an N95. It primarily illustrates how exhaled air can leak from masks. pic.twitter.com/5cuSfLxoA8, Dr. Richard Corsi (@CorsIAQ) August 3, 2021. There is no need to ask permission. All these respirators are a huge step up in protection from a basic cloth mask, but they're not all created equal. Dilution over distance is the main reason why social distance reduces transmission of COVID-19. . 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. While filter efficiency shows how well the filter media performs, users must ensure a proper fit is achieved. Its best to rely on the list of approved respirators. Aaron Collins tests masks on his YouTube page and compiles a spreadsheet of test results here. No other mask beats the mask for style. If a manufacturer starts making shoddy masks, NIOSH will yank approval. Yale economic study finds that the benefit of each additional cloth mask worn by the public is conservatively worth $3,000-$6,000. A powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) usually uses a battery operated fan to pull in air through a filter and blow filtered air into your mask. list to find KN95 masks made in China, and this list for KN95 masks made in other countries. No conclusions can be made regarding equivalency to N95 products that are NIOSH approved.. Discard gloves after the N95 respirator is donned and any adjustments are made to ensure the respirator is sitting comfortably on your face with a good seal.. Cloth masks dont provide good filtration, but medical grade surgical masks have excellent filtration. . Collins's spreadsheet of brands he's tested is a good place to start. But once you do, they're really comfortable," he says. Remember what we warned you about earlier the fit of your mask is just as important as filtration. 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. "An N95 is more protective because it has a better face seal in general than a KN95 or a KF94," explains Aaron Collins, a mechanical engineer with a background in aerosols science. Keep in mind that the research paper only tested one person, so your face, and fit and FFE, may differ substantially. The Wirecutter, a product review site owned by The New York Times, recommends the 3M 6502QL/49489 Rugged Comfort Quick Latch Half Facepiece Reusable Respirator, which it says is comfortable to wear and widely available in multiple sizes. It also recommends the 3M 3M 2097 P100 filters, which we agree are a good choice for excellent protection. If your mask has an adjustable strap, use it to obtain a tight fit. Follow the employers maximum number of donnings (or up to five if the manufacturer does not provide a recommendation) and recommended inspection procedures. Mr. Collins may be best known for his list of childrens masks. Cloth masks can give decent protection, but the protection you can get varies widely. Castle provided us with laboratory test results that indicate its filters provide high filtration at over 95%. Note, some of the links below go to another excellent document, On Feb. 13, 2021, the CDC announced new guidance titled, , small droplets and aerosols can travel much further than 6 feet as documented in this paper. The company says the mask is designed for little lungs, so we focused heavily on the breathability of our filter. It has fewer layers and the company claims the filter has unparalleled breathability. This reusable mask offers a silicone seal and a filter tested by Nelson Labs that for the samples offered over 99% filtration efficiency and good breathability. . 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. The price of yearly membership depends on a number of factors, so final price will be calculated during checkout. 11. KF94 masks have ear loops. This post by Smart Air summarizes the differences, which are minor. . The aerosols rarely are all going the same direction. Our guide can help. Furthermore, limited assessment of ear loop designs, indicate difficulty achieving a proper fit. Lloyd Armbrust, the CEO of mask manufacturer Armbrust American bought every mask he could find on Amazon. Here is a tweet with a letter from the maker of the ReadiMask attesting to its suitability for an MRI. for many foreign made masks, including KN95s. The fit factor test results (tests were by the company, not an outside lab) were also very high. This unique design boasts excellent fit and breathability. Immediate Availability. In its new guidance, the CDC notes that N95s and other respirators approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are the most protective options. And also at some point early in each video itself. Aaron Collins, known as the Mask Nerd, . (Emphasis added.). Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. A beard will prevent the JustAir mask from properly fitting, which may prevent your exhaled air from being filtered, thus reducing the goal of protecting others., The company says it is working toward a NIOSH-certified version of the JustAir Advanced Face Mask system.. Masks come in different shapes and sizes. One is not necessarily better than the other. Youll find cup style masks, duck bill masks and flat-fold masks. 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. Any degradation to the respirator seal has the potential to decrease respiratory protection to the wearer. Their results are. A surgical mask is larger than any of the filters that will fit inside your cloth mask pocket. worth consulting if you plan to reuse your N95 or another disposable respirator. gives general instructions on wearing a half mask respirator and is worth watching. Where will the concentrated aerosols from a person go? One study found that 60 percent of the supply of KN95s in the United States are counterfeit. It is almost impossible to say. In a New York Times interview with Zeynep Tufekci, she gave the following advice: Zeynep: I will give a modified version of what health care workers were advised during the worst of the shortages. 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. (Health workers shouldn't reuse them.) The dilution will be greater with more time and space. We recommend you review the CDC page with the agencys official mask guidance. However, until more research is available, masks with exhalation valves or vents should NOT be worn to help prevent the person wearing the mask from spreading COVID-19 to others (source control). New Nanomaterial Proves Stronger Than Kevlar, 7 Ways 3D Bioprinting Will Advance Personalized Medicine. We hope this will allow more informed decision making by individuals or organizations. My sense from having heard a lot from people using all the other disinfection methods, like heat, is that they just increase the risk of damaging the mask. Experts recommend this strategy for double masking to increase your overall fitted filtration efficiency (FFE), a way of measuring how well the mask performs for fit and filtration. 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. However, some fake masks made in China may be labeled KF94, so shoppers still need to do their homework. A reasonable price for N95 masks is $2 per mask or less. The cost is $30 complete with an initial set of five filters, which are rated for 32 hours or one week. This number shows how well the mask filters out unwanted particles. I had retired from mask testing, Mr. Collins said, noting that he doesnt receive any compensation for his work. Be Healthy. pic.twitter.com/SJfkMoWjZ1, curiouser and curiouser (@SueSueCurious) January 13, 2022, We strongly recommend you read this excellent document by 3M, which is titled Filtering Facepiece Respirators FAQ: General Public., It covers the following topics: 1) Respirators vs. Other clear masks on the market are likely no better than a cloth mask. The Wirecutter assessment appears to be the best information available to the public at this time and their most recent report included testing for each masks filtration capabilities. Perhaps they got a good lot. Carbon dioxide is not a silent killer like carbon monoxide. MR. COLLINS' FULL TESTING DATA SET CAN BE FOUND HERE. If you do buy a KN95, be sure it has filtration results of over 95% from this report or updates to it. , which will provide consumers with some basic information on filtration efficiency of cloth masks. The fast-spread of the infectious Omicron variant has prompted many people to try to upgrade to a higher-quality mask. If you are looking for mask advice for kids 12 and under, this 20-minute video by Aaron Collins is an excellent introduction. Like I said above: Aaron measures the pressure drop of each mask he tests. Coronavirus FAQ: Why are some folks hacking home COVID tests by swabbing their throat. But an N95 mask will do a better job of protecting you. The masks come in a minimum order of 20 masks for $120. There is no need for a filter that is rated for organic vapors to protect yourself from the virus. However, it is not clear how well it fits. The Korean certification process is well regarded by those in the industry and your chances of getting a quality KF94 appears to be much higher than for the Chinese KN95s. The goal of these FAQs is to provide information to the general public in an efficient manner about options to upgrade your mask. Some people dislike mask collapse; others don't mind it. N95s are strapped to your head with headbands, which give them a snug fit and with masks, a tight fit is key to better protection. 2023 The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The Envo Mask is one of the best, if not the best, elastomeric masks on the market for being heard while talking. We know of only one consumer grade PAPR on the market, the. Aaron Collins, a scientist with a background in aerosol science, has been reviewing a variety of masks, including N95, to find the most effective, comfortable, and durableessentially taking. There are a disturbing number of counterfeit masks on the market that claim NIOSH certification as N95, N99, or other types of respirators. At least one user, who is expert on masks and has bought many masks of all kinds, confirms it transmits sound very well, perhaps the best of any mask with its level of protection. published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, study, published in the Journal of Hospital Infection, paper published by JAMA Internal Medicine, Filtering Facepiece Respirators FAQ: General Public, short guide on how to do a user seal check, decontamination & reuse of N95 respirators, The Omicron variant is by far the most infectious variant to date with. 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. Even if you could find one that might fit, it might not be breathable enough for your child. The other study cited above also found substantial improvements in fit from a yoga band. The CDC. Wirecutter, a product review site owned by The New York Times, has a guide for buying quality masks, one for buying childrens masks and a list of 12 red flags that might signal your mask is a counterfeit. It primarily illustrates how exhaled air can leak from masks. Speaking results in about x10 times more respiratory aerosol emission than just breathing, and singing (at high volume) or yelling can be about x50 times more. The masks sell for $30 for a package of 10 at. MR. COLLINS IS AN AEROSOL SCIENTIST AND PERSONALLY TESTS PARTICLE FILTRATION, WEAR, AND PROVIDES SOLID ADVICE ON CHOOSING AN APPROPRIATE PROTECTIVE MASK. I dont work for (or with) them and they dont pay me.. It only comes in one size, so it may not work well for your face. 2. We also consider Project N95 a trusted supplier of the Powecom and N95 masks. 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. Sitemap Dr Alex Huffman's airborne aerosols spreadsheet; The Professors' FAQs - Protect yourself from Aerosol Transmission; Contact; . It likely wont hurt and for some masks it may increase the overall filtration efficiency by 10 percentage points or more. Youll need to scroll down to find the list and search box. "These duckbill-style masks they look a little goofy, but it's incredibly breathable. It comes in 16 different colors, and one is shown below. At least one user, who is expert on masks and has bought many masks of all kinds, confirms it transmits sound very well, perhaps the best of any mask with its level of protection. Also, if you don't have an N95 or a KN95, the CDC recommends . But if you really want the convenience that Amazon offers, he recommends sticking to the official stores of well-known mask brands, such as 3M or Kimberly-Clark. I don't think it is reasonable to criticize Aaron Collins for not testing every mask that exists, even masks that have unique certifications. Try tightening up the nose band or straps, or try another style of mask. Inhalation and exhalation breathing resistance values for three samples tested came in at less than 4.3 mm H20, If you have found it hard to breathe through other N95s, the Airgami may be worth trying just for that feature alone. 2.0 Official CDC Mask Guidance 2.1 Should I wear a mask indoors even if I can distance? N95s are made to U.S. government standards put out by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and are rigorously tested, so they're a reliable choice. We recommend you print out this. If youre buying a KF94 on Amazon, look closely at the packaging to make sure its made in Korea and includes the required labeling (see below for more details). Terms of Use It's also expensive acquiring and testing masks. ". The thattha is an under-mask beard cover. The leading independent test lab in the USA is Nelson Labs. That's after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday updated its mask guidance for consumers, emphasizing that N95s and similar high-filtration respirators offer the best protection against COVID-19. While the list is now a bit outdated, finding your mask on it adds reassurance that its less likely to be counterfeit with the caveat that theres no longer official U.S. oversight for any of these firms. Match your Posh KF94 Mask to outfit for Kid *Online only Special* Guess what? "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. Mr. Collins created a video primer for parents about finding a high-quality mask for kids that has more than 100,000 views. 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. At the top left of the page, there is a pull down menu where you can select a different language. 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).. This mask was developed in cooperation with the University of the West of Scotland. Do not wash the face mask with water. You should always wear a mask. , 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%. 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. 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.