aaron collins mask spreadsheet aaron collins mask spreadsheet

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. The following elastomeric masks with two-way filtering provide test results indicating they would pass NIOSH filtration and fit standards. Some of them he has been gifted, but many of them he bought himself. Redefine the new normal. This unique design boasts excellent fit and breathability. Moreover, the toolbar appears at the Internet Explorer by selecting "Visolve" in "Toolbars" in the view menu. COMFORTABLE FIT: This kids face mask has an adjustable nose piece and soft earloops to provide a snug fit and superior comfort. Here are two tips to spot fakes: Heres an almost foolproof way to see if your #KN95 is fake. This graphic shows the difference between ASTM Levels 1, 2 and 3. If you work as a first responder or in the medical profession, elastomerics are a great option. That means unfiltered air can enter from around the top, bottom, and sides of your mask. In the United States we have NIOSH to check if masks meet the standard or not. To see it in action, Aaron Collins tested it here. For example, I dislike rigid cup-shaped N95s, though Miller says many men prefer that style "for reasons I don't understand." Your mileage may vary. 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 "But, then, I never thought I'd be doing this in the first place." From the video you can get a better idea of how it fits to your face and how easy it is to talk. 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. "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. The restcloth masks, surgical masks, Korean KF94 maskswere a big unknown. Design for additive manufacturing is the process by which parts and products are specifically designed to be made using AM technologies. 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. (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. The FDA only reviews the manufacturers data. For protecting yourself in daily life, either will work equally well. 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. Korean KF94 masks are similar in performance to the USA certified N95. NIOSH-approved N95 respirators are recommended for preventing transmission of the omicron variant of the coronavirus. Pressure drop. . Which respirator is right for me? KF94 masks are similar but offer 94% filtration. Parents searching for good respirator options for their children can check out the work of Aaron Collins, aka "Mask Nerd," a mechanical engineer with a background in aerosol science. No conclusions can be made regarding equivalency to N95 products that are NIOSH approved.. There is no need to ask permission. The best filter in the world wont protect you if a lot of unfiltered air goes around the mask or mask filter. Many of the options described below have not yet passed NIOSH certification. It's also expensive acquiring and testing masks. The letter N indicates it is not resistant to oils, while P or R indicates partial or strong resistance. Are these FAQs available in other languages? I used Collins' list to find a respirator that worked for my 7-year-old. In many cases, the masks will eventually get certification. Generally speaking, he has found nearly all KF94 masks from Korea to be of high quality. See our explanation above for more info. 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. The paper also mentions Pa L/s, which are also known as Pa m3/s. But many people dont know how to wear an N95 properly. 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. pic.twitter.com/yDMHqkxZYp, Amanda Hu (@amandalhu) December 20, 2021. The company provided us with NIOSH approval numbers TC-84A8448 and TC-84A9228 for the various configurations, including the valve plug. 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. 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. Pack or store respirators between uses so that they do not become damaged or deformed. New Medical Adhesive Stops Uncontrolled Bleeding, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Collins tested masks while streaming from his bathroom/laboratory. It will leak unfiltered air around your mask. How to Find a Quality Mask (and Avoid Counterfeits), https://www.nytimes.com/article/covid-masks.html. The. Eighteen of them flunked, about 42%. If you do buy a KN95, be sure it has filtration results of over 95% from this report or updates to it. The dilution will be greater with more time and space. Remember, both are equally important. Not only will you better protect yourself, but you will also help better protect your community, your country, and the world. This suggests that (in general) it is easier for end-users to form a face seal with an elastomeric than a disposable. Green numbers are best. The initial cost for elastomerics aimed at the medical market typically ranges between $40 and $80. Six of them failed to filter at even half the standard. Aaron Collins (u/coll0412) tests and reviews various KN95 / KF94 masks, so that you can know which ones are best. For 4 - 12 years old. TheFlo Pro is worth considering, especially if you are looking for a very breathable mask. On Feb. 13, 2021, the CDC announced new guidance titled Improve the Fit and Filtration of Your Mask to Reduce the Spread of COVID-19., The same day, the CDC released Improve How Your Mask Protects You.. Probably. We know of no N95 certified respirators that only use a set of earloops. CDC: Ditch your cloth mask and get a NIOSH-approved N95 for the best protection against Omicron. Thats only a hope. The C.D.C. So there are likely to be some errors in the translation. 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. Thats similar to an N95, but with higher filtration efficiency and better fit. Some minimum KN95s filtration results were under 26%! Unfortunately, this mask is not currently available for sale. Powecoms website provides information on how you can verify you have one of their genuine masks. Heres. Its best to rely on the list of approved respirators. This video below is a great illustration of the importance of fit. The most protective mask (on paper) for your child wont do much good if your child wont keep it on or cant get a good fit. Be Healthy. We only ask that you give the link. The key advantage to the KF94 is that it comes in small sizes for kids. The only difference between the two levels is the Level 3 resists blood and other fluids that medical professionals have to worry about. The specifications for Chinese KN95 masks are similar to those for the USA certified N95. If you find you can breathe easily, then chances are this option is fine. Dr Alex Huffman's airborne aerosols spreadsheet; The Professors' FAQs - Protect yourself from Aerosol Transmission; Contact; . We recommend you watch their video to fit it properly. In a CDC experiment using headforms and a simulated cough by an unmasked person, and the receiver was fitted with the double mask, the receivers cumulative exposure was reduced by 83.0% compared to not wearing a mask. The Envo Mask has NIOSH N95 certification and provided us with a NIOSH label via email indicating N95 approval with use of the mask valve plug now shipped with the mask. 2.0 Official CDC Mask Guidance 2.1 Should I wear a mask indoors even if I can distance? It isnt possible to get a tight seal against any skin with facial hair. It primarily illustrates how exhaled air can leak from masks. That guidance in part states the following: Facial hair that lies along the sealing area of the respirator, such as beards, sideburns, moustaches, or even more than one day or 24 hours of growth of stubble, should not be permitted on employees who are required to wear respirators that rely on tight facepiece fit. The Optel P.Air Clear N95 is the only NIOSH-certified clear mask that we are aware of. No conclusions can be made regarding equivalency to N95 products that are NIOSH approved. 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. (Health workers shouldn't reuse them.) 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. 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. For example, I dislike rigid. 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. This might make it difficult to breathe and may not produce high FFE. You may now be able to breathe effortlessly, forever. Legitimate N95s and KN95s are required to have specific text stamped on the front of the mask. We interviewed mask manufacturers, importers, public health officials and independent researchers for advice on choosing a quality mask. 2 Rating : Author : Kieron . Mr. Collins, the Mask Nerd, has created a number of lists and resources for mask buyers. But if you want a mask that offers improved protection, you should avoid wearing either a cloth mask or surgical mask alone. But, if I understood the conclusion correctly: Once you find a mask with pressure less than 88.2 pascals (0.35 inches of water), you may have found a mask with optimal pressure drop. As for N95s, here's the CDC's guide for spotting fakes. 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. Thats because it might be so hard to breathe through the materials that more unfiltered air instead comes from leaks in the mask. The fit factor test results (tests were by the company, not an outside lab) were also very high. So to get a better mask, its just as important, if not more important, to get a tight fit. This same advice should be followed for other medical grade masks, such as N99, N100, KF94, FFP2, FFP3 and KN95. Some Covid masks are better than others. Aaron Collins goes by the "Mask Nerd" now that his unofficial job is reviewing face masks in his bathroom. 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. Match your Posh KF94 Mask to outfit for Kid *Online only Special* Guess what? ), No, unless you are outdoors at a sufficient distance. The combination almost certainly produces better results than either type of mask can produce on its own. A genuine mask will list the NIOSH approval number, which starts with a TC. There will also be a filter class code of N, P, or R) and a number 95, 99, or 100, depending on the level of filtration. There is no safe distance indoors. You can place a surgical mask over the exhalation valve to provide some source control from your mask as illustrated below. Here's my attempt to answer your questions and break down mask buying and safe usage for you. Collins, the Mask Nerd, has created a number of lists and resources for mask buyers. Different respirators also attach to your head differently. As Collins notes, it's a trade-off: "Are you willing to give up a little bit of protection so that you can quickly take it on and take it off? The most protective disposable masks for kids appear to be the KF94 masks from Korea. You might get a better fit from a different size or even different type of mask. He's been testing the filtration efficiencies of hundreds of masks and respirators on the market. Whether or not the mask collapses when you breathe in. 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. Although you may find one in a fun color, masks that are printed with fancy designs or dont have text stamped on them are probably fake. Higher tech materials, which are usually made out of a meltblown polypropylene layer, can do a much better job of filtering the smaller particles. Use this F.D.A. 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. For child-size respirators, you have to look at KN95s and KF94s. This is documented in studies (such as here and here) and is most clearly explained here in a Fix The Mask blog post. The Canopy mask listed below is the ONLY clear reusable high-performance mask we are aware of at this time available in the USA. As noted in https://tinyurl.com/FAQ-aerosols: Like other recommendations, these social distance rules will reduce risk, but not eliminate it. Collins also recommends Armbrust, a company that sells medical-grade masks made in the U.S. by itself and various manufacturers. If it does not fit well or it becomes hard to breathe, you should discard it. page to determine if the respirator has been approved by NIOSH. 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.. The 3M VFlex 9105 has pleats that flex with mouth movement while talking, and it is economical. Packs of 25 filters cost $25, with the filters are rated for 8 hours of continuous use under normal air quality conditions., The FDA advises that patients may be injured if they wear face masks (such as surgical or non-surgical masks and respirators) with metal parts and coatings during a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exam. The FDA only reviews the manufacturers data. placing a disposable mask underneath a cloth mask as one way to improve how your mask protects you. This article by The Wirecutter gives solid advice on reuse. Sitemap Lloyd Armbrust, the CEO of mask manufacturer Armbrust American bought every mask he could find on Amazon. If your mask has an adjustable strap, use it to obtain a tight fit. In most situations, you dont need to throw out your disposable mask after each use. If you buy at Amazon or eBay, you are probably even less likely to have confidence in the quality you are getting. If it does that, the improvements from the higher filtration may well be offset by an increase in unfiltered air. Well call better masks HiFi masks, meaning they provide higher filtration combined with good fit. ), Recent coronavirus mutations appear to be much more transmissible. Aaron Collins has made a series of useful videos testing KF94 and other masks. There was a shortage of N-95 masks for health care workers at the . testing KF94 and other masks. 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. Some people think filtration effectiveness is based on how small the holes are in the material, but thats not how cloth or high tech materials work. He's also known as the Mask Nerd because he has been testing hundreds of masks over the last year and a half. Keep in mind that the research paper only tested one person, so your face, and fit and FFE, may differ substantially. Project N95 is one option it vets mask distributors. Older children and teens may be able to wear petite, small or medium-size N95s. The mask brace plus surgical mask, explained above, is also a cost-effective option for many. A summary table of the numeric data can generally be found in the thumbnails of his videos. For the highest assurance of top quality, you should look for a mask made to the ASTM 2100 Level 2 or Level 3 standard. If your mask comes from a Korean importer, the information on the package will be in Korean, but many companies have begun to create English-language packaging. To minimize potential cross-contamination, store respirators so that they do not touch each other and the person using the respirator is clearly identified. Communication Preferences. The CDC recommends the use of a mask fitter to greatly improve the protection capabilities of a surgical mask. For example, Miller says the front of KN95s are supposed to be stamped with both the company name and the respirator standard number. Hence, the farther away you can be from other people indoors, the better. Many uncertified and fake foreign masks put 95 in the name. The CDC recommends the use of a mask fitter to greatly improve the protection capabilities of a surgical mask. See our explanation above for more info. Aaron Collins has tested three Powecoms and all provided claimed filtration or better. Collins' spreadsheet identifies five basic types: bifold, boat, cup, cone and duckbill. So far, he's made approximately three review videos. We think, but cant prove, that these options will provide better protection than any of the options listed above. The Envo Mask is profiled above here. 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. Its best to rely on the list of approved respirators. The paper is entitled: "Pressure drop of filtering facepiece respirators: How low should we go?" Any mask will be better than no mask. If the respirator is dirty or getting harder to breathe through, or if the straps have gotten stretched out, it's time to toss it out. 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. During the peak of the pandemic, he built an aerosol lab in his bathroom to test which masks are most effective . confidant to Michael Collins and Tom Clarke, about his role in the War of Independence and later the Civil War. We do not endorse any product listed in this guide this is for your information only. 11. However, there is one exception the Savewo Smile, which appears to be made out of high filtration materials to the Korean KF94 mask standard. The Powecom masks did not fail in the CDC testing of foreign masks. You can verify the approval number on the. As a result many KN95s dont meet the standards specifications. Those who have tried it say it conveys sound well. This information on mask options is difficult to find in one place.. (Emphasis added.). . Mask size, in millimeters. 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. Dont buy the surgical mask only schtick. The CDC. Smart Air tested the filtration efficiencies of 31 masks from 21 manufacturers. Join. He's. With over 5,000 Products in stock, we strive to keep the majority of our products on hand and ready to ship. You likely have seen this when looking at visible aerosols floating in a sunbeam, or when extinguishing a candle indoors. It may take some time and trial and error to find a good match for you. Aaron Collins tests masks on his YouTube page and compiles a spreadsheet of test results here. regularly updates its page on better masks and has many useful links and videos. The CDC has a web page on decontamination & reuse of N95 respirators worth consulting if you plan to reuse your N95 or another disposable respirator. If you want top protection, you should only buy versions with a headband design, not earloops. You can check out his Twitter feed, his YouTube channel and a spreadsheet he has created of nearly 450. In China, there is no regulator to check if the masks meet the claimed standard. Even then, that is NO guarantee that the one you buy will perform the same. If you want more confidence your surgical mask is top quality, then you should look for surgical masks from a manufacturer that is registered with the FDA for selling a Class 2 medical device, which is the category that includes surgical masks. Dont send tweets, emails or DMs as we cant keep track of questions or suggestions that way. The mask provides two way filtration. A leaky mask wont provide the protection you need. Label the bags "Monday mask," "Tuesday mask," etc. N95 fold style masks and KN95 masks. CDC recommends the use of a mask fitter in its official Feb. 13, 2021 guidance titled, ] 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)., The CDC confirms that mask fitters work. Yes, though Miller advises following the "brown bag decontamination method." Aaron Collins goes by the "Mask Nerd" now that his unofficial job is reviewing face masks in his bathroom. The company provided a video showing it passing a hospital-grade fit test on an adult. An article by the Business Insider summarizes the evidence for this combination. It may take some time and trial and error to find a good match for you. Some people dislike mask collapse; others don't mind it. If your KN95 is missing those things, she says that this suggests it's not authentic. The company claims the filtration data is valid for at least 50 washes. However these standards will not evaluate fit, which as explained above, is vitally important to getting full protection from your filtering materials. We made a, to show you an easy way to search for a particular disposable respirator (e.g., N95, N99, etc.). Keep in mind that, an FDA listing does not indicate FDA testing or approval of the product, . 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. And also at some point early in each video itself. No, the mask should cover your nose to block aerosols coming out of it and block any that you might breathe in from the air around you. (This answer is from https://tinyurl.com/FAQ-aerosols here. He tweeted that it fits definitely better than KN94 (sic) or other options we tried., The Flo Mask is designed especially for kids. He joins "CBS. Its not clear to us how well this would work for teaching if you need to speak loudly. N95s aren't regulated for children, so if a mask says it's an N95 for kids, don't trust it. The masks sell for $30 for a package of 10 at.