Some Covid masks are better than others. I know - The Guardian Aaron Collins on Twitter (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. There is no need for a filter that is rated for organic vapors to protect yourself from the virus. The Canopy mask listed below is the ONLY clear reusable high-performance mask we are aware of at this time available in the USA. Collins, an aerosol expert, compiled a list of the best child-sized masks to protect against Covid-19. 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.. The mask appears to provide a good fit and it publishes filtration. The Powecom masks did not fail in the CDC testing of foreign masks. This disposable mask respirator has a soft silicone seal that likely makes it more comfortable than a standard disposable N95. This suggests that (in general) it is easier for end-users to form a face seal with an elastomeric than a disposable. 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. In the United States we have NIOSH to check if masks meet the standard or not. Since no one has a sharp v-shaped nose, you will need to reshape the nose wire to get a better fit. If you can afford its high initial cost, $249, this is probably the easiest breathing better mask option on the market. Discernment of scientific evidence should be part of good governance on 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. After months of public health experts urging Americans to start wearing higher-quality masks, the Biden administration announced they're sending free ones to pharmacies and community health centers in the near future. Aaron Collins (@masknerd) / Twitter We recommend you review the CDC page with the agencys official mask guidance. Check the air sealing of mask. 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. Worse is that many of the ones that flunked missed the standard by a huge margin. Valved versions are available at Lowes and Tractor Supply. And people have questions! the Mask Nerd and his YouTube videos. so you have better idea about how to use it. Be sure to get your KF94s from a Korean manufacturer, not Chinese. A paper published by JAMA Internal Medicine in December 2020 found that what appears to be the Easy Mask High Point or Eden, with a nose bridge and filter, achieved a fitted filtration efficiency (FFE) of over 70%. 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. New Medical Adhesive Stops Uncontrolled Bleeding, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Collins tested masks while streaming from his bathroom/laboratory. We also consider Project N95 a trusted supplier of the Powecom and N95 masks. summarizes the differences, which are minor. We think, but cant prove, that these options will provide better protection than any of the options listed above. He joins "CBS. The masks are heavily regulated in Korea, which lowers the risk of counterfeits. Please see Section 5.3 for information on how to find a good quality surgical mask to pair with your mask fitter/brace. It appears more compact than many other elastomerics on the market and offers both NIOSH approved N95 and P100 filter options. The Canopy is likely the best better mask option on the market for those who teach deaf students, teachers using American Sign Language, or persons who need to convey facial expressions. We dont recommend trusting high ratings left on those websites. The fit factor test results (tests were by the company, not an outside lab) were also very high. However, we dont think it will protect better than a surgical mask under a cloth mask. The mask looks like it would provide many faces with a good fit but as of version 1.0 of this FAQ the company website did not appear to list any data on fit. As noted in https://tinyurl.com/FAQ-aerosols: Like other recommendations, these social distance rules will reduce risk, but not eliminate it. Ballistic droplets are not exhaled at all when breathing. 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. 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. Use this F.D.A. High Point or Eden, with a nose bridge and filter, achieved a fitted filtration efficiency (FFE) of over 70%. There are no affiliate links, and his channel is not monetized. The mask provides two way filtration. BOTN Black, White, Color, 2D, 3D & Size Mix & Match - KF94 - 100pcs $300.00 $130.00 -40% -25% Some Covid masks are better than others. The advantage of a PAPR is that it is exceptionally easy to breathe compared to other HiFi masks. Probably. Do not share your mask with someone else. Again, for persons speaking relatively loudly over an extended period of time, this design feature should be a strong plus. Which respirator is right for me? Their results are listed here. A mask expert and parent shares what masks he buys for his son to Also, if you think youve found a mask that appears to offer high levels of protection, but is not listed, please let us know. The aerosols rarely are all going the same direction. That said, most people who want to wear a better mask arent necessarily looking for medical-grade protection. Basically, if you need to wear a respirator all day for your job, at the end of the day, put it in a brown paper bag or hang it up in a cool, dry place. MR. COLLINS IS AN AEROSOL SCIENTIST AND PERSONALLY TESTS PARTICLE FILTRATION, WEAR, AND PROVIDES SOLID ADVICE ON CHOOSING AN APPROPRIATE PROTECTIVE MASK. The most protective disposable masks for kids appear to be the KF94 masks from Korea. The masks come in a minimum order of 20 masks for $120. Some companies offer fit kits that contain various N95 styles, so you can try them all to find the best fit. His test-results spreadsheet is here . One way to protect yourself from this and other potentially harmful mutations is to wear a better mask. 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 other study cited above also found substantial improvements in fit from a yoga band. If you want what the manufacturer claims is N95 protection but want something stylish and unique, the Airgami might be just what youre looking for. Alumnus Earns 'Mask Nerd' Fame Minnesota Alumni In his free time, he makes YouTube videos in which he tests and reviews . 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. Masks protect the wearer, study. And likely much better than the protection given to clean-shaven people wearing a surgical mask or standard cloth mask. 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. He's. Without the mask hack, a surgical mask only reduced exposure by 7.5%. 5) How to Use Respirators 6) Comfort Considerations 7) Aesthetic Considerations 8) Other Questions. The package will also have an expiration date and a lot number printed on it. KN95 is a Chinese respirator standard, but these respirators aren't strictly regulated by the Chinese government, according to both Collins and Miller. . Without the mask hack, a surgical mask only reduced exposure by 7.5%. Many of the options described below have not yet passed NIOSH certification. NIOSH-approved respirators have an approval label on or within the packaging of the respirator (i.e. The mask brace plus surgical mask, explained above, is also a cost-effective option for many. The C.D.C. This post by Smart Air summarizes the differences, which are minor. It likely wont hurt and for some masks it may increase the overall filtration efficiency by 10 percentage points or more. Collins' spreadsheet identifies five basic types: bifold, boat, cup, cone and duckbill. Many people who are getting a poor fit fail to adjust their ear or head straps. The price of yearly membership depends on a number of factors, so final price will be calculated during checkout. This took about two minutes. Once you learn the names of a few KF94 manufacturers, you can try to find their websites to learn where they are sold. As for N95s? pic.twitter.com/yDMHqkxZYp, Amanda Hu (@amandalhu) December 20, 2021. See our explanation above for more info. Legitimate N95s and KN95s are required to have specific text stamped on the front of the mask. Best Aaron Collins Masks Reviews & Score Ratings - Cchit.org Fix The Mask independently tested a number of the most commonly available surgical style and surgical masks. Aaron Collins, aka "Mask Nerd," is a mechanical engineer at Seagate Technology with a background in aerosol science. NIOSH has a not very user friendly website where you can check if the mask is on its certified list. They wouldn't fit his face, so the efficiency testing would fail miserably. When worn correctly, they are designed to filter out around 95% or more of airborne particles. This article by The Wirecutter gives solid advice on reuse. Moreover, the toolbar appears at the Internet Explorer by selecting "Visolve" in "Toolbars" in the view menu. [T]en respirators were submitted for evaluation. If a mask has NIOSH certification, then you have the highest assurance of testing and quality. The physics are well understood. 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. 3-ply disposable face mask, you can still carefree breathing. If you wear an N95 with a valve, you should wear a breathable cloth or surgical mask on top to filter air coming through the valve. One option for a KN95 that may give you a good chance of getting a good one is the Powecom KN95s at Bona Fide Masks., That US online retailer publishes a statement saying they buy only directly from the manufacturer and that they are the Premier Authorized Distributor in the U.S. The headband style is likely to provide better fit, and thus better protection. Project N95 is one option it vets mask distributors. The CDC performed an experiment using headforms and a simulated cough by an unmasked person. And youll probably look for excuses not to wear it. We take no responsibility and assume no liability for any Content made available over this website. Aaron Collins - YouTube This is documented in studies (such as here and here) and is most clearly explained here in a Fix The Mask blog post. It likely does not transmit your voice as well as the Airgami, but many people believe it transmits speaking better than any elastomeric mask. See the figure below from Science.. It is a key technology in the development of personalized medicine. 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. And do they have to be uncomfortable? Master Mask Test Spreadsheet (AARON COLLINS/MASK NERD) : r - Reddit Here is a tweet with a letter from the maker of the ReadiMask attesting to its suitability for an MRI. 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. Cloth masks dont provide good filtration, but medical grade surgical masks have excellent filtration. The mask brace plus surgical mask, explained above, is also a cost-effective option for many. NO, Introduction, Better Masks = High Filtration + Good Fit + Breathable, Our Recommended Minimum Better Mask Option a Cloth Mask on Top of a Surgical Mask, Surgical Mask Plus a Mask Fitter or Mask Brace, Risky Foreign-Made Masks (the Chinese KN95), Consumer Grade Powered Air Purifying Respirators, Other Consumer Grade Better Masks Worth Considering, Other Resources To Find New Types of Better Masks, Masks for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exam. In this section, well cover masks that appear to provide relatively high levels of protection compared to the basic masks in the previous section. P100 rated filters for these masks, which filter nearly 100% of small particles, are inexpensive and will last for a long time. Most of these products have an ear loop design. A mask that fits a friend or even a sibling well might not fit your face well. It comes out of the package with a v-shape in the nose wire. Unfortunately, very little in the way of testing has been done on the fit and filtration possible from basic masks, so these numbers are only estimates. Pack or store respirators between uses so that they do not become damaged or deformed.