aaron collins mask spreadsheet

Aaron Collins tests masks on his YouTube page and compiles a spreadsheet of test results here. Eighteen of them flunked, about 42%. 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. Keep in mind the CDC tests are for the sample tested and may or may not be representative of a larger lot,including the one you may buy. 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. If the number is too high, the mask can be harder to breathe through. The other study cited above also found substantial improvements in fit from a yoga band. Thats because, if worn correctly, an N95 mask provides a much tighter fit. 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. Medical professionals must pass a fit test with an N95 respirator in order to ensure they are wearing it properly. "Every [KF94] I've tested so far has been extremely high performing," Collins says. One mask they tested, the Zubrex, did just as well as the masks built to pass one of the ASTM 2100 standards. The N95 respirator mask is regulated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Discard any respirator that is obviously damaged or becomes hard to breathe through. It is almost impossible to say. 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. The best mask is the one that fits snugly against your face and is comfortable. He joins "CBS. There are some clues to detect fakes. Mr. Collins may be best known for his list of childrens masks. The manufacturer claims this models design means more air flows in and out of the mask to allow for easier breathing. The company also claims the FlexFit design moves with your mouth for comfort all day long. Standard N95s often have difficulty maintaining a seal when the wearer speaks. 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. Thats a huge mistake. "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. 1.5 Can I use the information here in other publications etc.? The company says it is in the process of seeking NIOSH approval. An article by the Business Insider summarizes the evidence for this combination. Many masks come with adjustable straps. If its too hard to breathe through your mask, more unfiltered air will rush in through the leaks in your mask. If you must use Amazon, try to shop directly in the on-site stores of mask makers like 3M or Kimberly-Clark. Be sure to read the information in section 7.1 on getting a good fit. Most PAPRs are industrial looking and impractical for everyday use. This year's back-to-school supply list has an important line item: masks. This article by The Wirecutter gives solid advice on reuse. The best filter in the world wont protect you if a lot of unfiltered air goes around the mask or mask filter. 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. gives general instructions on wearing a half mask respirator and is worth watching. This model appears to have some folds in the filtering material, which, if true, would provide more filtering area. Different respirators also attach to your head differently. Also, if you don't have an N95 or a KN95, the CDC recommends . 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. Immediate Availability. 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. 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%. He says shopping for masks on Amazon can be tricky, because vendors change quickly. Similarly, KN95 masks are the Chinese equivalent to N95 masks. 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. With over 5,000 Products in stock, we strive to keep the majority of our products on hand and ready to ship. 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. This may be especially true for N95 masks, which come in different shapes, with cone/cup, v-fold, duckbill being the most common. Their results are listed here. You can find his reviews on his YouTube channel. In the United States we have NIOSH to check if masks meet the standard or not. Effective filtration efficiency accounts for the quality of the filter and the fit of the mask. The physics are well understood. The same study also reported that After a month of use, no one wearing an elastomeric mask chose to return to an N95 mask.. Sales Policy While surgical masks provide very high filtration materials, they dont fit well. The N95 mask is considered the gold standard in personal protection. Aaron Collins ( u/coll0412) tests and reviews various KN95 / KF94 masks, so that you can know which ones are best. But I came out of retirement to do the kids video. 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. It only appears available from foreign suppliers, such as here. Some minimum KN95s filtration results were under 26%! If you know the NIOSH approval number, go to this, When NIOSH becomes aware of counterfeit respirators or those misrepresenting NIOSH approval on the market, we will post them. We recommend you review the CDC page with the agencys official mask guidance. (If your mask has a GB number that ends in 2006, which is a previous standard, just check the expiration date.). 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. He has a set of testing apparatus which helps him to do the testing. Some companies offer fit kits that contain various N95 styles, so you can try them all to find the best fit. Video review of mask fitters by MaskNerd Aaron Collins. 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. 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, Cloth masks can give decent protection, but the protection you can get varies widely. 2.0 Official CDC Mask Guidance 2.1 Should I wear a mask indoors even if I can distance? ASME Membership (1 year) has been added to your cart. As explained in https://tinyurl.com/FAQ-aerosols, masks work to reduce the aerosol spread of COVID-19. A leaky mask wont provide the protection you need. 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). The Envo Mask is one of the best, if not the best, elastomeric masks on the market for being heard while talking. Keep in mind what NPPTL said in releasing the report: . However, we have not purchased one and we have never seen one in use. Many brands are made in just one size, and that size or shape may not work all that well for you or your face. One study found that 60 percent of the supply of KN95s in the United States are counterfeit. Collins, an aerosol expert, compiled a list of the best child-sized masks to protect against COVID-19. None of these designs are NIOSH approved and appear unlikely to seek NIOSH approval. The Airgami, which is profiled above here, has several features that may make it especially suitable for wait staff. Collins' spreadsheet identifies five basic types: bifold, boat, cup, cone and duckbill. It is a key technology in the development of personalized medicine. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. We take no responsibility and assume no liability for any Content made available over this website. 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. On February 2, 2021 the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL). It is not NIOSH approved, though the company says it is working toward approval. Almost all N95 masks use head straps two elastic bands that wrap behind the head. Indoor air is a constantly changing, turbulent environment. If you want top protection, you should only buy versions with a headband design, not earloops. Collins' spreadsheet identifies five basic types: bifold, boat, cup, cone and duckbill. Masks and Face Coverings 2) Types of Respirators 3) How Respirators Work 4) Who Can Use Respirators? These masks are now in plentiful supply and N95s provide much better protection than cloth masks. INCLUDED: 50 children's masks. For child-size respirators, you have to look at KN95s and KF94s. Worse is that many of the ones that flunked missed the standard by a huge margin. However, there is one exception the Savewo Smile, which appears to be made out of high filtration materials to the Korean KF94 mask standard. Here is a. by Collins, which summarizes his results. 2/ Take first one out and place it directly in from of mask. 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. , if your mask has a filter pocket but no custom shaped filter. NIOSH has a not very user friendly website where you can check if the mask is on its certified list. Aaron Collins' Kids's Masks Spreadsheet. 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. on the box itself and/or within the users instructions). 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. However, some fake masks made in China may be labeled KF94, so shoppers still need to do their homework. It only comes in one size, so it may not work well for your face. Here are two tips to spot fakes: Heres an almost foolproof way to see if your #KN95 is fake. Note, some of the links below go to another excellent document, FAQs on Protecting Yourself from COVID-19 Aerosol Transmission (at https://tinyurl.com/FAQ-aerosols), which we recommend you review. Below are two of the many colors available. If it does not fit well or it becomes hard to breathe, you should discard it. www.youtube.com/channel/UC3fF_rzkmZD0ufN685YE7lg Posts Tagged We made a, to show you an easy way to search for a particular disposable respirator (e.g., N95, N99, etc.). 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. You can check out his Twitter feed, his YouTube channel and a spreadsheet he has created of nearly 450. It's also expensive acquiring and testing masks. regularly updates its page on better masks and has many useful links and videos. The company provided a video showing it passing a hospital-grade fit test on an adult. Aaron Collins goes by the "Mask Nerd" now that his unofficial job is reviewing face masks in his bathroom. See the figure below, Effective filtration efficiency accounts for the quality of the filter. 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. . NIOSH-approved FFRs will always have one the following designations: N95, N99, N100, R95, R99, R100, P95, P99, P100. The report also found 128 of the lots tested had at least one mask with less than 80% filtration. If it does that, the improvements from the higher filtration may well be offset by an increase in unfiltered air. Whether or not the mask collapses when you breathe in. Bioengineers and researchers are using it to grow cells and tissue to study tissue function, development. Collins likes trifold or boat-shaped N95s like the 3M Aura 9205+, which has foam over the nose clip for added comfort. The idea is to let it rest for five days so any viral particles trapped on it can die off. Some of them he has been gifted, but many of them he bought himself. Thats because some cloth masks provide a good fit while a surgical mask provides high filtration. Here is a one minute video of the inventor wearing it. Don't know where to start? Collins has tested a bunch of brands you can find his results for kids' masks here, which also suggest which masks might fit different age ranges best. Additionally, an abbreviated approval is on the FFR itself. TheFlo Pro is worth considering, especially if you are looking for a very breathable mask. 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. Editor's Note: Part 1 of a two-part commentary explains the differences in cloth face coverings and surgical masks, the science of respiratory protection, and the hierarchy of disease controls.Part 2, to be published tomorrow, will outline what makes a good mask study and why so many fail.. Dr Brosseau is a national expert on respiratory protection and infectious diseases and a research . Avoid touching the inside of the respirator. Some of them he has been gifted, but many of them he bought himself. It may take some time and trial and error to find a good match for you. He's been testing the filtration efficiencies of hundreds of masks and respirators on the market. 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. If you use a cloth mask alone, the CDC recommends two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric. However, we dont recommend double masking with two cloth masks with two or more layers of fabric. , 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%. summarizes the evidence for this combination. Again, for persons speaking relatively loudly over an extended period of time, this design feature should be a strong plus. One mask discussed in the post provided a similar (low quality) seal on two sisters but another mask provided 94% total filtration for one sister and just 73% for the other. John Brooks, MD, chief medical officer of the CDCs COVID-19 Response recently said, that a combination of a medical grade surgical mask and fitter, is getting into that range of filtration efficiency afforded by N95 respirators. You can view the portion of his Jan. 29 briefing on mask fitters here. Jan 29 So excited about this. Academic paper in preparation. (I say "around" because technically the "94" in a KF94 indicates that it has a 94% filtration efficiency.). Another concern is that many of the filters that come with masks are made out of low quality filtration materials. cited below, the reduction in exposure with an ear loop design to the tested particles was just 7.5%. Search for Half Facepiece Reusable Respirator or a similar term and you will find many options. 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. 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. The uberinfectious omicron Covid-19 variant has triggered a race among U.S. parents to locate high-quality kid-sized masks, a run on . You likely have seen this when looking at visible aerosols floating in a sunbeam, or when extinguishing a candle indoors. He's also known as the Mask Nerd because he has been testing hundreds of masks over the last year and a half. Ballistic droplets are not exhaled at all when breathing. 1.1 What is the goal of these FAQs? This constantly changing environment will dilute plumes of aerosols. Follow the manufacturers user instructions, including conducting a user seal check. The other headform had the surgical mask hack of a knotted and tucked medical procedure mask. It found the receiver with the modified surgical mask, the receivers cumulative exposure was reduced by 64.5% compared to not wearing a mask. We only ask that you give the link masks4all.co/faqs-on-better-masks as the source of the information. So consider a mask that comes in different sizes. The toolbar will appear by selecting "Visolve" in "Toolbars" in the taskbar context menu. This is a NIOSH approved N95 respirator with terrrific fit and breathability. So don't expect your order to arrive overnight. 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. ". For example, I dislike rigid. If you work as a first responder or in the medical profession, elastomerics are a great option. Privacy and Security Statement The mask provides two way filtration. As noted. (NOTE: The reviewer received a free sample.) We recommend you use an N95 or similar grade mask. 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. For the highest assurance of top quality, you should look for a mask made to the ASTM 2100 Level 2 or Level 3 standard. The video below gives general instructions on wearing a half mask respirator and is worth watching. Some cloth masks provide good fit, but surgical masks have a loose fit. John Brooks, MD, chief medical officer of the CDCs COVID-19 Response recently said, that a combination of a medical grade surgical mask and fitter, is getting into that range of filtration efficiency afforded by N95 respirators. You can view the portion of his Jan. 29 briefing on mask fitters. Mr. Collins, the Mask Nerd, has created a number of lists and resources for mask buyers. The Fix the Mask brace plus surgical is thought to protect better than many N95s when speaking because it is flexible. 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. Moldex 2600 Series Special Ops N95 Particulate Respirator Mask with HandyStrap - Medium/Large. , keep in mind counterfeits come out faster than the government can list them. By using Visolve Toolbar, you can apply color filter to the entire screen with just button click without the capture operation. created these lists early in the pandemic, when the agency issued an emergency use authorization that allowed health workers to use KN95 masks because of a shortage of N95s. The KF stands for Korean filter, and the 94 means it filters 94 percent of particles. . However these standards will not evaluate fit, which as explained above, is vitally important to getting full protection from your filtering materials. If you want to know where Aaron bought each mask from: Look in the video description. You should seek independent professional advice from a person who is licensed and/or qualified in the applicable area. Open. Additionally, an abbreviated approval is on the FFR itself. Full disclosure: I speak from experience. Furthermore, limited assessment of ear loop designs, indicate difficulty achieving a proper fit. Lack of visible condensation does not mean zero leakage, but does give a good indication of relative fit. NIOSH-approved N95 respirators are recommended for preventing transmission of the omicron variant of the coronavirus. The downside to this reusable mask is that even though it is a cloth mask on the outside and inside, you cant throw it in the laundry machines as that would reduce the efficiency of the special inner filter has an electrostatic charge which helps catch microscopic particles., . Collins' spreadsheet identifies five basic types: bifold, boat, cup, cone and duckbill. The mask market is particularly tricky for parents trying to find masks for children. 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. This study did not specify the quality of the procedure mask used. A lot of people end up doing a lot of research.. Book Information : Title : Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. Generally speaking, he has found nearly all KF94 masks from Korea to be of high quality. Our advice is that if you buy KF94 masks, look for ones made in Korea. Cloth masks can give decent protection, but the protection you can get varies widely. Dont send tweets, emails or DMs as we cant keep track of questions or suggestions that way. One way to protect yourself from this and other potentially harmful mutations is to wear a better mask. CreditCharlie Rubin for The New York Times. Remember, both are equally important. Pressure drop. Here is the official NIOSH guidance regarding facial hair, which is available here. 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. 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. Assuming you do not work in a healthcare setting, here are some of the key CDC recommendations: Hang used respirators in a designated storage area or keep them in a clean, breathable container such as a paper bag between uses. The only difference between the two levels is the Level 3 resists blood and other fluids that medical professionals have to worry about. He's been sharing his tests, done in a lab he threw together in his basement, of various masks with the public on Youtube and via spreadsheets on his Twitter account. Collins, the Mask Nerd, has created a number of lists and resources for mask buyers. This same advice should be followed for other medical grade masks, such as N99, N100, KF94, FFP2, FFP3 and KN95. 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. Using this guideline, a rotation of just five respirators could last you 25 days, Miller notes. Keep in mind that a mask that has been NIOSH approved didnt necessarily submit fit test data. Higher percentages are better. This post by Smart Air summarizes the differences, which are minor. Moldex. Higher tech materials, which are usually made out of a meltblown polypropylene layer, can do a much better job of filtering the smaller particles. HIS INDEPENDENT TESTING HAS BEEN INVALUABLE IN CONFIRMING THAT THE MASKS RECOMMENDED HERE ARE PERFORMING TO THEIR ADVERTISED STANDARDS. Other promising designs will be listed here. One-of-a-kind protective ASTM F2100 Level 3 fashion masks and EN 149 FFP2 respirators, featuring designers from all over the world. The best cloth masks have difficulty achieving more than 50% filtration efficiency for the smaller droplets and aerosols that can contain viruses. Various 3D printer mask fitters (search online). Show this thread 23 Show replies What if you don an N95 only for a quick trip to the store every now and then? Your rights end at my nose, literally. A summary table of the numeric data can generally be found in the thumbnails of his videos. 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. Are these FAQs available in other languages? According to him: For now, choose a kids' mask made by a manufacturer which also makes good-quality adults' masks. The specifications for Chinese KN95 masks are similar to those for the USA certified N95.

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