Can your mask protect against COVID-19?
Finally, the Western Countries are starting to understand wearing a mask could help to prevent COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases. I really don’t know how many scientists beating their heads against the wall when WHO sad otherwise.
But when it comes to Mask, what kind of mask can really help you?
Let’s start with the Chinese Standard since they are the most available around the world and lots of people worry about they are fake. And I include the Chinese name for it so you can distinguish the differences.
Medical Face Mask ( YY/T0969 医用口罩 )
Basically this is a BFE (3.0 Microns Bacteria Filtration Efficiency ) >95% Mask. It is most likely a 2D flat base with 3 layers. Basically this is considered as a regular face mask that both US and Europe has higher standard requirement then this. Look like the following:
Other test standards go along with this mask will include:
GB/T 15979 for one time use hygienic standard. GB/T 16886 for In-vitro Cytotoxic, Skin Irritation /Sensitization (ISO 10993)
Surgical Mask ( YY/0469 外科口罩 )
This mask standard is a bit mood because it is BFE > 95% and PFE ( Particle Filtration Efficiency ) > 30% only. Which doesn’t match another standard in the US or Europe. But it does include the fluid-resistant test and the flammable test.
Protective Face Mask (GB2626–2006, GB19083–2010 防护口罩)
These two standard could be confusing but their filterability is basically the same. The only difference is the fluid resistance test with GB19083. In the US NIOSH standard it should be called Surgical, and the Europian standard is Type R. Chinese has 3 levels from PFE KN95 > 95%, KN99 > 98% KN100> 99%. So KN95 is basically the same as N95, N99 similar to KN99 and N100 similar to KN100. Europian FFP1 starting with > 80% FFP2 > 94% and FFP3 >99% .
ASTM F2100 Level 1 2 3
China only has Surgical Mask which is only 30% PFE and F2100 Level 1 is 95%, Level 2 is 98% and Level 3 is the same with hight fluid resistance. So you are highly unlikely to find ASTM 2 or 3 in the market unless they are US-specific factory.
EN14683 and EN149
Europian Standard use their sharp to different the two standards so EN14683 is basically the Medical Mask with no PFE filter just like China YY/T0969 . has Type I, II, III and representing 95%, 98, 99% BFE. And EN149 is the cup sharp respirator with PFE over 80%, 94% and 99%.
Surgical and Non-Surgical
The Europian standard surgical fluid-resistant represented by Type R at the end. For example, EN149 FFP2 Type IIR is basically the same as Surgical N95 and GB19083–2010 Level 1.
When to use what kind of Mask?
I’m not really an expert on Mask, but from all the study I have been reading. If we are going outside but not an enclosed environment, a Medical face mask should be enough to stop droplet getting into our system. Even the filter is not PFE > 95% the static of the mask will able to attract virus in the aerosol. If you are going to a room for a longer period of time, a KN95 would be better which is PFE > 95%. If you are medical front line that requires staying in a high viral loan environment for a long period of time, the N95 with a surgical face mask at the front can help extend the usage duration. For ICU it is better Surgical N95 or above and Surgical Face mask at the front or a face shield.
China Fake Mask
There are simple ways to test your mask to make sure it is not fake. Also, I have created a China official PPE supply list into a searchable website. If you want to order mask in China or already did and want to validate they are in this official list. Please send me an email and visit my web https://medical.avengergear.com/supply/info
