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The rise in coronavirus cases across the country has led to an increase in companies also making face masks, as officials continue to promote wearing face masks as an effective way to prevent the spread of Covid-19. While there are a number of different options, from light weight masks for running to quieter picks, a new report says that the most effective face masks are a protective N95 mask.
Also sometimes called N95 respirators, these masks are not to be confused with KN95 masks, which have a similar name but are adhered to completely different standards. Here’s what you need to know.
N95 masks vs. KN95 masks: similarities and differences
Both N95 and KN95 masks are made of multiple layers of synthetic material (typically a polypropylene plastic polymer) and are designed to be worn over the mouth and nose. Straps behind your ear help keep the mask in place. Both masks must filter and capture 95% of small 0.3 micron particles in the air (hence the “95” in its name).
The main difference lies in how the masks are certified. “In general,” says Sean Kelly, founder of New Jersey-based PPE of America, “N95 is the American standard and the KN95 is the China standard.” Therefore, only N95 masks are approved for use in healthcare in the United States, even though KN95 masks have many of the same protective properties.
N95 masks must undergo a rigorous inspection and certification process by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which is part of the CDC. Companies that make KN95 masks can in the meantime seek FDA approval, through an emergency authorization for a foreign certification that meets the 95% filtration requirement. The FDA says that the manufacturer of KN95 masks must also provide documentation that the masks and materials are authentic.
According to Kelly, whose company was under the carpet by Connecticut lawmakers to provide personal protective equipment to workers in the state, certification of KN95 masks includes a requirement for “fit testing,” which tests the air inside and outside the mask , as well as how the mask fits around your face. The N95 masks do not have these requirements to meet their standard. However, he says, “N95 mask requirements are somewhat stricter with respect to the pressure drop in the mask during breathing, which makes the N95 breathable than most KN95 masks. The N95 masks have similar exhalation requirements. These requirements,” says Kelly, “make the N95 mask a little more advanced with the overall breathability for users.”
Please note, the above certifications only refer to the country in which the standards and regulations were made, not where the masks are made. Most N95 masks are still made in China. Similarly, the CDC has authorized the use of KN95 masks as a suitable alternative to N95 masks for its response to Covid-19.
The FDA has released a list of approved KN95 masks here. You can view the CDC list of approved N95 masks here.
What does an N95 mask protect against?
According to a report cited by National Center for Biotechnology Information, part of the United Nations Library of Medicine and National Institutions of Health, N95 respirators have two major advantages over simple cloth covers like surgical masks. First off, the report found that N95 masks are more than 95% efficient at filtering 0.3-μm particles – particles that are even smaller than the drops made during calls, coughs, or sneezes – making them an effective way to filter germs and bacteria. The study also found that N95 masks often fit better over the face and around the neck, ensuring that drips and particles do not leak around the mask. “Even if N95 filtration is not necessary,” the report states, “N95-fit offers advantages over a loose-fit surgical mask through leakage to eliminate the mask.”
The main reason for the popularity of the N95 mask is effectiveness, says Kelly. “We know they work and have been used for decades in both healthcare and industrial environments,” he says, citing their use for years in everything from hospitals to labs to construction sites. “When a firefighter risks their lives to go into a burning building, they go into that building with all the rescue supplies,” Kelly continues. ‘They do this not only to protect their own lives so that they can save others, but also to go home to their family and do what they are dedicated to doing. Frontline health care workers and those who have close contact with others are no different than firefighters when it comes to taking all necessary measures to protect themselves from contracting Covid-19. The first and foremost safety precaution a health care professional should take is wearing a NIOSH-approved N95 face mask. ”
Note: The FDA states that N95 masks are not designed for use by children or people with significant facial hair. One of the main advantages of an N95 mask is the ability to secure a tight seal around the face; the FDA says that a face of a child like a face with a beard may not offer the mask the same protection.
Another thing to remember: “They are not magic bullets,” warns Mia Sultan, CEO of the independent company for preventive care, N95 Mask Co. “While [N95 masks] offer increased protection, they are not a substitute for social distance, hand hygiene and limited person-to-person interactions, whenever possible. “
Are N95 masks reusable?
N95 masks are not intended to be reused. The same goes for KN95 masks. “To my shock and annoyance, some people tell me that they wear the same mask for days or even a week without changing it,” Kelly says. “That’s not only stupid, but extremely dangerous, especially if their mask has not been contaminated by one of the newer decontamination machines.”
Related: This UV sanitizer kills 99.99% of germs on your devices
Unlike cloth surface coating, which can be machine washed and worn dozens of times, the best N95 masks are only effective if they are worn once or twice. You must remove the masks immediately; they are not intended to be washed and reused.
Per FDA guidelines, dispose of your N95 respirator by placing it in a plastic bag and placing it in the trash immediately. Wash your hands after handling the used respirator.
Fake N95 Masks Vs. real N95 masks
There are some precautionary steps you can take to determine if the masks you are buying are fake. Kelly suggests six things to look out for, what a “fake” or non-certified N95 mask might suggest:
- The stamp NIOSH approval is missing or misspelled on the face of the mask
- The mask has ear loops instead of headbands (headbands are used for a tighter fit)
- The TC approval number is not mentioned on the face of the mask or headband
- The company requires approval for use by children
- There is a presence of decorative additions
- The number of the producing lot is not visible on the face of the mask
The CDC website has more tips on how to locate N95 fake respirators here.
Where to buy N95 masks online
A number of companies have made both N95 masks and KN95 masks available online. The apt-named N95 Mask Co. has both types of masks available for the public to purchase. The company says its Respokare NIOSH N95 Respirator Masks use “advanced antiviral technology” to block up to 95% of small particles, while helping to “inactivate up to 99.9% of the particles in minutes,” neutralizing germs and viruses on the surface exposure in your airstream and lungs. The masks are comfortable to wear and can be customized to fit snugly against your face, per FDA recommendations.
N95 Mask Co.
NIOSH N95 Respirator Masks, $ 89.99 (10-Pack) by N95 Mask Co.
Where to buy KN95 masks online
A handful of companies have also pivoted their offer to include KN95 masks. Among them: the market for personal care and accessories, Public goods. The site says its KN95 respirator masks are made of five layers of filters, and use a mechanical filter to block up to 95% of harmful particles in the air away from your nose and mouth. A nose clip helps in forming a tight seal around your face.
Public goods
KN95 masks, $ 44 (10-pack), available at public goods
Can the public buy N95 masks?
Companies like N95 Mask Co. make N95 masks available to the public, but the continuing question remains: with stories of hospitals and frontline workers needing masks, will they sell them at the public low threshold for those who need it most?
Sultan says that earlier logistical problems that closed the production times for mask makers have now been eliminated, and health care workers have been able to receive the masks they need. “Because supply chains are normalized and institutions no longer have to deal with the shortfall seen in the pandemic, we believe it makes sense to expand the percentage of the general population who are able to support themselves on a to protect higher levels in an effort to further spread Covid-19, ”she says, adding that the company has donated thousands of out-of-pocket masks to hospitals across the country.
Kelly, of PPE America, agrees that it is a “top priority” for the federal government to “replenish warehouses for military, FEMA, state and local governments that can then distribute these supplies to local health care systems.” However, he says there has been a rise in companies producing N95 masks in large quantities, effectively ensuring that those who need – and want – the masks can receive them. “There’s no doubt that healthcare professionals should be the number one priority for N95 mask supplies,” says Kelly. “[But] things are improving and I do not believe that this drastic action is needed because there are or will be many N95 products available now [available] the coming months. ”
As for those doubting whether sites should sell N95 masks for profit, Kelly suggests it is no different than what health care and ‘large pharmaceutical companies’ have been doing for years. “Are these companies not in business to generate a profit for their shareholders?” he asked. “Since its inception, PPE of America has not been established to be a non-profit company and we have every right to generate profit. If we did not, ”he says,“ we could not be in the business of doing what we do best – helping the people who buy quality PPE products at fair market prices. “
“Every day, we do our part to combat Covid-19 by providing access to PPE products to those who need it most,” says Kelly, citing a recent donation of “tens of thousands” of surgical masks to hospitals and medical organizations. “As we continue to grow and expand our services, we will continue to do our best to be there for those who need our help in these stressful times.”
