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Masks/Respirators
#1
If you haven't seen the useful data of the "MaskNerd", Aaron Collins, you should have.

Fairly recently, he did an interview with the 3M VP of Personal Safety Division.  There are some nuggets in there.


What's the difference between masks and respirators?
  Masks are designed to keep droplets from getting into or out of your nose and mouth.
  Respirators are designed to protect your respiration system (lungs).

What does "single-use" mean with regard to masks or respirators?
  It means they are not designed to be cleaned and re-used.  (ie, you can reuse them but don't try to clean them.)

When do you need to replace a respirator?
  • When it becomes difficult to breath through
  • When it becomes visibly dirty
  • When it fails (strap breaks, nose piece breaks)
  • When it becomes loose (no longer seals)

The VP's final plea was, if you are going to wear a N95 respirator, use both straps - one up high on the head, one down on the neck.

The VP points out that the 3M site has where you can buy 3M masks and know they are genuine.  Among the retail outlets for the 9205+ are Home Depot and the 3M store on Amazon.

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The mask I use for long periods is the 3M Aura 9205+ which is mentioned several times.  The VP said it is designed to fit most faces, and it comes in only one size.   Aaron Collins describes it as a boat-style.  It has a flat surface that is parallel to the face with the long dimension that wraps around the face.   It has sides that cover the nose and the chin.

It isn't as easy to put on or take off as the ear-loop KN95 masks.  I prefer them for a quick trip into a store.
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Some personal thoughts on masks/respirators:

Beards are going to be a problem. If I had a beard, I wouldn't use a cup-style mask, as the seal would be terrible. I'd use a bifold or boat-style mask. I'd get a very large one so it might fit over the beard.

For males, beard stubble can be a problem. You want to be clean shaven so the seal works best.

Most of the time, I would wear a mask for long periods only when I'm in an air-conditioned environment. Not today though. I am finding that if when I'm sweaty and have a bit of stubble, the boat-style mask is irritating my face. I think it is rubbing salt into the beard pores. If you're going to be sweaty, maybe a cup-style mask would have less irritation (I don't know that).

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I've been thinking about the use of a respirator mask when you have COVID. Does it keep the virons inside the mask in this case, as it keeps them out normally? The best I can answer is "Maybe". Certainly the mask should be handled differently.
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#2
If you go to the CDC site and look at quarantine/isolation guidance or guidance on caring for someone who is sick, it appears that the CDC acts like it won't admit that COVID is primarily spread by aerosols.  They are stuck in their early 2020 guidance of stay 6' away, wash hands and surfaces, and wear masks (vs respirators).

It really bothers me that an organization that claims that its decisions are science-based may start to pay lip service to the science, but then keeps their advice to the public unchanged by that science.

The CDC's page on masks shows 3 cotton masks as examples -- clearly not respirators.  Their advice universally uses the term "mask" for protection against COVID without ever discussing how much or how little masks (vs respirators) protect you from the spread of COVID.  Here's the CDC's July 2020 press release when they finally allowed that masks (not to mention respirators) were worth using.

Respirators are eventually mentioned, but only in the context of those from whom an infection may have severe consequences.  I guess I don't understand that how that makes sense.  Does how bad COVID affects you if you get it matter as to how best to avoid it?
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#3
I use the 3M Aura 9205+ when I need to put something on quickly (have a few in my car) or when I plan on doing something outdoors where I expect to be in close contact with others, but my day-to-day go to is the Envomask elastomeric respirator. It is expensive relative to throwaway masks but I thought I'd break even in the long run and it certainly provides a better fit ... except if I smile or turn my head it can break seal. I use the exhaust valve to prevent me from expelling unfiltered air into the environment because I work with others, some of which have high risk family members. I am on my second Envomask because the gel lining broke on the first one, and now the head band is starting to fray. I think I am going to move to the Flomask next as it has a lower profile and will make it easier to read, and the reports I've gotten back say that it is less likely to break seal from smiling, laughing, or turning the head, and has less condensation buildup than the Flomask, as well.
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#4
According to Aaron Collins testing, the Flo Mask can use 2 different filters.
Everyday filter: Easy to breath (pressure drop 0.14 inches of water) but only 94% filtration.
Advanced filter: Hard to breath (pressure drop 0.39 inches of water) at 98.89% filtration.
(For comparison, 3m 9205+ (pressure drop 0.28 inches of water) at 99.4-99.7% filtration.

When my nephew was thinking of these, I looked at their web page, and their fit IN THEIR ADVERTISING media. In particular, look at the glasses of the man in the bottom right. Certainly for that man, the mask and glasses didn't work together.

My impression is that cup-style masks are likely more susceptible to leakage when the face shape alters (talking, smiling) and have less tolerance for facial hair differences during the day for men. The mass of the respirator and the distance of its center of gravity from the seal would seem to make it more vulnerable to loss of seal when the head moves sideways or vertically, unless the straps are quite tight. But I haven't tried the Flo Mask.

Collins apparently didn't test the Envomask, or else maybe it didn't fit him so a test would have been inappropriate. It seems to be a very small (lower lip to part way up the nose; NIOSH certification terms it a "quarter mask") plastic respirator. IT HAS AN EXHALATION VALVE, which is probably why they said some airlines don't allow its use. So it doesn't protect those around you if you have COVID, unless the user plugs the exhalation valve. [Rereading your post, I suspect you meant "I use the exhaust valve PLUG to prevent..." That would explain the condensation buildup in such a small filter area.]

But, then I don't know how the 3M 9205+ fits your face. I find it a bit small and the part that goes under my chin has a tendency to slide forward. While it works for me, if I were 6'4", it might be too small. Collins's data set does show some good, larger single-use("paper") masks, but I haven't tried them.
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#5
(07-30-2022, 04:25 PM)M_T Wrote: According to Aaron Collins testing, the Flo Mask can use 2 different filters. 
Everyday filter:  Easy to breath (pressure drop 0.14 inches of water) but only 94% filtration.
Advanced filter:  Hard to breath (pressure drop 0.39 inches of water) at 98.89% filtration.
(For comparison, 3m 9205+ (pressure drop 0.28 inches of water) at 99.4-99.7% filtration.

When my nephew was thinking of these, I looked at their web page, and their fit IN THEIR ADVERTISING media.  In particular, look at the glasses of the man in the bottom right.  Certainly for that man, the mask and glasses didn't work together.

My impression is that cup-style masks are likely more susceptible to leakage when the face shape alters (talking, smiling) and have less tolerance for facial hair differences during the day for men.  The mass of the respirator and the distance of its center of gravity from the seal would seem to make it more vulnerable to loss of seal when the head moves sideways or vertically, unless the straps are quite tight.  But I haven't tried the Flo Mask.

Collins apparently didn't test the Envomask, or else maybe it didn't fit him so a test would have been inappropriate.  It seems to be a very small (lower lip to part way up the nose; NIOSH certification terms it a "quarter mask") plastic respirator.  IT HAS AN EXHALATION VALVE, which is probably why they said some airlines don't allow its use.  So it doesn't protect those around you if you have COVID, unless the user plugs the exhalation valve.  [Rereading your post, I suspect you meant  "I use the exhaust valve PLUG to prevent..."  That would explain the condensation buildup in such a small filter area.]

But, then I don't know how  the 3M 9205+ fits your face.  I find it a bit small and the part that goes under my chin has a tendency to slide forward.  While it works for me, if I were 6'4", it might be too small.  Collins's data set does show some good, larger single-use("paper") masks, but I haven't tried them.

Yes, I meant that I used the plug, thank you. I have transitioned to the FloMask by the way and I really like it. The seal is great, and I trust the seal more than the 3M 9205+, although I've done a fit test with neither of them. The FloMask is easier to take off and put on than either the Envo Mask or the 3M 9205+. I still keep 3M 9205+s in my car and at my door in case I temporarily misplace the FloMask, or if I need to hand one to someone so they can put it on.

really quiet around here these days, huh?
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