NEW MASK STANDARDS FOR INCREASED SAFETY
Disposable with a floral print, cloth and adorned with your favorite sports team’s logo, filtered, multi-layered? The choices when it comes to selecting a face mask these days are endless and can be overwhelming. To date, throughout the pandemic thus far, there have been no mask standards but despite this, help does appear to be on the horizon. According to CNN, ASTM International, an international standards organization, has expedited testing and review to publish its findings.
The new national standards, a collaborative effort between ASTM International, the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL), academics, industry, the government, and independent participants, will dictate mask fit, design, performance, and testing requirements. These standards also require the supplier to provide user instructions, package labeling and a permanent tag on the mask. The main testing criteria included breathability and filtration. Specifically, ASTM tested masks’ ability to filter out 0.3-micron particles. A mask that can filter out 0.3-micron particles, can stop bacteria or virus infused droplets.
From their testing, ASTM has currently defined two levels of face mask protection. A Level One designation requires the mask to filter at last 20% of particles and a Level Two designation requires the mask to filter at least 50% of particles. While these two levels are a start, some health experts are now urging for a Level Three designation which would provide an even higher level of protection. It should also be noted that these new mask standards are for consumer masks only and do not apply to those used in healthcare.
How quickly the consumer can access ASTM-labeled masks will be determined by how quickly the new standards are adopted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). Once OSHAs adopts the new standards, ASTM-certified masks will be required for most employees in the private sector in all 50 states. Given the flooded market, there’s likely many masks out there that won’t meet the news standards. However, masks that don’t meet these new standards will still be available for sale, so the consumer will have to be on the lookout.
Source: Enriquez, Keri. “New standards will take the guesswork out of choosing the most effective face masks.” CNN: February 17, 2021, https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/health/consumer-mask-standards-protection/index.html. Accessed April 8, 2021.