What kind of mask standard is suitable? How to read the mask standard number

We all know that masks are a kind of protective product that is urgently needed recently. Almost everyone wears a mask when going out. There are many kinds of masks on the market, and different masks have different standards. So what kind of mask standard is appropriate? Let's take a closer look!

What is the appropriate standard for masks?

When buying masks, don’t just buy them because they are cheap, or because they have the N95 logo. Look at the certification standards!! There are currently two standards for anti-gas masks: one is GB 19083-2010, and the other is YY 0469-2011. Many masks that are purchased are of the GB2626-2006 standard, which can only protect against smog!!

No matter which mask you buy, you must recognize the PFE (0.1 micron particle blocking rate), BFE (bacteria blocking rate), and VFE (virus blocking rate) signs. The coronavirus is exactly 0.1 microns, so the sponge masks that were very popular before are useless! The blocking rate of N95 is 95%.

How to judge the mask standard

Some hospitals in Wuhan are asking the public for support for medical supplies through Weibo and other channels. Among the supplies, the one that everyone can help with the most is medical N95 masks, which are "medical protective masks that meet the GB 19083-2010 standard."

Of course, there are also "medical surgical masks that meet the YY 0469-2011 standard" (note that it is 2011. In fact, the labels of major hospitals are incorrect. The country does not have the YY 0469-2010 standard!)

Obviously, not all N95 and surgical masks meet the standards (but I believe that even if you donate your extra N95s regardless of the model, it will be valuable at least now that many medical staff only have surgical masks!).

After all that nonsense, what N95 masks are in compliance with the GB 19083-2010 standard? First of all, friends who have enough N95 masks should check whether there is such a word on the product packaging. Secondly, I am located in the United States and have spent more than five hours searching the entire Internet (of course, you are welcome to supplement at any time). The cruel fact is that (big manufacturers) should only have two models in China - 3M 9132 and 3M 1860. Excluding the 1860 which is made in the United States, there is only the 9132 model left. And these two models are exactly the models used in the isolation areas of major hospitals in Wuhan.

The difference between n95 masks, KN95 masks and surgical masks

1. Medical surgical masks: Standard YY-0469-2011

2. N95 mask: US NIOSH certified, non-oily particle filtration efficiency ≥ 95%.

3. KN95 mask: complies with China's GB 2626 mandatory standard, with a non-oily particle filtration efficiency of ≥95%.

4. The F95 standard has three more standards than the N95 standard, one for leakage rate (F95 shall not be greater than 8%), one for inhalation resistance (not higher than 230 Pa), and one for inhalation resistance (not higher than 200 Pa). The N95 standard has only one filtration level. In fact, both are the same, with a filtration rate higher than 95%.

The test methods for the filtration efficiency of the above three levels of masks are exactly the same! Therefore, the filtration efficiency levels are consistent.

How to deal with the mask after 4 hours of use

① Masks used by ordinary people: After use, they can be sorted and disposed of as ordinary household waste.

② If it has been used by pathogens or suspected pathogens: treat it as infectious medical waste.

③ Patient’s family members or other personnel: If they are obviously accompanying the patient, the used masks should be treated as medical waste like masks used by pathogens.