Approved masks do not need a filter

At the end of March and the beginning of April, back in the "first pandemic" , we literally had nothing to throw ourselves into our mouths. The shortage of surgical masks and personal protective equipment (the famous FFP2) was widespread and hygienic masks (the reusable fabric ones) were a rare bird that few had used to date in our country.

It was at that time when, in the absence of better resources, many health professionals encouraged the population to make their own hygienic masks at home. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) proposed patterns even with T-shirt fabric . And among the "walking around the house" recommendations came the addition of coffee filters or vacuum cleaners to fabric masks.

Without neglecting that the main thing is the generalized use of the mask (that is, you have to cover your mouth yes or yes to prevent contagion), we currently have reusable approved masks for affordable prices (about 6-8 euros on average) that offer us greater guarantees than "homemade fixes". They are the masks recommended by the Ministry of Health for healthy people (or at least without symptoms). And surprise! they have no filter.

Approved masks do not need to add a filter

Some still think that a fabric mask, to be effective, needs to have a filter incorporated. Nothing is further from reality. Masks that meet the UNE 0065: 2020 standard do not need a filter since the tissue that makes up the masks itself meets the filtration and breathability parameters. And this is good news for both the economy and sustainability since the filters that are added to the masks are disposable (as is the case with surgical masks) . The approved hygienic fabric masks are sufficient by themselves to exercise the barrier function for the population for which they are intended, without the need for an additional cost per use or generating waste to the environment. Paradoxically, who presumes as a guarantee of effectiveness that a filter must be added to their masks, what they are selling you is a mask that does not comply with the UNE 0065: 2020 standard. Neither the Ministry of Health, nor the WHO, nor the European recommendations (CWA) mention the need to include filters in masks.

Why are filters not necessary in approved masks?

Because there is really no way to verify the properties of a fabric mask to which we are adding a filter at home. Even if the filter is the famous active carbon PM 2.5 or the TNT classics. When we add a filter to a mask we do not use just one filter, but a combination of several layers (filter plus tissue) that have not been tested together in a laboratory. Therefore there is no way to ensure that this combination has adequate breathability and its properties cannot be guaranteed.

Are there no approved filters for masks?

Currently there are no approved filters to add at home to hygienic masks that comply with the UNE 0065: 2020 standard. There are approved filters for other types of masks that are not recommended for the pandemic (such as the typical hermetic gas masks). But the fact that there are approved filters for other types of masks where there is a predetermined setting does not mean that they are valid for a hygienic mask.

UNE 0065: 2020: A standard to help us all

Fortunately, to clear up all this mess, in mid-April the Spanish Association for Standardization, UNE, published the UNE 0065 Specification . This standard establishes the minimum requirements that reusable hygienic masks for children and adults must meet. In other words, the standard specifies what materials to use (indicating examples of specific manufacturers in the annexes), what design the mask should have (for self-approval, the design of the surgical mask is recommended) and includes other guidelines on making, marking and use . Unlike other standards that can be accessed upon payment, UNE made this document freely available to all of society.

Why? Because in this case the objective was to offer citizens a barrier protection against the COVID-19 pandemic in a generalized way. The idea is that the entire population would have access to making safe masks , both at an industrial and artisanal level. The result is that there is no excuse: from "above" it has become easy for not only large business groups but also small companies and small producers to self-certify by following a few simple guidelines.

What should I look for on the label of an approved mask?

It is common for labels to mention regulations, essays and tests whose reading is similar to that of a hieroglyph by the user. It would really take an expert to figure it out.

How can we go to a shot if we are earthly beings who do not understand the regulations on masks? Seeking that the labeling refers to compliance with the UNE 0065: 2020 standard . Reference to the UNE standard ensures compliance with a quality standard that corresponds to a bacterial filtration efficiency (EFB) equal to or greater than 90% and a breathability of less than 60 Pa / CM2. That is to say, this standard ensures that the masks not only have adequate filtration but that they can also be breathed without problem.

In addition, on the labeling (or on the websites in the case of online sales) you will find information on the name of the product , size, duration, instructions, material composition, maintenance, how to wash it and the maximum number of washes if it is reusable. .

Can there be approved masks with a different design than the surgical mask?

It is common to find masks whose design has a vertical central seam. The UNE 0065: 2020 standard is flexible and accommodates other materials and designs, different from those indicated, but in this case it does not allow self-approval . In other words, if a manufacturer uses the right materials and uses the surgical mask design it can self-certify. But if you decide to use other designs and patterns, these modifications must be tested against the tests detailed in the specification itself. This implies carrying out new tests in a laboratory on the masks already finished with the cost in money and time that it implies. This is very positive because it allows the range of materials that can be used and designs can be considerably expanded, which is of great interest to the national industry.

But on the other hand, it is being a drain , since not all manufacturers (especially small producers) have the capacity to retest their products and, due to ignorance or picaresque, they mention on the label that they comply with the regulations without doing so.

Currently, consumer inspections are being carried out in this regard, since unfortunately false certificates are also being issued. My advice? Acquire the masks in physical establishments or online stores that offer us guarantees and avoid buying them in street stalls or bazaars where other products of dubious quality are usually sold. Remember that the mask is not a fashion accessory. The mask can save lives.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

• Science and Health
• Covid 19
• Coronavirus
• Face masks

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