Face Masks (Fabric)

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OSMS includes reference materials in service to the ongoing development of global COVID-19 response efforts. The inclusion of any reference or resource should not be construed as endorsement, promotion, or support of any organization. Since medical developments occur daily, this page may contain outdated material. While reasonable efforts are made to present current and accurate information, no guarantee of any kind is made and OSMS is not liable for any damage or loss related to the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of any information contained on or linked from this page.

The Problem

Surgical masks are in short supply and many places now require a face covering when out in public [1]. Cloth face coverings worn alone (and serving as self-fashioned PPE) are an emergency only option for clinicians when no other PPE is available.

The CDC has issued a recommendation that members of the general public wear cloth face coverings in public, even when they feel healthy, due to the possibility of asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic individuals transmitting the virus [2]. Face masks continue to be the best way to slow COVID-19 spread. As cases surge, some are now recommending 3 layer non-medical cloth masks with one of the layers being a filter or filter-like fabric [3].

Current Global Resources

Covid: Masks and social distancing 'could last years' UK- “People may need to wear face coverings and socially distance for several years until we return to normality, a leading epidemiologist has predicted.” 2021/03/22

Fauci expects Americans could still need to wear face masks in 2022. US- “Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, President Biden’s chief medical adviser for Covid-19, said on Sunday that Americans may still be wearing masks outside their homes a year from now, even as he predicted the country would return to “a significant degree of normality” by fall.” 2021/02/21

Supplies of masks running low as COVID-19 surges US- “Some health care facilities in the U.S. lack sufficient supplies of face masks as COVID-19 cases surge across the country and manufacturers work overtime to ramp up production of personal protective equipment.” 2020/11/06

Face Masks Provide A New Frontier For Retailers During Coronavirus Crisis US- “Despite the recent flood of new brands offering masks, the product is selling out across the market.” 2020/05/21

Coronavirus: China's mask, gown markets in chaos as shortages of vital raw materials sow more mayhem China- “Prices for surgical gowns and masks have soared, sources said, due to shortages in vital materials such as melt-blown non-woven fabric. Industry sources also point to surge in poor quality equipment, lacking in the sorts of raw materials vital to ensure masks are effective.” 2020/04/26

Protective gear in national stockpile is nearly depleted, DHS officials say US- “Two DHS officials said the stores kept in the Department of Health and Human Services’ Strategic National Stockpile are nearly gone.” 2020/04/01

States Need Medical Supplies to Fight Coronavirus. Can the National Stockpile Keep Up With Demand? US- “The outbreak of the coronavirus in the United States is the latest test for the federally managed Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), a secretive stash of medical supplies and equipment that the government has stored in case of emergencies.” 2020/03/10

HHS to Procure N95 Respirators to Support Healthcare Workers in COVID-19 Outbreaks US- “The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services intends to purchase 500 million N95 respirators over the next 18 months for the Strategic National Stockpile.” 2020/03/04

Engineering Requirements

Must completely cover the mouth and nose to provide a barrier for aerosols and sprays.
All materials must hold shape/will not stretch or be damaged after continued use/laundered.
Must be secured with ties or loops at the bottom (chin) and top (nose/cheek).
Must allow for breathing without restriction.
Please take careful considerations regarding the trade-off between filtration efficiency and breathability of materials.
Projects that incorporate features for filtration must allow easily removable and replaceable filters.
All mask materials must be able to withstand sanitization.
Masks with the intention to be received in a clinical setting should check specific facility requirements and use non-latex elastic.
Filter materials must pass NIOSH guidelines for Fiber Exposure Limits for lungs:

https://threadsmonthly.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/filtration_of_diy_face_mask_materials_vs_n95_chart.png| Link to full-sized chart of Filtration of DIY Face Mask Materials.

Additional Requirements

Facility Requirements:

All assembly surfaces must be cleaned and free of dust or oil.

Pre/Post-Manufacturing:

Pre-wash all fabric before any manufacturing.

Shipping/Packaging:

Must wear gloves & PPE or disinfect during packaging for shipping.

Disclaimers/Labeling:

Labels must specify the intended use:

To be worn over PPE
To provide filtration

Labels must include materials used and fiber content (100% cotton, HEPA 13, Blue Towel, latex, etc).
Must include directions for proper launder (autoclave, machine wash, etc).
Labels must have detailed information regarding filtration materials and manufacturing detail.

Resources

Guide for sewists/crafters A guide for individual sewists/crafters that will help you ensure the masks you make get used if you do not have connections with hospitals or an existing group that does.
Guide for organizing cloth mask donations If you are an organizer, this guide is for you!
Bias tape makers (OSMS Google document) Bias tape is a folded and pressed strip of fabric used for finishing edges of fabric items and for creating ties and drawstrings.
Mask Helpers (OSMS Google document) Mask helpers allow healthcare workers to attach the ear loops of a mask to a device designed to hold the mask in place comfortably, without having to compromise skin integrity.
Mask Pleaters (OSMS Google document) Many fabric masks are pleated, which can be time consuming for the home sewist. A pleater jig makes the process much faster. They can be 3DP or made from cardboard.
DIY MASKS TORONTO: Collaborative Literature & Tutorial Review Resource for research articles on the subject, including the Davies et al. (2013) study. See our guides above, or reach out to Make Masks.
Respiratory Protection: Face Masks and Respirators A slideshow containing information on the fabrics, filters, and manufacture of masks and N95s.
Mask Making Guide Overview of the research surrounding homemade masks. Specific mask designs are pending medical review - in the meantime, we recommend the designs below.
ASTM F3502 Standard Specification for Barrier Face Coverings with an in depth interpretation of this standard written by Dr. Jocelyn Songer for MakerMask.
Virucidal N95 Respirator Face Masks via Ultrathin Surface-Grafted Quaternary Ammonium Polymer Coatings

Labeling and Distribution

Label Me A Face Mask Resources for labeling and distributing face masks from Maker Mask

Links to Projects

CDC Stance on Sewn Masks: The Center for Disease Control notes that fabric masks are a crisis response option for clinicians when other supplies are not available. The CDC has also updated their position regarding the use of cloth masks by the public; the CDC now recommends the use of cloth masks (no more than 2 layers) when social distancing is difficult to maintain such as in grocery stores or pharmacies, especially in areas with significant community-based transmission. Social distancing is still VITAL and should be practiced with the utmost care, with or without a mask. The CDC also emphasizes that N95 respirators and surgical masks must be reserved for front-line clinicians and should not be used by members of the general public at this time.

*A few notes on fabric masks:

Fabric masks provide different levels of filtration depending on the materials used. Please see our documentation for levels of filtration, and note that all homemade designs are to be used at your own risk. Finer weaves are better when using woven material alone.

If you are producing for clinicians, it is best to ensure your local hospitals and local clinicians will accept the mask project you are considering, as every hospital/clinician will have their own guidelines. We recommend working through Make Masks as they are taking hospital requests, or with hospitals that have made public requests for sewn masks. Please see our guide for home sewists for additional groups you can connect with.

Almost any breathable design that fits over a respirator and can be worn securely can be used to protect an N95 respirator from soiling, in turn potentially prolonging its availability for use as PPE.
When making masks to protect PPE:

Lighter colors are better because they make it easier to see soiling. Use no more than 2 layers for this as no filtration is needed - the goal is protection from soiling only.
Ensure coverage if using over an N95 (these come in several sizes and from different manufacturers).
Fit is important, and ties that go around the back of the head are preferred.
No latex should be used in designs for clinical settings. Do not use elastic.
Using different colors on the front (outside facing; lighter is better) and back (inside facing) part of the mask is ideal so that the sides can easily be recognized.

Sewn Designs

Project Name: Maker Mask