Facemasks must have certified protection so that you can be assured that the promised level of protection is the correct and actual level of protection 

• Strictly speaking, when we buy a product, we would like to be assured that the product will perform as expected 

• Imagine buying an umbrella which leaks … 
• Similarly, when you buy a facemask, you would like to be assured that the promised protection is as promised, no more, no less 
• So, how can you be assured of this promised? 
• Typically, facemask manufacturers produce facemask fabrics of certain performance capabilities 
• Upon production, they would send the fabrics to independent testing and certification agencies so that the said fabrics can be tested and certified in accordance with relevant international or national facemasks Standards 

• The said agencies will then issue certificates in accordance with the said standards 
• The manufacturers should be able to share with you their certificates so that you can be assured of their facemask performance capabilities 

Yes, reputable facemask manufacturers should be able to show you their certification, but as with many products, there are manufacturers who produce products which do not comply with Standards 

• Sometimes when faced sudden surge of demand, products are produced without compliance with Standards 
• New manufacturers can also emerge to meet the demand, again, some may not produce in accordance with relevant Standards 

• Or there would be manufacturers or promoters who do not understand, nor bother; take for instance facemask manufacturers which state that their facemasks offer PM 2.5 filtration 

• PM 2.5 filtration means that the facemask or facemask fabric can filter up to 2.5 microns of particles 
• The Covid-19 Virus is between 0.06 to 0.14 microns in size 
• Effectively an opening in a PM 2.5 facemask will allow at least between 250 to 1,350 viruses to pass through, per opening, and there would be thousands of opening per facemask 
• So, how is it that a PM 2.5 filtration facemask will offer good protection? 

• Hence, it is most important that we buy facemasks which offer certified protection 

One simple way to check on this is to see I the certificate has the name and address of the said facemask manufacturer stated on the said certificate 

• If the said certificate contains the name of another company, it Is likely the company which you are dealing with is just the promoter of the facemask (or it could be that the said certificate belongs to another manufacturer who has not authorised use of its certificate) 
• As a buyer, you have the right to ask for such certificates and ask for clarification 
• A genuine manufacturer should be receptive to answer your questions

As noted earlier, facemask fabrics are sent to independent testing and certification agencies to test as to whether the said fabrics meet relevant Standards 

Each manufacturer will have to decide as to which Standard its facemasks would be tested against, though there are certain basic Standards which must be tested against 

 It is important not to be misled by reference to certain Standards or Test Methods which are not relevant in respect of protection  

• For instance, Test Method AATCC 135 refers to “Test Method for Dimensional Changes of Fabrics after Home Laundering” 
• Put simply, this Test Method measures as to changes to the fabric size after washing, eg shrinkage, and it is not important for, and has nothing to do with, for instance, filtration efficiency or protective capability of the facemask 
• Therefore, best to be alert here 

At the very least, facemasks ought to have certification on the filtration efficiency of its facemask fabric or facemasks, of at least 95% of say 0.3 micron particles 

Ply means layer, and 3-ply typically refers to disposable facemasks made up of 3 layers of thin (nonwoven) fabrics, where the first layer is for the external protection of the wearer, the middle layer is for filtration, and the inner layer is to absorb oral and nasal moisture 

 Respirators like N95, KN95 or FFP2 are made up of 5 layers of fabrics, and they offer between 95% to 99%, or even 100% filtration 

• But you cannot breathe through them 
• And respirators cannot be worn for more than 4 hours simply because you cannot breathe through them 

 So, no, it does not mean that the more layers of fabrics you have, the better it is  

• Yes, filtration will increase (but then again, this depends on the type of fabric), but you really cannot breathe through 3, 4, 5, or 6 layers of fabrics 
• If you still prefer to use these kinds of 3, 4, 5, or 6 layers of fabric facemasks, ask the manufacturer for their filtration certificates 
• Best that you get a facemask which offers certified protection and good breathability at the same time 

As we have been advised, the virus spread via: 

• Droplets (ie larger droplets from cough, sneezing, etc) 
• Aerosol (ie smaller droplets which are airborne) 
• Surface transmission 

though the latest view is that the virus spreads mainly via aerosol 

3-Ply disposable facemasks offer, amongst others, relevant 2 types of protection: 

• Protection against droplets via the first layer of fabric (ie hydrophobic protection), and 
• Protections against aerosol penetration via the second layer of fabric 

 Hence, for reusable fabric facemasks, there must be the following protection in facemasks: 

• Protection against droplets via water impermeable fabric, and  
• Protection against aerosol via particle filtration fabric 

 Quality disposable facemasks also offer assurance against ease of burning, in that the facemask fabrics are ensured to be not easily flammable (not easy to burn) 

 Hence, in addition to filtration protection, reusable fabric facemasks also ought to offer, at the least: 

• Protection against droplets via water impermeable fabric, and  
• Assurance that facemask fabrics are not flammable 

Pour water on the frontside of the facemask: 

• If you find that water passes through to the back of the facemask, then you can conclude that the facemask does not offer protection against droplets sufficiently 

• If you find that water does not pass through the frontside of the facemask, then you can conclude that the facemask offers protection against droplets, or more specifically, it offers water impermeability 

To be more assured, ask for relevant water impermeability certification 

It would not be possible to visually verify if a facemask offer protection against aerosols 

• The only way to ensure that the fabric has sufficient protection against aerosols is by checking the manufacturer’s certification for particle filtration efficiency 

However, you can conduct the following simple tests, but which tests can help you decide quickly as to whether relevant facemasks can be dependable or not: 

• Firstly, you can try the Window Test 

• Hold up your facemask against light at the window, and if you can see light coming through, then you can conclude that the facemask will like be not effective 
• Our hair ranges between 17 microns to 181 microns, ie average of 75 microns 

• The Covid-19 Virus size is between 0.06 microns to 0.14 microns 
• So this means that between 11,500 to 7,100,000 viruses can pass through a pinhole 
• And there are thousands of pinholes within a facemask 
• So, if you can see light coming through the fabric when you hold it up against the light at the window, this means tha viruses can easily pass through 
• Therefore, it is recommended that such facemasks be not used 

• Secondly, you can try the Stretch Test, ie if the fabric is stretchable 

• If the fabric is rather stretchable, this would mean that when you wear and stretch the facemask, the pinhole or hair diameter size holes of the fabric will be further stretched, thereby increasing the risks of viruses passing through 
• To be safe, it is best not to use such facemasks of stretchable fabrics 

Verification that facemasks offer sufficient non-flammability protection can only be achieved through evaluation of the manufacturer’s certificate for non-flammability