![]() ![]() ![]() You may also see other masks that use labels like “ASTM Level 3,” which refer to different ASTM standards for medical masks. This standard is technically ASTM F3502-21, which only has the two Workplace Performance levels mentioned above. If you can't find N95 masks but don't work in a high-risk setting, these are also decent masks to pick up.Īlso, note that ASTM refers to the agency that classifies standards, but this workplace standard is not the only ASTM standard that governs masks. The CDC has a list of masks here, and it tells which masks pass enough of these criteria to qualify for either of the Workplace Performance labels (as of writing, there are only three that earned the label), but this is all based on data reported by suppliers and manufacturers. This standard rates masks based on filtration, breathability, and an optional leakage ratio. ![]() If you or someone you interact with regularly is a high-risk individual, or if you work in a medical setting, you should stick with N95s. The NIOSH recommends using these masks in a workplace environment but, crucially, does not recommend them as a replacement for N95 or other respirators. Under this standard, masks can be labeled as either Workplace Performance or Workplace Performance Plus. To help with this, the ASTM International standard makes it easier to classify masks for everyday work. However, the pandemic has made it much more common and necessary for people to wear masks in nonmedical contexts. Most of the CDC and Food and Drug Administration's mask guidance and standards were initially designed with medical settings like doctors' offices and hospitals in mind. ![]()
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