Omicron is surging, but the limit for self-isolation days after exposure continues to decrease. If you are returning back to the office after only five days without symptoms, you want to be ensured that you are using the proper mask. So, whether you are going back to your workplace after isolation or just want the best protection, you will know what face covering will keep you safe and healthy.
Let’s face it- The news changes quickly, and along with it goes the standards for appropriate behavior and protective measures. It can be challenging to keep up with alternating messages of what is and isn’t safe. So how do you define the correct course of action when there is so much uncertainty?
As tenant representatives, we have witnessed firsthand how COVID-19 has impacted the lives and working environments of professionals. If you have a business or are just concerned about the safety of you and your coworkers, it can be difficult to pin down what actions to take. This is especially true if you are returning to the office after working from home. Specific considerations like social distancing and mask edicts should be heightened in the transition back to in-person work.
Quite simply, the importance of masks cannot be overstated. Even though vaccination rates rise each day, masks are still recommended as the premier weapon in the fight against Coronavirus’ spread. However, with so many mask options and materials, this too can become a point of uncertainty. What mask will keep you and your coworkers safe in a commercial environment?
This article is intended to close in on this confusion. By outlining the benefits and drawbacks of each mask, you will be able to identify which type is appropriate for you and your surroundings.
How Do The Mask Types Measure Up?
Let’s go through several types of masks and compare how effective they are at combatting the spread.
Cloth Masks
Cloth masks are out, and it’s no secret. Their general introduction was largely intended to preserve the medical stock of other, more supportive masks. However, since medical professionals are now equipped with the appropriate stock, health organizations have been spending more time analyzing the effectiveness of the widely- worn cloth masks.
They have found that cloth masks serve little more than aesthetic purposes. Since they are essentially just woven thread, they =do not protect against COVID-19 particles that other masks do.
While they may inhibit the ejection of some of your droplets, they are largely ineffective against filtering external contagions.
Some countries have even updated their face covering mandates to bar public wearing of cloth masks. The requirements have been upgraded in places like Germany and Austria to only include medical-grade surgical masks as appropriate coverings.
While cloth coverings may hinder some spread, they are no longer recommended for public use. To preserve office safety, here are the masks we recommend:
Surgical Masks
While they are not quite as pretty as their cloth counterparts, surgical masks provide a barrier to the spread of COVID-19. They have three layers that better protect against respiratory microparticles.
Surgical masks are partially made from melt-blown polypropylene. This is the key ingredient in combatting the transmission of droplets. It is an incredibly versatile and complex microfiber often present in the medical field. This material is necessary to obstruct most particles that could carry disease.
So surgical masks are better than cloth masks, but are they the best? Well-no.
While better than cloth masks for public and office use, they are not perfect. The biggest issue most experts have with surgical masks is the fit. The adjustable edges are intended to mold around your nose and mouth. In theory, it should work, but if you’ve ever worn a surgical mask, you know that there is much room for improvement- and spread.
Don’t throw out your surgical masks yet, though. Some professionals recommend still wearing surgical masks, just with mask fitters. Ideally, these would close any gaps that respiratory particles could escape or enter through.
If you’re having trouble finding mask fitters on Amazon, layer up. Wearing multiple surgical masks on top of each other will decrease the likelihood that you expel or intake any airborne microbes. Heightened awareness of mask effectiveness is just one of the ways COVID has changed the way we live and work.
N95 and Kn95
As of late, these mask types are recommended as the most protective barrier against contagions. As the name suggests, they catch 95 percent of airborne debris, making them highly effective at stopping the spread of micro-particles. So if you are returning back to the office, you should probably be wearing one of these.
So, what’s the difference between them- or is there any?
Differences
The main factor that separates these masks is the certification process they must undergo. Masks qualified as N95 must go through extensive scrutiny and inspection by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). NIOSH is a wing of the CDC that oversees the health and safety of American workers.
KN95 masks, on the other hand, are verified through the FDA. Manufacturers can seek endorsement through an emergency authorization process for foreign certification. Since the KN95 has foreign origins, the FDA also requires the companies that create them to prove their authenticity. They, too, must meet the 95 percent filtration level before approval.
KN95 masks are also subject to additional provisions known as “fit testing,” which measures the air inside the covering against the air outside. It also notes how well the mask fits around an individual’s face, which is not present in the N95 approval process.
Alternatively, N95 masks have slightly stricter requirements surrounding the pressure level experienced while wearing them. Therefore, it may be slightly easier to breathe in an N95 mask.
Traditionally, the N95 mask is considered the standard for the United State’s use. The KN95 is China’s. The N95 is green-lit for use within American healthcare, while the KN95 isn’t. This doesn’t mean that the KN95 is less effective for office or warehouse use.
When overall considering the differences, there will be no real effect in your workplace if you choose to wear an N95 over a KN95.
Similarities
Just because the certification process is different doesn’t make the KN95 masks any less safe to use than their American counterparts. Both are highly effective at filtration.
They are each comprised of multiple layers of melt-blown polymers, like the medical-grade masks. In fact, the N95 masks used to be reserved entirely for construction, medical, or lab-based professionals.
The polypropylene material acts as a highly defensive, multi-layer fiber webbing. It is electrostatically charged, which effectively inhibits the particle spread from normal breathing. These masks also come equipped with straps to be worn behind the ears. They are secured in place and usually fit better than other mask options.
Due to these factors, 95-grade masks beat out their alternatives in transmission-blocking by two main points:
- Better fit
- More effective filtration
Further Considerations for 95- Grade Masks
There is a common preconceived notion that since N95 masks are the medical standard within the U.S., they are all American-made. This is false.
Just because the certification process differs does not mean that there is a discrepancy in where these masks are made.
However, since these masks are widely replicated within the United States and China, you should be on the lookout for counterfeits. Due to the increased demand, many manufacturers sell fakes masquerading as the real deal.
It may require some due diligence but ensuring that your KN95 or N95 mask is verified will preserve the safety of you and those around you.
Specific indicators of a counterfeit N95 mask:
- No NIOSH markings
- Incorrect NIOSH spelling or other marking inaccuracies
- No approval numbers
- Child-sized masks: approved manufacturers do not make masks intended for children, so any mask advertised as such is a fake
So What Mask Should I Wear in the Office?
Any mask that is at least three-ply is the new advisable standard for office or warehouse use. This includes surgical masks, N95s, and KN95.
If you are not ready to ditch your cloth mask, you can wear it over a medical-grade mask. This will preserve its cosmetic effects while balancing out the safety factors.
Overall though, N95 and KN95 masks are the premier barriers in the workplace against the highly contagious Omicron variant and any other COVID strains. So, if you can get your hands on one- do it! But, make sure that the mask is authentic, or it will be just as effective as cloth masks.
Wondering where to get safe and effective masks? We want to help without sending you on a wild goose chase. Here are some unaffiliated links to reputable purchasing sources:
For more information on COVID in the workplace, check out our guide on how to navigate your commercial real estate portfolio in a pandemic.
