ASTM Releases Mask Standards and They're Kinda Disappointing
As noted in an earlier post , right now it's the wild west out there when it comes to masks. It seems they are hyped based on everything except how well they work filtering virus-size particles. Now, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has come to the rescue with a new set of standards for "barrier face coverings," known to most of us commoners as masks. If you follow that link you will be required—for reasons unclear to me—to go through a registration process that includes providing your address and phone number and verifying your email before you can see the standards. I registered and got the document so you don't have to. There are basically three important parts to the standard, requirements for design, testing, and labeling. Design Requirements Masks must cover the nose and mouth. They can't have valves or other things that allow unfiltered breath to escape. They have to say if they're one-size-fits-all or sized for d...