Face masks have been a common part of everyday life for about a year now.
DFB Alien TOUR Tee and Face Mask
As one of the most-recommended defenses against the spread of the global health crisis, masks are required all over the country and world — including in the Disney parks. Now, an official consumer standard for face masks has been developed.
According to Good Housekeeping Institute, the American Society for Testing and Materials has developed a standard that helps consumers make smarter face mask purchases and brands determine that their coverings are effective before selling them.
Gideon’s Face Mask
Up to this point, there has been no standard for face mask effectiveness which makes it a lot harder for consumers to know if a face mask works. Now, brands will be able to apply testing to new face masks to show consumers that their disposable and reusable masks are up to standard.
Festival of the Arts Mask
The new standard, F3502−21 Standard Specification for Barrier Face Coverings, covers mask leakage, filtration, breathability, and labeling. It does not cover any antimicrobial or antiviral claims or respirators and medical face masks.
Pandora Face Masks
Standard developer and President of International Personal Protection, Inc. Jeffrey Stull noted that the standard recommends a nonwoven filter either built into a cloth mask or inserted into a pocket. Single-layer cloth face masks are not as protective as those with nonwoven filters. Alternatively, layering a nonwoven disposable mask under a cloth mask can improve effectiveness.
Purple Wall Mask
On the leakage front, masks should have a secure fit without air escaping around the edges. Basically, all breath should flow THROUGH the mask, not around. Beyond that, the standards note that masks have a shelf life, and the more wear and tear they have, the less effective they are.
Minnie Mouse at a Temperature Check
So, how can YOU know if the mask you’re purchasing is up to standard? Look for the wording, “Meets ASTM F3502″ on the product. Keep in mind that the standard is fairly new so it may take some time for brands to test their masks and apply the standard.
Wishes Come True Face Mask
Standard developers also noted that they hope to evolve the standard over time as new information becomes available and they want to build a database with approved masks.
Together Again Face Mask
We will certainly be keeping an eye on the Disney masks to see if they are tested to fit in this standard. As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest updates on masks and how they may affect your Disney trip.
Click here to see the latest Disney Mask Policy update!
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
Have questions? Feel free to ask them in the comments!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
Great start.
Now ask yourself how long are the masks effective, also which virus does it truly protect you from…
Until then it’s pretty much repurposed underwear!
Just another ploy to get money This is not Walt’s Disney!
Hopefully masks won’t be around that much longer that they need to perfect a standard. They started has a health precaution, now it feels like a new way to make money. I wear them because I am required to, but since the so called experts keep changing their opinions on a day to day basis, I find it sometimes hard to believe. Just my opinion.
Would have been helpful a year ago. Hoping these things go away soon as the vaccine is available to all.
The blond woman in the first photo looks like Molly from AllEars.net, my other go to for all things Disney. Between the two of you, I get my Disney fix between trips.
any mask without a filter is basically useless. this comes from a medical expert. I recently ordered some disney masks and put in filters and nose wires. they work well.
Antiviral filtration being the sole reason people even wear these things. A rather critical detail not to test. Although, I strongly suspect Good Housekeeping lacks the facilities, & people who are qualified to perform such tests. I also notice that no one tests how long these things can effectively filter anything. Before covid, boxes of medical masks stated they were good for less than an hour. (Moisture from respiration renders them less than effective), now that warning is absent. Weird.
I literally have at least 50 masks as well as the disposable ones. I wear them because I have to when going to the park or inside some businesses. Personally I don’t care what they say I am a firm believer that face masks do not work unless they are the ones worn by doctors and nurses in a hospital setting. People have talked themselves into believing that this really protects them from covid but if you are within 6 feet of people and no one is coughing or sneezing in your face I really don’t see how you can get covid. CDC has already changed on their website and it now states that it is very unlikely that you can get it from touching anything and washing your hands takes care of that. The particles that cause covid are so micro that they can get through the masks. There also are not any real studies about masks and their efficacy. As I stated I do wear them where they are required. I just do not think they contribute much to stopping covid. I mean really if they did why are people still getting sick. I know this is an unpopular opinion but it is mine.
So it has taken a year to form a guideline that the mask shouldn’t leak, you should put a filter inside cloth, and you should be able to breath in it? And it doesn’t even address whether or not it’s effective against bacteria or viruses?
As anyone terribly embarrassed for our world?
Here is the problem with this article.
Currently the govt and CDC are saying that facemasks main purpose is to protect others from you.
So I wear a Mask so as not to expose others to my contaminated exhales.
But in this article they recommend a mask with a breathable valve / Filter. Which if memory serves… Disney has banned.
Because those allow you to breath out the contaminated air but breath in through the mask fibers.
So… they recommend a mask type that does not protect those around you.
This is very mis leading.
Face masks suck!
A day late and a dollar short??? We have been masking for a year.
I know you are trying to say and do the right thing DFB, but I’ve had personal friends that are nurse practitioners and nurses say these masks do not work–that only the ones that the health care professionals do. I realize maybe this is to TRY to keep us from getting COVID, because we just don’t know everything. However, I know the best thing to keep people safe from respiratory illnesses is distance. Unfortunately, masks encourage people to get close and encourage those at the highest risk to get out when they shouldn’t.
I know about half of you disagree with me, and that’s okay. That’s America.
Why are DFB comments full of anti-mask folk?