General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMask Material --Think Out of the Box: How about HEPA Home Air Conditioning Unit Filters?
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A TBA brain fart: Filtrete 2800 or 2200 model home filters
And, since the material is accordioned, the amount of unfolded media is 4-5 larger than the box.
https://www.filtrete.com/3M/en_US/filtrete/products/?N=4315+3292675507+3294529207&rt=rud
Attracts and captures microscopic particles such as smoke, cough and sneeze debris, bacteria and virusesand large particles, including lint, household dust and pollen
EDIT: They could also be cut into circles , rectangles and stacked and used as makeshift respirator mask filters.
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Merlot
(9,696 posts)They're made of fabric, pretty thick, but I can breath through it.
happybird
(4,644 posts)We posted at the same time.
happybird
(4,644 posts)and if they could somehow be converted into mask material.
Merlot
(9,696 posts)Then cut the vacuum bag into filters sized pieces. That way you'd use less of the vacuum bag. Change out the filters as needed.
I'm wondering if they can be washed/sanitized?
gibraltar72
(7,513 posts)In_The_Wind
(72,300 posts)dweller
(23,682 posts)and i could construct an isolation chamber
🤔
i also read vacuum bags would work, cut out 2 holes for eyes
voila, mystery comedian style
😁
✌🏼
dalton99a
(81,637 posts)who are constantly within 6 ft of patients)
https://thewirecutter.com/blog/can-hepa-air-purifiers-capture-coronavirus/
Merlot
(9,696 posts)it would at least help. There are not as many sick people around and you're hopefully staying outside of 6 feet from everyone, a luxury medical professionals don't have.
TheBlackAdder
(28,227 posts).
https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1740587O/filtrete-merv-vs-mpr.pdf
It would have to be enclosed in a cloth material for comfort.
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WePurrsevere
(24,259 posts)have used them for hubby and I. From what I can see as long as they filter out .3 microns they're about, if not the same, filtration as the N95 mask.
From experience I suggest adding a soft paper towel to the side next to your face. Fan told it the same way as the filter. I use cotton crochet yarn to tie it.
Jersey Devil
(9,875 posts)Then you'd be breathing the fiberglass particles into your lungs with every breath.
TheBlackAdder
(28,227 posts)ornotna
(10,807 posts)You would be breathing the particles just using them in your AC system I would think.
Jersey Devil
(9,875 posts)If you start cutting up filters you would lose the containment at least in part.
ornotna
(10,807 posts)They're usually made with polyester and cotton.
https://www.brennanshvac.com/blog/what-is-your-furnace-air-filter-made-of
TheBlackAdder
(28,227 posts)CrispyQ
(36,540 posts)and a wire nose guard.
https://jennifermaker.com/face-mask-patterns-cricut/
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,496 posts)We should not be suggesting or recommending any material or product for other people's protection against contracting a potentially fatal disease unless it has been approved and tested under the Federal code linked here:
42 CFR Part 84 Respiratory Protective Devices: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=c9c15fd462ffe5c4f4e85b73f161b2e0&r=PART&n=42y1.0.1.7.67#se42.1.84_11143
Filtration materials are carefully selected and tested under the worse case conditions of use for each application, including particulate or gas capture rate and breathing air flow rate, and production of assembled devices is carefully controlled and monitored. Pleated or flat HEPA filter material for furnaces and air purifiers is tested only for their specific intended use.
Of course, we are free to use anything we like for our own personal protection. Just please be aware that you may be creating a false sense of security for yourself and others around you by using anything not scientifically proven fit for purpose by a certified testing lab.
TheBlackAdder
(28,227 posts).
People are reusing N95, P100, P95, R95 & R100 masks, making shields out of plastic lettuce box lids, and trying to scrounge for anything that can suffice due to the lack of available masks, that general guideline does not apply anymore.
That was a January 2015 guideline.
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KY_EnviroGuy
(14,496 posts)If we're going to post ideas of any sort for personal protection against a deadly virus, we should include a disclaimer reminding everyone it is purely an untested amateur idea and has no guarantee of performing the task and to use at your own risk.
What guarantee can you provide that such ideas are even the least bit effective? I'll remind everyone that we're dealing with virus particles on the order of 0.05 microns diameter in aerosol form or micron-size water vapor with entrained virus and common sense rules do not apply. Each filter media is designed to capture a certain percentage of particulate in a certain size range, of a certain chemical nature, and for a specific air flow rate per unit area. When design flow rates are exceeded, micron-size particles can rush through a filter like a rocket.
Any type common filter media will likely block a certain unknown percentage of vapor and particulate trying to pas through it. But is that percentage 2% or is it 75%, or is it nearly zero? However, in our culture, use of such things tend to create complacency and recklessness, especially as thousands of amateur ideas float about on blogs and social media.
I don't think I could live with the shame if I recommended the use of a product intended for furnace filters to my next door neighbor after which he jury-rigged himself a mask and then went to his job for a long shift at a retail store or hospital, totally believing that he was safe and then died the next week of coronavirus.
I posted the link to the NIOSH rule so people could realize how complex the requirements are for such devices. They are complex for a reason.