Testing and standards

Professional Performance For Everybody.

Despite ever growing environmental and epidemiological concerns, there are still no established regulatory standards for everyday civilian protective masks.
Since 2015, AirPop has seamlessly connected workplace respirators with the daily protection needs of everyone outside of occupational respiratory protection programs.

We've designed “air wearables” that merge daily comfort with top-tier performance, ensuring they exceed all professional PPE benchmarks in filtration, and breathability.

The Most Penetrating Particle Size

For filtration experts, it's long been established that the most challenging particle size for a respirator to filter is precisely 0.3 microns. Here's why:

A micron is 1/1000 nanometers (1/25,000 of an inch)

Elusive Size

Particles of 0.3 microns behave unpredictably. A mask's true filtration prowess is gauged by its efficiency at capturing these particles, ensuring even finer and larger particles are filtered.

Benchmark For Standards

In 42 CFR Part 84 guidelines for respirator filter testing, NIOSH specifies 0.3-micron particle size, to represent the most challenging conditions for airborne occupational hazards.

Health Concerns

Particles ranging from 0.3 to 0.9 microns pose the greatest risk. These particles are small enough to bypass our respiratory defenses, but large enough to obstruct effortless exhalation.

Certified Performance By Leading Labs

At AirPop, we focus on what matters most in filtration.

AirPop face masks have earned certifications from two premier PPE labs in North America, employing rigorous industry-standard tests and demonstrating >97% filtration efficacy with 0.3-micron particle size.

Not only do our masks surpass the renowned KN95 international filtering facepiece respirator criteria, they also exceed the rigorous requirements set out in the North American ASTM F3502-21 barrier mask standard.

ASTM F3502-21

High-Performance Barrier Mask
Certified by Intertek, Cortland NY.
The ASTM FS502-21 Standard for barrier face masks was introduced in February 2021 and is based upon the methodology set by a joint NIOSH / CDC / ASTM panel, testing performed using 0.3 micron particles.

ASTM F3502-21 also evaluate any reusable mask performance only following a minimum of 10 cleans/washes.

GB 2626:2019 (KN95)

Air Purifying Particulate Respirator
Certified by SGS Labs, Michigan.
GB2626:2019 (KN95) is the Chinese equivalent of the N95 filter standard, but permits ear loops (as opposed to the dual head straps found on most N95 respirators). This difference has meant KN95 style respirators have become a more convenient and comfortable everyday choice for many.

KN95 is a standard for respirators designed for up to 8 hours of single-use.