What you need to know about coronavirus

COVID-19

I am working in a hospital or clinic, can this mask suitable for me?

Unfortunately the Cambridge Mask is not suitable to be used in a hospital setting by members of a healthcare team as it is not a single use item and hence you would not want to dispose of it after contact with an infected patient. The hospital you work at will have an infection control policy which should be used when dealing with infected patients.

A Cambridge Mask could be used to reduce your risk of respiratory infections when you are not at work, for example if worn when in public settings or around others with respiratory infections. Other measures that can also be helpful include maintaining a good level of hand hygiene, avoiding crowded areas and keeping your distance from others (airborne transmission of respiratory pathogens is reduced significantly over a distance of greater than 2m).

Does the mask filter the Coronavirus?

Viruses usually travel on droplets of water, which are very large. The mask will block these particles. The Cambridge Mask PRO mask filters are treated with silver, which works to enhance the anti-viral properties of the technology.

What you need to know about coronavirus from The Australian Government Department of Health https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/what-you-need-to-know-about-coronavirus-covid-19

During this pandemic, how should I wash my mask?

Thorough washing will remove viruses and bacterial from all surfaces including hands, masks and worktops etc.

Cambridge Mask masks are hand washable, and should then be hung dry. Do not machine wash or machine dry as this can damage the filters.

You can find the washing instructions are on the back of the packaging. Wash the mask by gently massaging with warm soapy water, rinse thoroughly and leave to hang dry. This will remove dirt, makeup and dust, however please note it will not extend the life of the filters. We do not recommend you to microwave the mask or wash the mask in a boiling water.

Types

BASIC vs PRO: How to choose a mask type?

The Cambridge Mask BASIC is a mask that we manufactured to compliment our powerful PRO masks and to allow even more people gain access to clean air. Our BASIC mask is made with New Lab tested filtration technology and filters over 95% of pollution, gases, bacteria and viruses with up to 90 hours of use.

The Cambridge Mask PRO is a fashionable pollution mask that comes in a range of patterns and sizes. What makes PRO is different from BASIC is that the PRO mask is made by combining 3 unique layers; the outer printed layer, the three-ply particulate filter, and an activated carbon cloth which is tested British Military Filtration Technology and filters almost 100% of pollution, gases, 99.6% of viruses and 99.7% of bacteria. The PRO mask is also treated with silver to protect the wearer against bacteria and viruses which our BASIC mask doesn’t have. PRO masks have a longer lifespan compared to BASIC masks, and can last up to 340 hours of use.

Sizes

How to choose a mask size

To ensure the mask is the right size, please check when you inhale there are no gaps between the mask and the face which could allow air to enter. The mask is probably too small if it is pulling your ears forward or rising above your chin. We base the size on body weight. First, measure from the middle of your nose to about a little over an inch under your chin, this would be your reference for the first number on our size chart. The second number is from the middle of your left cheek to the middle of your right cheek for the width of the mask.

We're here to help. If you're confused with the sizing, please email us to [email protected].

Sizing : XS

Do not offer masks for babies under 1.5 years both due to potential choking risks and as babies lungs may not be able to overcome the resistance to draw air properly through our filter materials. A healthy child from this age onwards should be able to overcome the resistance to airflow due to the mask and therefore would not have their oxygen intake limited. Depending on the exact reason for the use of the mask from this age up it may be beneficial to use as mask rather than expose such as young child to high levels of pollution. Any respirator should only be worn by children under close adult supervision and should only be worn when required.

As the extra small size is indeed very small, and really designed for toddlers or very small children. The adjustable apparatus is too big for the mask and therefore we do not produce these at the moment. You may also notice the xs size does not come with a valve for the same reason. This does not usually create any issues as smaller children do not need to exhale as much air as adults

Usage

Can the mask be washed

The mask can be hand washed with Soap and hot water, however this will not extend the life of the filters as the pollution will be locked into them. As the whole mask is the filter, when past its useful life a new mask is needed. Please do not machine wash or dry the mask. You can find the washing instructions are on the back of the tin. Use warm water and soap to carefully massage the mask and leave to hang dry.

How long can the mask be used for?

Cambridge Masks‚ are non-disposable, meaning that you can use them for potentially 340 hours of active use, or 6 months of daily use during a commute or other activity. The length of time they are suitable for depends on how polluted the environment is when you use it.

A general guideline is that you can use the masks on a regular basis for 3-6 months before it needs replacing. Once the mask is past its useful life a new mask is needed. A table is provided below.

Pollution Level	Air Quality Condition (AQI)	Description	Replace after
Good	Below 50	Clear visibility to horizon	Mask not needed
Moderate/Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	51 - 150	Cannot see pollution with the naked eye, slight haz on horizon	340 hours
Unhealthy/Very Unhealthy	151 - 300	Haze at 2-3km visibility	220 hours
Hazardous	301 - 500	Clouds of pollution, visibility around 1km	180 hours
Beyond Index	Above 500	Visibility below 600 meters. Fog-like clouds of Pollution clearly visible even in bright sunlight	90 hours

How often do I need to change the filter?

You don’t need to change the filter because the whole mask is the filter. To provide the best seal possible we have sewn the filter directly into the mask. This does not mean the mask will expire faster either, as they are made to last 3-6 months, please check our usage table above to learn about the guidelines.

Does mask contain Latex?

The mask is totally latex free

What does the valve do?

The valve works in a way that it opens when you exhale and closes when you inhale. The easiest way to see this would be to look in the mirror and see how it works. We have made improvements to the valve to adjust the thickness of the inner membrane to allow for ease of opening and closing at the exact time of exhaling and inhaling.

Filtration

What does the mask filter?

Almost 100% of Particulate Matter (PM) including PM10, PM2.5 and PM0.3. These are the sort of particles you find in coal dust from power stations, diesel exhaust fumes, factory emissions and from construction works.

Almost 100% of gas based air pollution, including odours such as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Ozone, Benzathine, and Formaldehyde. These particulates you can find in petrol fumes, chemical emissions and from many industrial processes.

Almost 100% of harmful pathogens such as viruses and bacteria.

Other airborne irritants or allergens such as Dust, mould spores, some odours, pet allergens and pollen.

Has the mask been independently tested?

Cambridge Mask use a triple-layer filtration system which will protect from a range of airborne contaminants.

Test Performance:

• 99.6% average filtration of viruses
• 99.77% average filtration of bacteria
• 99.7% average particulate filtration down to 0.3 microns

The Cambridge Mask masks meet a wide range of tests to ensure they are effective and safe to use for the whole family.

✔Certified as child safe under 14 U.S.C 1278a and CFR Parts 1370 1501 1500.53 and 1500.44 (Certified by Bay Area Testing Labs)
✔EN149 standards for CE in the European Union (Certified by SAI Global and Apave Labs FR)
✔99.6% viral filtration efficiency and 99.7% bacterial filtration efficiency (tested by Nelson Labs USA)
✔Particle Filtration Efficiency >98%

Who is the mask for?

- Anyone exposed to urban environments with high air pollution levels – any big city often has higher air pollution. You can find a number of apps and websites to tell you the air quality in your area.

- People in at risk groups for respiratory disease, including children, elderly, pregnant women and those with existing respiratory conditions.

- Asthmatics and allergy sufferers including Hay Fever.

- Hobbyists and DIY such as woodworking and sanding.

- Anyone travelling to regions known for poor air quality such as China and India.

- Anyone seeking protection for airborne irritants such as Dust and mould.

Origin

Where are the masks made?

The mask filters are manufactured in the UK and the masks assembled in China. Cambridge Mask facilities meet the following international standards:ISO9001:2008, ISO13485:2003, ISO13485:2003

Distributor

We're happy to be a distributor of Cambridge Mask Co providing great quality British made anti dust pollution respirator in Australia