Note: If you are a healthcare professional, please visit 3M Medical - PPE Information and Guidance for more information.
A non-medical face covering or face mask is not the same as a surgical mask or a respirator. During the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S. CDC says surgical masks and respirators are critical supplies that should be reserved for health care workers and other first responders.
A non-medical face mask–such as a reusable cloth mask or a disposable mask–may help capture some respiratory droplets expelled by the wearer, which could help protect those around you as you breathe out, talk, cough, or sneeze.
Surgical masks are used by health care workers as a barrier to help protect them from high-velocity streams of liquids, such as blood, that they may be exposed to during certain medical procedures. Surgical masks also help capture some particles and droplets expelled by the wearer, such as those that may contain viruses and bacteria.
An N95 respirator or similar respirator is intended to seal tightly to the face, covering the mouth and nose, and can filter at least 95% of airborne particles, including those that may contain viruses and bacteria. N95 respirators play a crucial role for health care workers, first responders and other essential workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to maintaining 6 feet of physical distance, the U.S. CDC currently recommends “wearing non-medical cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.” These face coverings are not the same as a surgical mask or a respirator.
According to the U.S. CDC, people who should not wear a face covering/mask include children under the age of 2, anyone who has trouble breathing or has a related health condition, and anyone who can't remove a face covering/mask without help.
Face coverings/masks are NOT a substitute for a government-approved respirator and should not be relied upon for respiratory protection (wearer exposure reduction).
At this time, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have not made recommendations for respirator use by the general public. The CDC has recommended use of masks (not respirators) by members of the general public. More information on this can be found here.
As this is an evolving situation, we highly recommend that you consult local authorities and the WHO and CDC websites frequently for the most up-to-date information. Respirator use by the general public can be found here.
We continue to prioritize critical health care needs while supporting the broader opening of the economy. We are working to distribute respirators for use by workers who are returning to the workplace, while ensuring front-line healthcare workers have the PPE they need to effectively respond to COVID-19. Please work with your employer to determine what PPE is suitable for your workplace and how to secure it through 3M authorized distributors and federal and state government agencies.
Purchasing and production
KN95s are disposable respirators that are tested and certified to a China government standard (GB2626). The required filtration efficiency is very similar to that required for U.S. N95 disposable respirators; however, they are not approved by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). There are some respirators that have both the U.S. NIOSH N95 and the China KN95 approval on the same model.
Many KN95 respirators have a construction called “vertical flatfold,” which is not as commonly seen in the U.S. These respirators are packaged flat, with a vertical fold down the middle, but open up into a cup shape.
While N95 respirators feature headbands, KN95 respirators may feature either headbands or ear loops.
KN95 respirators are typically designed to fit people with facial features common in China. As a result, some individuals with different facial features may not be able to achieve a satisfactory fit. U.S. workers may experience fit test pass rates that are lower than they are accustomed to. If a fit test cannot be conducted–or the wearer cannot pass a fit test–then these products should be used as a face covering/mask, not a respirator. If appropriate fit can be attained, KN95s can help reduce exposure to airborne particles at a level similar to N95 respirators.
According to the U.S. CDC, here are some important things to look for in a non-medical reusable cloth face covering or mask:
In the U.S., employers are required to assess the hazards and risks faced by their employees and take steps to maintain a safe work environment, including providing PPE where needed. According to the U.S. CDC’s guidance for schools, recommendations include face coverings as source control, but do not include PPE such as respirators. You can learn more here.
Additionally, we encourage you to review the guidance from relevant government agencies, such as the the U.S. OSHA Guidance on Returning to Work which may help you evaluate your decisions and better understand PPE requirements.
We are doing all we can to meet the extraordinary need for PPE created by this worldwide pandemic. Please work with your employer to determine what PPE is suitable for your workplace and how to secure it through 3M authorized distributors and federal and state government agencies
Additional resources provided by relevant government agencies:
Fraud, price gouging and counterfeit products
We do not – and will not – tolerate price gouging, fraud, deception or other activities that unlawfully exploit the demand for critical 3M products during a pandemic. We’re working with law enforcement agencies around the world to aggressively pursue third parties that seek to take advantage of this crisis. We have also filed civil suits against certain price-gougers who have implied or stated an association with 3M; in those suits, we seek injunctions against further bad conduct as well as damages—any damages recovered will be donated to COVID-19 relief efforts. We’re also, in coordination with e-marketplace operators, making referrals to law enforcement authorities, taking down websites with fraudulent or counterfeit product offerings, removing false or deceptive social media pages, and sending cease and desist letters as a first step prior to taking further legal action.
We have created a new hotline for help in identifying authentic 3M products and ensuring products are from 3M authorized distributors. If you’re in the U.S. or Canada, please give us a call at 1-800-426-8688.
We have created a new hotline for help in identifying authentic 3M products and ensuring products are from 3M authorized distributors. If you’re in the US or Canada, please give us a call at 1-800-426-8688.
We have also created resources to help people avoid inflated prices, detect fraud, and identify counterfeit products. Please visit our COVID-19 Fraud website to learn more.
Additionally, if you have any concerns about potentially fraudulent activity please report them on our website linked here.
To help customers identify and avoid inflated prices, we have published current single-case list prices for the most common 3M N95 respirator models sold in the U.S.
Please view the N95 Respirator Pricing PDF linked here for more information.
We recommend purchasing our respirators from 3M authorized distributors, as that offers the greatest assurance that you will receive authentic 3M products. In other words, we do not recommend purchasing respirators from unknown sellers on multi-party internet e-commerce platforms. Here are some tips to help avoid counterfeit products:
Please view Avoiding Counterfeit Respirators PDF linked here for more information on how to avoid purchasing counterfeit products.
Additionally, if you’re in the U.S. or Canada and you’re concerned about any potential fraudulent or counterfeit activity, please call us at 1-800-426-8688 or contact us via our website linked here.
We have not increased the prices we charge for respirators as a result of this global crisis, and we will not increase our current prices for respirators being used to help address the pandemic. We do not – and will not – tolerate price gouging, fraud, deception or other activities that unlawfully exploit the demand for critical 3M products during a pandemic. We’re working with law enforcement agencies around the world to aggressively pursue third parties that seek to take advantage of this crisis. We have also filed civil lawsuits against multiple price-gougers and bad actors who have implied or stated an association with 3M to defraud purchasers; in most of those lawsuits, we seek injunctions to stop further bad conduct. If we recover monetary damages, we will donate those to COVID-19 relief efforts. We’re also, in coordination with e-marketplace operators, making referrals to law enforcement authorities, taking down websites with fraudulent or counterfeit product offerings, removing false or deceptive social media pages, and sending cease and desist letters as a first step prior to taking further legal action.
Please visit our COVID-19 Fraud website for more information.
Additionally, if you’re in the U.S. or Canada and you’re concerned about any potential fraudulent or counterfeit activity, please contact us via our website linked here.
Product use and shelf life
Note: If you are a healthcare professional, please visit 3M Medical - PPE Information and Guidance for more information
When properly selected and worn, any of 3M’s elastomeric respirator facepieces – when used with an appropriate particulate filter – will help reduce exposure to airborne droplets or aerosols, including those that may contain virus or bacteria. Our half facepiece reusable respirator options include the 6000 Series, 6500 Series, or 7500 Series. All of these would require separate eye protection, per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Please note that our full facepiece respirators feature integrated eye protection. Additionally, you’d need to select an appropriate particulate filter, and one such option is our 6092X-series cartridges and 7000-series particulate filters, which feature hard cases that can be wiped down as part of your facility's infection prevention and disinfection protocols.
Additional Resources: