CannonDesign has formed a new coalition of designers and makers working to create urgently needed protective masks for healthcare workers on the front line of the COVID-19 crisis.
The team is ideating a better do-it-yourself mask that will be able to be produced efficiently to help meet the urgent need. Initial partners include SUNY Buffalo, materialsIn, Oxford Pennant, Stitch Buffalo, and The Factory Buffalo. The toymaker Fisher Price is also supporting the initiative.
Other designers and makers interested in collaborating can reach out via this form.
Slide clip design prototype.
The team is developing working prototypes. Once the prototypes are developed, these masks can be used by those on the front line of the COVID-19 crisis, or by health workers in lower acuity environments, which would free up the regulated N-95 makes for those on the front lines.
The collaborative team will create these masks through key steps, including:
- Establishing a “patternless-pattern” sewists can replicate efficiently
- Using 3D-printed clips or rubber bands to eliminate elastics or ties from the design
- Connecting experts to makers to share best practices and guidelines
- Building local networks and streamlined paths to get masks from makers to healthcare workers
The coalition expects to ship its first large batch of masks to Evergreen Health Services, Buffalo, by Friday, April 3, 2020. Clinical beta testing will be conducted over the weekend, and the team expects to begin ramping up production starting the week of April 6.
BUT THE QUESTION REMAINS: ARE HOMEMADE MASKS REALLY EFFECTIVE AGAINST CORONAVIRUS?
There is some question whether such homemade face masks actually work—that is, do they really protect healthcare workers, COVID-19 patients, or the public?
CannonDesign Principal Michael Tunkey, AIA, addressed this question in a recent blog in which he acknowledged that the “topline scientific conclusion” is that homemade cloth masks “do very little” to stop the novel cororavirus, and that the “real solution” is to ramp up production of N95 masks and other personal protective equipment.
Michael Tunkey wearing DIY prototype face mask.
But DIY masks can do some good and have a positive impact, Tunkey concludes. His rationale:
- Call them “cloth N95 protectors.” Many healthcare workers are being forced to wear their limited supply of N95 masks for an entire shift, he notes. A properly made DIY face mask that follows the “bra cup” shape can fit snugly over an N95 mask, thereby extending the life of the N95 masks in the field.
- Leave room for a HEPA filter. A well-designed cloth face mask has some type of wire nose closure and an open pocket to insert something like a HEPA filter, although, he says, “the material most effective to use in these pockets is still murky.” Until that murkiness is cleared up by “the experts” (where are we when we need you, Dr. Fauci?), DIYers should follow this best practice.
- DIY face masks might keep your sneeze in. Tunkey acknowledges that cloth masks are “pretty ineffective” at stopping airborne particles, but states that they might help when worn by infected persons, especially the many who don’t know they are infected.
Tunkey’s bottom line on DIY face masks: “Keep sewing,” but try to connect with a community of experts who can advise you on current best practices for mask design, protocols for infection control, the needs of the local healthcare community, and the logistics of delivery.
Related Stories
Coronavirus | Oct 2, 2020
With revenues drying up, colleges reexamine their student housing projects
Shifts to online learning raise questions about the value of campus residence life.
Coronavirus | Oct 1, 2020
The Weekly show: Decarbonizing Chicago, re-evaluating delayed projects, and the future of the jobsite
The October 1 episode of BD+C's "The Weekly" is available for viewing on demand.
Coronavirus | Sep 28, 2020
Cities to boost spending on green initiatives after the pandemic
More bikeways, car restrictions, mass transit, climate resilience are on tap.
Coronavirus | Sep 28, 2020
Evaluating and investing resources to navigate past the COVID-19 pandemic
As AEC firm leaders consider worst-case scenarios and explore possible solutions to surmount them, they learn to become nimble, quick, and ready to pivot as circumstances demand.
Coronavirus | Sep 24, 2020
The Weekly show: Building optimization tech, the future of smart cities, and storm shelter design
The September 24 episode of BD+C's "The Weekly" is available for viewing on demand.
Coronavirus | Sep 10, 2020
Mobile ordering is a centerpiece of Burger King’s new design
Its reimagined restaurants are 60% smaller, with several pickup options.
Coronavirus | Sep 9, 2020
Prefab: Construction’s secret weapon against COVID-19
How to know if offsite production is right for your project.
Coronavirus | Sep 3, 2020
The Weekly show: JLL's construction outlook for 2020, and COVID-19's impact on sustainability
The September 3 episode of BD+C's "The Weekly" is available for viewing on demand.
Coronavirus | Sep 1, 2020
6 must reads for the AEC industry today: September 1, 2020
Co-working developers pivot to survive the pandemic, and the rise of inquiry-based learning in K-12 communities.
Coronavirus | Aug 28, 2020
7 must reads for the AEC industry today: August 28, 2020
Hotel occupancy likely to dip by 29%, and pandemic helps cannabis industry gain firmer footing.