FAQ: Why the Strapless N95?
In terms of mask protection, the Strapless N95 respirator surpasses all other options currently available in the market. This revolutionary product is a versatile respirator that offers substantial defense against airborne particles for both adults and children. Unlike masks secured with elastic straps or ties, which often result in ill-fitting and inadequate protection due to gaps around the mask’s edges, the Strapless N95 respirator utilizes a hypoallergenic medical adhesive along the mask’s perimeter to form a secure seal directly to your face. This unique adhesive seal ensures exceptional protection. The Strapless N95 respirator is conveniently pocket-sized and incredibly lightweight.
Key features of the Strapless N95 respirator:
Effective Seal: Our Strapless N95 respirator utilizes hypoallergenic medical adhesive, creating a secure seal that effectively blocks airborne pathogens and other harmful particulates.
Two-Way Protection: Offering two-way protection, the Strapless N95 respirator safeguards you both during inhalation and exhalation, ensuring comprehensive defense.
Custom Fit: Available in three sizes, our respirator ensures a custom fit for maximum comfort and effectiveness, accommodating various face shapes and sizes.
Reduced Breathing Resistance: With its high-tech filter media, the Strapless N95 respirator minimizes breathing resistance, enabling easier and more comfortable breathing.
High-Quality Audio Communication: Our respirator features high-quality audio communication capabilities, allowing clear and effective communication while wearing the mask.
Anti-Fog Design: The Strapless N95 respirator is designed to prevent fogging, ensuring clear visibility.
Portability: The respirator is portable, providing convenient, weightless protection on the go. It is ready whenever and wherever you need it.
Latex-Free: The Strapless N95 respirator is completely latex-free, making it suitable for individuals with latex allergies.
Proudly Made in the USA: We take pride in manufacturing the Strapless N95 respirator in the USA, ensuring the highest quality standards and supporting local production.
Benefits of the Strapless N95 Respirator:
Cooler Breathing Air: The Strapless N95 respirator features a unique airflow design that provides breathing air up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit cooler, ensuring a more comfortable experience even in hot and humid environments.
No Painful Elastic Straps: Unlike traditional masks with elastic straps that can cause discomfort and irritation, the Strapless N95 respirator eliminates the need for painful straps, offering a more pleasant and snug fit without compromising protection.
No Painful Metal Nose Clip: Say goodbye to the discomfort of metal nose clips. The Strapless N95 respirator is free from metal nose clips, providing a comfortable and secure fit without any pressure points.
Increased Comfort and Field of View: With its innovative design, the Strapless N95 respirator enhances overall comfort and allows for a broader field of view. You can wear it for extended periods without experiencing discomfort or restricted vision.
Easy Fit Testing: The Strapless N95 respirator is easy to fit test, simplifying the process of ensuring a proper seal. This feature saves time and effort, ensuring that you achieve optimal protection with minimal hassle.
Space-Saving Flat Configuration: The respirator’s flat configuration is designed to save valuable space, making it ideal for stockpiling and storage. You can conveniently store a larger quantity of respirators without taking up excessive room.
Fog-Free for Eyeglass Wearers: The Strapless N95 respirator is specifically designed to prevent fogging, even for individuals wearing eyeglasses. You can confidently wear your eyeglasses without worrying about impaired vision caused by fogging.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Strapless N95 mask, distributed by Alliant Biotech, is a NIOSH-Certified Level 2 FFR (filtering facepiece respirator) invented by Global Safety First (who branded it ReadiMask) and manufactured by Avery Dennison. It is considered PPE, not a medical device.
- Maximum Protection: Forms an air-tight seal while allowing filtration during inhalation and exhalation.
- Comfortable to Wear: Soft material fits the contour of the face. Its self-sealing design eliminates the need for a nose bridge and ear straps that often cause significant discomfort, skin irritation, or pressure sores.
- Breathable: Made with electrostatic particle filtration properties that improve ease and airflow temperature.
- Stays in Place: No need to touch it to readjust it while in use. Minimal obstruction of vision and fogging of eyewear.
- Convenient Storage: lays flat like a sheet of cloth, making it easy to store more masks locally.
Avery Dennison asked frontline healthcare professionals who have worn the Strapless N95 mask for extended use to convey why they prefer the Strapless N95 mask design. Here’s what they’ve shared with us:
- “It was so much more comfortable than what I normally wear. It doesn’t hurt my ears, you don’t have to pull it tight, it just seals. It almost feels like it’s too good to be true.” (KC, Physician Assistant, Emergency Medicine & Orthopedic Surgery, Los Angeles)
- “It’s cooler, more breathable, and allows for deeper breaths. The mask is so lightweight you forget that you have one on.” (LM, ICU Nurse, Health System, Indiana)
- “The mask was easy to remove with minimal discomfort even after [only] one hour of wearing it. When I took off the mask, I felt comfortable without any residual effects.” (JC, Radiology, Health System, Chicago Suburbs)
- “I didn’t have to mess with it at all other than peeling it back to drink water. I didn’t feel the need to readjust it or touch it because it wasn’t constantly moving around. That reduces the risk of contaminants that may transmit to the hands.” (KC, Physician Assistant, Emergency Medicine & Orthopedic Surgery, Los Angeles)
Yes. When properly worn, the unique mask design meets N95 qualitative and quantitative fit-test requirements. If you want to view a brief video about properly applying the N95 mask for your fit test, click here. For the best results during your fit test, follow the below guidelines:
- Before use: read, understand, and follow the Quickstart Guide
- Practice applying the mask at least 3 times before conducting a fit test.
- Check for an air-tight seal by performing a seal check by breathing in and out deeply. You should not feel any air leaking along the edges of the mask. If necessary, seal any leaks by applying pressure to those areas until the leak stops. Go back over the entire adhesive border of the mask to press the seal again firmly with your fingers.
- Please follow your organization’s fit-test requirements for using an N95 mask.
Children 5 years of age and older can wear the Strapless N95.
Yes. The design is NIOSH certified and meets ASTM filtration standards. The special air-purifying filter material is designed to maintain protection while significantly improving ease of breathing and temperature of airflow.
The colored netting is only needed during the manufacturing process and does not play a role in filtration. The Strapless N95 is just as effective without the netting.
The design has high breathability and does not need an exhalation valve that you may find on other masks. All air passes through the filter material, protecting you and others around you.
Avery Dennison applied a default expiration to the Strapless N95 sold to and distributed by Alliant BiotechTM; however, there is no imprinted expiration date on any of the ReadiMask packaging materials or labeling. GSF packages the Strapless N95 mask in custom packaging materials – none of which have a manufactured date or expiration date. Alliant Biotech will comply with the inventor and owner of the Strapless N95/ReadiMask warranty of three years past the purchase date. See our Return Policy.
No. The Strapless N95 and ReadiMask are the same mask, manufactured by Avery Dennison. Alliant Biotech is an authorized distributor of the Strapless N95. View our Strapless N95/ReadiMask Comparison video.
The mask is repositionable, which makes it easy to position it on your face and remove it when needed. Before use, please review the below Quickstart Guide. We suggest using a mirror for easy placement, keeping the printed portion of the mask on the bottom, facing out.
- Quickstart Guide: Click here.
- Brief instructional video: Click here.
The printed label strip identifies the side of the mask material that is to face out once it is placed on your face. The label strip should be positioned at the bottom of the mask when applied to the face and can remain on the mask, or it can be removed.
Yes, the mask can be repositioned, temporarily removed, and reapplied without substantial loss of adhesion. The number of times the mask can be reapplied depends on skin type, work setting, and activity level.
Follow the Quickstart Guide instructions, including conducting a User Seal Check by breathing in and out deeply. When sealed properly, you should not feel any air leaking along the edges of the mask. Dispose of the mask and replace it with a new mask if an effective seal no longer exists.
We use hypoallergenic medical-grade adhesive around the perimeter of the mask. Our adhesives are tested for biocompatibility according to the ISO10993 standard. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and summaries of components’ biocompatibility testing results (ISO 10993) will be provided upon request from Avery Dennison by emailing: medical.solutions@averydennison.com, where available. Customers should perform their own assessments on final products in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.
This product should not be used on individuals who are sensitive to or who have had an allergic reaction to the mask or its components. Should irritation (reddening, inflammation), maceration (whitening of the skin), or sensitivity (allergic reaction) occur, consult a healthcare professional.
No. This N95 mask contains no components made from natural rubber latex.
Excessive use of moisturizer or make-up may affect the performance of the air-tight seal. If a secure seal does not exist, try using an alcohol wipe to ensure your face is clean. Let your skin air dry, and then try applying the mask again.
Beards and other facial hair may prevent an effective seal between the face and the adhesive seal of the N95 mask. If a secure seal cannot be achieved when following the Quickstart Guide instructions, you may need to remove any facial hair before use.
- Each time you apply the N95 mask, perform a User Seal Check by breathing in and out deeply to verify that air is not leaking along the edges of the mask.
- If you CANNOT achieve a proper, leak-free fit, ensure your skin is dry and free of oil. Seal the leak by applying pressure to those areas as needed until the leak stops. Retrace the entire border of the mask with your fingers one more time, firmly pressing the adhesive seal of the mask to your skin.
- If you cannot achieve a proper seal when following our instructions to apply initially, you may need to use a different size mask. If the mask begins to leak while in use and re-sealing is impossible, discard and replace the N95 mask.
When temporary removal is needed, store the N95 mask in a clean, dry area by either placing it on a flat surface with the adhesive side up or by re-adhering the mask to the original release liner (the release liner is the material on the back side perimeter of the mask used to protect the adhesive before use).
The N95 mask can be repositioned, temporarily removed, and reapplied without substantial loss of adhesion. The number of times the mask can be reapplied depends on skin type, work setting, and activity level. However, it is a single-use N95 particulate respirator and not intended for reuse beyond a single day.
There is no regulated test that measures the effectiveness of the acrylic adhesive on human skin. Similar to bandages, the longevity of adhesive is impacted mostly by storage conditions and the environment.
There is no regulated test that measures the effectiveness of acrylic adhesive over time. The material that the strapless N95 is made of does not expire.
Yes. Alliant Biotech warrants the viability of the strapless N95 masks for 3 years beyond the purchase date, the same as the mask inventor, Global Safety First, LLC. For mask expiration and warranty information, refer to this MEMO.
Yes. The Strapless N95 contains no metals, metallic fibers, antimicrobial coatings, or metallic nanoparticles. The Strapless N95 masks are safe for use in MRI procedures.
The Strapless N95 comes in three sizes: Small (fits children and adults with petite faces), Large (fits most adults, both men and women, and Extra Large (fits people with larger than average faces). For sizing tips, review the Sizing Guide.
Sizes (3) | Approximate Product Dimensions (Stores Flat) | Colors (2) |
Small | 7 in. x 5 in. | Yellow |
Large | 8 in. x 6 in. | Grey |
Extra Large | 9 in. x 7 in. |
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Initial Orders: We recommend including all three sizes to accommodate varying face sizes, with 60% of units in Large; 35% of units in Small, and 5% of units in Extra Large. (Note: “Large” typically corresponds to “Medium”)
When the mask was originally manufactured, the proprietary materials available to make the mask were yellow. This was desired, as it was originally invented to serve as a more effective, comfortable respirator for first responders. Safety is more important than fashion.
Yes, but it is not necessary. Because this N95 mask is sealed to the face with medical-grade acrylic adhesive, there should be no need for an additional N95.
Medical-grade skin-friendly adhesives.
NIOSH Approval Holder, Global Safety First LLC: TC#84A-8133
Is available under EUA per FDA Guidance Enforcement Policy for Face Masks and Respirators During the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency (May 2020).
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, USA
Production is at Avery Dennison Medical’s Mentor, Ohio facility. The facility is:
- NIOSH certified
- FDA registered
- ISO 13485 and MDSAP compliant
All Alliant Biotech statements, technical information, and recommendations are based on manufacturer (Avery Dennison) tests believed to be reliable but do not constitute a guarantee or warranty. All sales of the Strapless N95 are sold with the understanding that the purchaser has independently determined the suitability of such products for its purposes.