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Reuse of Filtering Facepiece Respirators in the COVID-19 Era

Author

Listed:
  • Joren Van Loon

    (Department of Product Development, Faculty of Design Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

  • Lore Veelaert

    (Department of Product Development, Faculty of Design Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

  • Sander Van Goethem

    (Department of Product Development, Faculty of Design Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

  • Regan Watts

    (Department of Product Development, Faculty of Design Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

  • Stijn Verwulgen

    (Department of Product Development, Faculty of Design Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

  • Jouke C. Verlinden

    (Department of Product Development, Faculty of Design Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
    Department of Sustainable Design Engineering, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CE Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Els Du Bois

    (Department of Product Development, Faculty of Design Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

Abstract

The current COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an immense and unforeseen increase in demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers worldwide. Amongst other products, respirator masks are crucial to protect the users against transmission of the virus. Decontamination and reuse of the existing stock could be a solution to the shortage of new respirators. Based upon existing studies, it was found that (I) a solid quality control method is essential to test product reuse, (II) in-depth evaluation of the different parts of the filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) should be considered, and (III) communication of the reuse cycle is essential to take track of the amount of reuse, as this is limited to ensure quality. The goal of this paper is two-fold. First, we identify the impact of decontamination on the different parts of the FFRs and how the quality control should be performed. Two different types of FFRs are analysed within this paper, resulting in the recommendation of combining quantitative respirator mask fit testing with a thorough sensory evaluation of decontaminated FFRs to qualify them for reuse. Secondly, the possibilities of communication of this reuse to the eventual user are mapped through in-depth reasoning.

Suggested Citation

  • Joren Van Loon & Lore Veelaert & Sander Van Goethem & Regan Watts & Stijn Verwulgen & Jouke C. Verlinden & Els Du Bois, 2021. "Reuse of Filtering Facepiece Respirators in the COVID-19 Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:2:p:797-:d:480912
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    Cited by:

    1. Charlotte Harding & Joren Van Loon & Ingrid Moons & Gunter De Win & Els Du Bois, 2021. "Design Opportunities to Reduce Waste in Operating Rooms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-14, February.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    reuse; respirators; product shortage; quality control; COVID19;
    All these keywords.

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