Publications

A Sandia COVID-19 LDRD effort, the Sandia E-PiPEline Team, systematically evaluated design options for face shields constructed from commonly available materials (CAMs). This study is not focused on face shields for medical applications, and as such, has excluded labeling and flammability considerations suggested by the FDA. Design options for face shields were analyzed with subject matter expert input considering the design's effectiveness (seal around face), reusability (compatibility with solvents, degree of inertness), producibility (ability to obtain materials, build time), cost, and comfort (fit around head, contact surface interface). Observations for the design of face shields using CAMS are provided here.

The Center for Disease Control has recommended that the public should wear cloth face coverings in public settings'. A Sandia COVID-19 LDRD effort, the Sandia E-PiPEline Team, systematically evaluated design options for face coverings constructed from commonly available materials (CAMS). The design options were analyzed with subject matter expert input considering the design's effectiveness (metric fiber density, material construction, and water saturation), reusability (degree of inertness), producibility (ability to obtain materials, build time), cost, and comfort (fit on face, breathability). Observations for the design of face coverings using CAMs are provided here.

The Center for Disease Control has recommended that to reduce potential exposure to COVID-19 the public should wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. These face coverings and other Emulated-Personal Protective Equipment (E-PPE) can be made by using Commonly Available Materials (CAMs). As E-PPE recommendations continue to flood the media, a Sandia COVID-19 LDRD effort, the Sandia E-PiPEline Team, systematically evaluated E-PPE design options considering their effectiveness, durability, build difficulty, build cost, and comfort. Using qualitative and semi-quantitative evaluation tools, results of the investigation are presented here to provide guidelines for home and office construction of E-PPE.

The Center for Disease Control has recommended that to reduce potential exposure to COVID-19 the public should wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. These face coverings and other Emulated-Personal Protective Equipment (E-PPE) can be made by using Commonly Available Materials (CAMs). As E-PPE recommendations continue to flood the media, a Sandia COVID-19 LDRD effort, the Sandia E-PiPEline Team, systematically evaluated E-PPE design options considering their effectiveness, durability, build difficulty, build cost, and comfort. Using qualitative and semi-quantitative evaluation tools, results of the investigation are presented here to provide guidelines for home and office construction of E-PPE.

The Center for Disease Control has recommended the public to wear cloth face coverings in public settings that reduce potential exposure to COVID-19 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 and other Emulated-Personal Protective Equipment (EPPE) can be made by using Commonly Available Materials (CAMs). As part of the Sandia COVID-19 LDRD effort (funded under the Materials Science Investment Area), the Sandia E-PiPEline task evaluated E-PPE design options for face coverings and face shields considering their effectiveness, durability, build difficulty, build cost, and comfort. Observations from this investigation are presented here to provide guidelines for home construction of E-PPE. This executive summary includes a brief roadmap of the analysis methodology, two one-page handouts geared to be distributed to the public at large (one for E-PPE face coverings and one for E-PPE face shields), and additional observations regarding the potential solutions for E-PPE face coverings and face shields included to further support the one-page handouts.