An open source resources library to help people produce medical masks and face shields to keep medical practitioners safe.

While industrial manufacturers are ramping up production to meet the needs of medical professionals tomorrow, essential supplies are currently in short supply around the globe today. Setting an example of how designers can lend a hand in these efforts, online furniture retailer Inside Weather have redirected focus to develop an open source resources library intended to guide businesses and individuals to produce medical masks and face shields to help keep medical practitioners safe.

Developed in partnership with the San Joaquin General Hospital in Northern California, Inside Weather industrial designers focused on three primary pieces of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Masks, Face Shields, and Containment. Two of the three templates are currently available, including a protective face mask that can be assembled using readily available household materials like vacuum bags as an acceptable alternative to medical grade supplies. Researchers at the University of Cambridge compared the effectiveness of household materials against a surgical mask. The results showed an average household vacuum cleaner bag provides a filtration efficacy of 94.4%, only 2% behind the effectiveness of a surgical mask which stands at 96.4%. A tea towel at 83.2% efficiency.
Similarly, the design team researched the basic components used to make a medical face shield...