Anything that has earloops (this includes most of the KN95s that I’ve seen and all KF94s) can’t be a respirator, because it’s nearly impossible to form a seal between the filter material and the face with the low amount of tension that earloops provide. There will be massive air leakage and the filtration efficiency will be much less than 95% (the minimum standard for most respirators), regardless of the filtration efficiency of the filter material itself.
For kids, options exist that are likely to be lot better than anything with earloops. Some KN95s do have head straps like N95s (but I’ve heard that a good seal is not easy to get around the nose due to the lack of a piece of foam which N95s often have). Kid-sized elastomeric respirator-like facepieces (like the Flo Mask and Aria 19) exist and some have been “tested to” N95 or higher standards (but not officially approved by any standards body, AFAIK). A PAPR that can fit anyone can be DIYed. Although it isn’t officially approved by any standards body either AFAIK, the seals and filtering material can be verified by the person that’s DIYing it.
Most of these products have an ear loop design. NIOSH-approved N95s typically have head bands. Furthermore, limited assessment of ear loop designs, indicate difficulty achieving a proper fit. While filter efficiency shows how well the filter media performs, users must ensure a proper fit is achieved.
The masks in the photo are KN95s. N95s aren’t manufactured in child sizes.
I wore an N95, one kid wore a KN95, and the other switched to an N95 partway through the trip after we realized they fit her.
What’s the idea behind KN95s not being respirators? Would you say an N95 isn’t a respirator? A KF94?
Anything that has earloops (this includes most of the KN95s that I’ve seen and all KF94s) can’t be a respirator, because it’s nearly impossible to form a seal between the filter material and the face with the low amount of tension that earloops provide. There will be massive air leakage and the filtration efficiency will be much less than 95% (the minimum standard for most respirators), regardless of the filtration efficiency of the filter material itself.
For kids, options exist that are likely to be lot better than anything with earloops. Some KN95s do have head straps like N95s (but I’ve heard that a good seal is not easy to get around the nose due to the lack of a piece of foam which N95s often have). Kid-sized elastomeric respirator-like facepieces (like the Flo Mask and Aria 19) exist and some have been “tested to” N95 or higher standards (but not officially approved by any standards body, AFAIK). A PAPR that can fit anyone can be DIYed. Although it isn’t officially approved by any standards body either AFAIK, the seals and filtering material can be verified by the person that’s DIYing it.
What you say makes sense, but it isn’t how other people use the term. For example, the CDC says:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.html#respirators
The CDC also says:
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/respirators/testing/NonNIOSHresults.html