Razer Zephyr: I'm not sure they did anything wrong and why you probably wouldn't win a lawsuit.

[Commodore Sim]

So the general public doesn't have a clue what N95 means, but basically after the widely public respiratory issues from the 9/11 Twin Towers cleanup industries outside the medial industry got specific about covering their liabilities for PPE they issue their employees.  Except, only sort of.  N95 only rates the filter itself, you could make an N95 rated surgical style mask, because even though it's leaky on the edges the filter is still N95.  None the less the term N95 entered common parlance as a result.

 

But what is N95? Well this is part of the USA National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) which created a standard for respiratory air filters.  This standard is in two parts, letter and number.  The letter rates the oil and other solvent resistance going from N which could basically stand for "none" followed by R, and P is the highest.  Fell free to search R95 and P95 masks as they do exist and should be used in workplaces with oils and solvents including kitchens, how many food service workers such as line cooks aren't being provided R95 respirators?  The number portion is more obviously understood. Simply it's the percentage of particles able to pass through the filter under NIOSH's testing parameters. NIOSH again provides 3 tiers; 95, 99, 100(99.97%).  So it should be now noted that N95 is actually the lowest possible rating, and is definitely not the "gold standard," Rather it's the 'cheapest possible that employers are not as liable, because they have provided a device with a standardized rating' standard

 

Side note: KN-95 is not a NIOSH rating, it's a Chinese copy of the NIOSH standard that basically mirrors the testing procedure for N95.  KN-95 does integrate a facial leakage test, though I generally feel this is largely pointless as nobody's face is the same shape.

 

NIOSH does not do facial leakage testing, and their designations do not mean anything for leakage protection.  This makes even more sense when you realize they use the same designation for cartridge type filters, you cannot directly wear a cartridge.   When the general public says "N95 mask" they are actually referring to a Fitted Respirator.  With understanding of what the N95 rating defines, I have full confidence the filters inside the Razer Zephyr are rated at N95.

 

Now the Zephyr is not marketed as a Respirator, instead it is a "Wearable Air Purifier."  Since this controversy they have also added "(THIS IS NOT A N95 MASK/RESPIRATOR)" to the webpage, which is funny but true since the Zephyr form factor really doesn't fit what we think of for breathing mask.  Yet still integrates N95 filters.  While the term "purifier' does seem to have some meaning in water filtration, in air filtration this term seems to be loosely defined.  In the case of the Zephyr the use of N95 filters would seem to be a good faith effort towards their claim.  Though I would argue that the filter housing itself must provide a quality seal to prevent filter bypass.  I do not know if the Zephyr achieves this, and IMO the product should be recalled if it cannot.

 

Let's be clear about the standards; legally a respirator must be certified by a standards body such as ANSI, CSA, or CEN.  Obviously Razer didn't do this,  Though I doubt that is a fast process.  Either Razer knew the product wouldn't pass or wanted to get to market faster.  I suspect the latter was more important to Razer.  Remember like Linus says: Corporations are not your friends. 

 

Now lets pretend for a moment the Zephyr did actually get a certification, they still are not liable, not even ethically.  See the standards certificate does not mean you are safe wearing a respirator.  Essentially for a respirator to be considered safe for yourself there are 3 components: Filter rating, Quality rating(ANSI, CSA, ect.), and finally Fitment.   Filter rating we already discussed, Quality rating is more focused on the assembly; do internal seals leak or not, how long do one way valves last, how well do the straps work, there will only be minimal accounting for fitment because again faces are too unique.  There is basically no such thing as a one size fits all respirator at least nothing comfortable.  Which is why high standards industries like mining and healthcare must do individual fitment tests on each and every employee.  Healthcare workers who prefer to use mask type respirators because they are disposable are individually rated for specific models. I remember a nurse I knew back at the beginning of the pandemic who was very distressed because the only respirator she cleared fitment on was discontinued.  Also of note is that no traditional respirator can achieve fitment when a beard is present, though most can accommodate mustaches.  This is why you'll never see commercial airline pilots with beards, but mustaches are common.  Though in their case this is for their emergency oxygen mask, but the principals of fitment are exactly the same.

 

Oh and Razer has always had this text on their page: "User to ensure device is worn properly to form airtight seal" and I would not be surprised if it's on the physical product literature as well.  Legally about the only leg one has to stand on is Razer's use of the word "safe" but really that's a larger discussion of accountability of using buzzwords in modern marketing in general IMO.  Nevertheless I think it is productive discussion to question whether Razer should be using the word Safe in their marketing.  However I think that the discussions like those on the WAN show are of bad faith and false expectations.  Razer delivered a unique and interesting looking product in a timely enough manner that still exceeds the common standard of cloth coverings and cheap surgical style masks. 

 

No doubt we'll find somebody calling me a Razer fanboy or shill for this post, so I'll respond to that.  No I don't own a Zephyr, Yes I do own Razer products. I think that Razer products generally deliver quality proportionate to their price tag, especially factoring how commonly available they are.  Almost certainly there are better quality products to be found for similar or even better pricing, and I applaud those that do buyers research to obtain those products.  Nonetheless it has been my experience that Razer products do provide an acceptable longevity for the price they cost.  Also Yes I've heard that this is not true for all their products, especially their laptops, I would probably never buy one.

 

The purpose of this post was an informative commentary on the public misuse of standards to foment a false perception of personal safety, and the way this was displayed on the most recent WAN show by both Linus and Luke.  Ultimately you yourself will pay the highest consequences, and nobody cares more about yourself than you do, putting the highest burden there in the end.  The other guy pays their lawyers just enough to stay on the far side of liable or responsible, because they only care about your money.

 

I get it, people like to crap on Razer, but that doesn't actually make you a better more informed consumer.

[Heliian]

N95 masks are fit tested for the user. 

 

If razer never did the testing then it doesn't get the rating and they can't claim N95 compliance.

 

Razer, however, isn't the only one to attempt and cheat the ratings and anyone who does will come under scrutiny. 

 

This still turns out to be good publicity for them as I had never seen the device until these postings here.  Not that I'd ever buy something so ridiculous to begin with. 

 

 

[Commodore Sim]

4 minutes ago, Heliian said:

N95 masks are fit tested for the user. 

 

If razer never did the testing then it doesn't get the rating and they can't claim N95 compliance.

 

You have it backwards, it cannot work the way you describe, that's practically impossible.  A manufacturer creates a device they believe will fit a significant proportion of faces.  They then submit that device for standards testing which will verify the device meets necessary standards for filtration, oil resistance, and quality of function.  These standards only broadly account for fitment though.  Only individual fitment by a specialist can do this, and only for that individual.

 

Furthermore technically there's no such thing as an N95 mask, or rather that description is too vague to define a specific product.  When we commonly say "N95 Mask" we actually mean N95 Rated Fitted Respirator.  Though even that can be confounding as the following ratings:

 

N99

N100

R95

R99

R100

P95

P99

P100

 

Can also be made in a form factor visually identical to what people think when they hear "N95 mask"

 

Additionally this rating system exists outside of masks.  Here is an N95 cartridge filter https://www.3mcanada.ca/3M/en_CA/p/d/v000057509/

And the device it is used in https://www.3mcanada.ca/3M/en_CA/p/d/v000093583/

 

Razer purchased an off the shelf N95 filters and integrated it into Zephyr, there is no false advertising with that product, the consumer understanding is what is incorrect.  The Zephyr does provide N95 filtration, the actual controversy is a matter of fitment, not filtration. However no manufacturer can guarantee fitment making this standard utterly bad faith to apply to this product, which they don't even call it a respirator in the first place.

 

That being said, it's entirely possible the internal function is leaky and therefore problematic and worthy of refund. 

[LogicalDrm]

-> Moved to Off Topic

 

This is not technological product.

***

 

Personal thoughts:

Whats the point of this thread? You are claiming Razer product is something they don't claim it to be and therefore they should be held accountable as if they were advertising something they aren't? What???

 

From the top this looks just as joke of a product as the toaster looked. If you want actual air purifier, military surplus stores are the first place to look from.

[Commodore Sim]

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[LogicalDrm]

4 hours ago, Commodore Sim said:

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Did you have some point to make publicly or shall we continue in PM?

[Imbadatnames]

Not how it works dude the whole mask has to be tested for a seal. If there was no issue then Razer wouldn’t have edited the webpage 

[Arika]

On 1/17/2022 at 1:15 AM, Commodore Sim said:

The purpose of this post was an informative commentary on the public misuse of standards to foment a false perception of personal safety, and the way this was displayed on the most recent WAN show by both Linus and Luke in the Razer Zyphyr mask.

Fixed