Everything You Need to Know About Afnor Fabric Masks

Want to sew your own face mask following Afnor recommendations, but don’t know where to start? You’re in the right place—we’ve gathered all the key info to help you get started: fabric choices, how many masks per person, the benefits of fabric masks, usage and care tips, and more.

Afnor Fabric Masks

What is the Afnor standard for masks?

Afnor (French Standards Association) is the organization that defines French norms and certifications. During the COVID-19 crisis, it established safety guidelines for making protective masks.
These recommendations are available in a downloadable document called “Afnor Spec Barrier Masks”, which you can find on their official website. It contains required specifications for mask quality, testing procedures, usage advice, and even sewing patterns to make your own.

What fabric should you use for an Afnor mask?

Now required in public transport and recommended in shops, face masks have become part of everyday life.

Children from age 6 and up should wear masks, as younger ones tend to touch them frequently.

To calculate the number of masks needed:

One mask can be worn for up to 4 hours.
Adults should have 2–3 masks per day (morning, afternoon, and evening).
We recommend having at least 6 masks per person for those who go out daily, and 2–3 for those who stay home most of the time.

If you don’t want to sew your own, we also offer ready-to-wear fabric masks for adults and kids, available online and in-store.

Disposable vs. reusable masks: what’s the difference?

All masks are meant to complement barrier gestures: frequent handwashing, keeping a safe distance, avoiding touching your face, coughing or sneezing into your elbow, and skipping handshakes or kisses.

Surgical masks (single-use) are mainly used by healthcare workers to prevent droplets from spreading.
Fabric masks help reduce droplet spread and can be washed and reused. Both are effective for about 4 hours of wear.

How to wash and disinfect your Afnor fabric mask

Your mask should be completely dry within 2 hours of washing:

You can use a dryer, a hairdryer, or air-dry it indoors or in the sun.

If your fabric allows, you can iron your mask after drying. Steam ironing can help complete the disinfection process but is not a substitute for machine washing.

Want to make your own mask?

Looking for a step-by-step guide? Check out our video tutorial on how to make an Afnor fabric mask—it’s available on our blog and on the product page for our DIY kits.