Contact

What are you looking for?

SGS TESTING SERVICE FOR TEXTILE FACE COVERINGS

January 04, 2021
World Map Showing Connections 1600px

During the epidemic period, social groups gradually developed the habit of wearing masks. Community face mask is also widely used because of its good wearing comfort and personalized design, which has become a main mean to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Most of these masks are made of textile fabrics, which can also be called textile face coverings.

 

Textile face coverings are designed to reduce distribution of the wear’s respiratory droplets from breathing, coughing, and are made of one or multiple fabric layers (woven, knitted, non-woven, etc.) with or without film. They shall have a means of attachment for either the head or ears. Textile face coverings cover the nose, mouth and chin, inhalation and/or exhalation valve(s) are not recommended. Textile face coverings minimizes the projection of user's respiratory droplets saliva, sputum or respiratory secretions when talking, coughing or sneezing. They also limit penetration in the user’s area of nose and mouth of the respiratory droplets from external origin. Textile face coverings are intended for use by people not displaying any clinical symptoms of viral or bacterial infection and who do not come into contact with people displaying such symptoms.

Appearance & Surface condition

  • The textile face coverings are intended to be reusable or disposable. Visual inspection should be conducted that no defects visible (tears, detachment of the head harness, less accurate fit, deformation, wear, etc.).     
  • The parts of the textile face covering shall be free of sharp edges or burrs. The use of staples for connecting parts is not allowed as it poses a safety hazard to the user.  

Material

The materials used for manufacturing the community face coverings shall be able to withstand handling and wear throughout the lifetime of community face coverings, indicated by the producer. Manufacture should consider:

  • Its breathability. Do not cause difficulty breathing while wearing.
  • The ability to absorb moisture to prevent condensation falling on to the user.
  • The adequacy of bio-compatibility features of the materials which come into direct contact with the skin of the user.
  • These materials shall not be known to cause irritation, allergenic effects or other toxic effect. The evaluation should be done through an analysis of Safety Material Data Sheet (SMDS) for materials used, colorants and finishes if applicable. This evaluation is under the responsibility of the producer.
  • For reusable textile face coverings, the materials used shall withstand the cleaning cycles, detergents and methods specified by the producer.

Size

Textile face coverings shall be sized in such a way as to correspond to the average morphology of the target population.

Packaging

Textile face coverings shall be packaged in such a way as to protect them against any mechanical damage and any contamination before use. 

Marking

The textile face coverings to be placed on the market shall be clearly and durably marked with the information requested on the smallest marketable package available. National regulations may require additional information.

In June 2020, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) released <CWA 17553:2020 - Community face coverings - Guide to minimum requirements, methods of testing and use >.

In July 2020, the American Association of Textile Chemists & Colorists developed<AATCC M14-2020 Guidance and Considerations for general purpose textile face coverings: Adult>.

The ASTM FXXX for barrier face covering come to the final stage for voting. And new ASTM standard will be ready in 2021 Q1.

In the published guidelines, the key parameters are as follows:

CWA 17553:2020

AATCC M14

Filtration efficiency of material

Head harness/ear loop performance

Breathing Resistance and Air Permeability

Marking & label

Instructions for use

Fibre analysis & verification

#

Flammability

#

Visual Inspection

#

Packaging

#

Material

#

Surface condition

#


Remark

.New materials and materials that have been through the number of cleaning cycles for reusable face makes should remain compliant to referenced standard and performance claim.

.# Not mandatory tests in reference standard, but it is recommended to meet basic requirement.

Important Note:

Face coverings:

  • are not medical devices.
  • are not personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • are not Intended for use by healthcare personnel. 

Contact Us:

Edison Ren:+86 13826105080

Cora Hu:     +86 13770948090

Tel:  +86(0)21 6107 2840

Emal:  Softline.cn@sgs.com

  • SGS-CSTC Standards Technical Services Co., Ltd. Beijing Head Office

A-16/F Century Yuhui Mansion,

No.73 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, 100142,

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China