PD CEN/TS 17553:2022 - Textiles and Textile Products - Community Face Coverings

Standard Number: PD CEN/TS 17553:2022

Pages: 56

Released: 2022-11-25

ISBN: 978 0 539 16972 0

Status: Standard

Overview

In the ever-evolving landscape of public health and safety, the importance of reliable and effective face coverings cannot be overstated. The PD CEN/TS 17553:2022 standard is a comprehensive guide that sets forth the minimum requirements, methods of testing, and usage guidelines for community face coverings made from textiles and textile products. Released on November 25, 2022, this 56-page document is an essential resource for manufacturers, quality assurance professionals, and public health officials.

Why This Standard Matters

The global pandemic has underscored the critical role that face coverings play in mitigating the spread of infectious diseases. However, not all face coverings are created equal. The PD CEN/TS 17553:2022 standard ensures that community face coverings meet specific criteria for effectiveness, comfort, and safety. By adhering to these guidelines, manufacturers can produce face coverings that provide reliable protection while being comfortable for extended wear.

Key Features

• Minimum Requirements: The standard outlines the essential criteria that community face coverings must meet, including filtration efficiency, breathability, and fit.
• Methods of Testing: Detailed testing protocols are provided to ensure that face coverings meet the specified requirements. These methods are designed to be reproducible and reliable, offering a consistent benchmark for quality.
• Usage Guidelines: The document includes comprehensive instructions on the proper use of face coverings, ensuring that they are worn correctly to maximize their effectiveness.

Comprehensive Testing Protocols

One of the standout features of the PD CEN/TS 17553:2022 standard is its detailed testing protocols. These protocols cover a range of tests, including:

• Filtration Efficiency: Measures the ability of the face covering to filter out particles, ensuring that it provides adequate protection.
• Breathability: Assesses the ease with which air can pass through the face covering, ensuring that it is comfortable to wear for extended periods.
• Fit and Comfort: Evaluates the fit of the face covering to ensure that it provides a secure seal without causing discomfort.

Ensuring Public Safety

The PD CEN/TS 17553:2022 standard is not just about setting technical specifications; it is about ensuring public safety. By providing clear guidelines and rigorous testing methods, this standard helps to ensure that community face coverings are effective in reducing the transmission of infectious diseases. This is particularly important in community settings where social distancing may not always be possible.

Who Should Use This Standard?

The PD CEN/TS 17553:2022 standard is an invaluable resource for a wide range of stakeholders, including:

• Manufacturers: Ensure that your products meet the highest standards of quality and safety.
• Quality Assurance Professionals: Use the detailed testing protocols to verify that face coverings meet the specified requirements.
• Public Health Officials: Provide guidance to the public on the selection and use of effective face coverings.

Conclusion

In a world where public health is of paramount importance, the PD CEN/TS 17553:2022 standard provides a crucial framework for the production and use of community face coverings. With its comprehensive guidelines and rigorous testing protocols, this standard ensures that face coverings are both effective and comfortable, providing reliable protection in community settings. Whether you are a manufacturer, a quality assurance professional, or a public health official, this standard is an essential tool in the fight against infectious diseases.

PD CEN/TS 17553:2022

This standard PD CEN/TS 17553:2022 Textiles and textile products - Community face coverings. Minimum requirements, methods of testing and use is classified in these ICS categories:

• 13.340.20 Head protective equipment

This document specifies the minimum requirements for reusable or single use community face coverings intended for the general public, covering the nose, mouth and chin (for minimum coverage area, see Figure 2) in order to reduce the risk of droplet/aerosol projection towards nearby people. These requirements include: — innocuousness, — design (including fit), — performance, — test methods, — marking, — packaging, — information for use. Figure 2 — Community face coverings minimum coverage area (dark area) These requirements are applicable to: — community face coverings made of one or multiple fabric layers (including woven, knitted, nonwoven), and including community face coverings with a removable filter in between the layers; — community face coverings including a transparent window which allows for the wearer's mouth and facial expressions to be seen, in order to facilitate full facial recognition, lip reading and/or sign language alongside other methods of communication (see A.6); — structured community face coverings including moulded plastic shells and rigid face coverings' components. This document is not intended for community face coverings for children up to 4 years of age (it means until 3 years and 11 months) (see A.1). This document is not intended for medical face masks (medical devices specified in EN 14683), nor for filtering masks to protect against particles (personal protective equipment specified in EN 149). This document excludes impermeable nose and mouth shields (including visors) and face coverings incorporating inhalation and/or exhalation valve(s) (see A.2).