FACE MASK CERTIFICATION

WHO IS AFNOR? 

With 1,600 members of the AFNOR Association, the AFNOR Group designs and deploys solutions based on voluntary standards worldwide. The members of the AFNOR Association, who come from different backgrounds ranging from big or small businesses, consumer organizations, and non-governmental organizations, to educational institutions, collectively develop practically pioneering solutions in accordance with lawful requirements. In addition, the Association enables its members to make suggestions for better establishing voluntary standards contributing to the advancement of sustainable development and social responsibility. 

On March 27, 2020, the AFNOR Association issued AFNORE SPEC S76-001 “Masques barrières" (also called “Barrier Masks”), which is a new standard established by fundamental requirements of cloth masks applied in the community. This standard has been progressively approved both in France and in a handful of European nations.  

WHAT AFNOR SPEC S76-001 TECHNICAL STANDARDS ARE?

AFNOR SPEC S76-001 provides basic requirements for cloth masks that are not used for medical purposes. As defined in the technical specifications, cloth masks are primarily used for those who are in good health without the symptoms of a bacterial infection or close contact with infected individuals. These cloth masks are not so protective as medical masks reaching the standard of EN 14683 or specialized masks manufactured to Standard: EN 149. 

In France, these technical specifications have been ratified by national ministries and officially promulgated on March 29, 2020, to support cloth-mask manufacturing enterprises. The purpose of this new standard is geared to the standardization of protective devices for people who are in good health, and simultaneously the enhancement of preventive abilities from Corona Virus. 

Download AFNOR Spec S76-001 here: https://masques-barrieres.afnor.org/ 

TYPES OF FACE MASKS 

• Cat I – UNS 1: those who work regularly in open environments with a high possibility of close contact with residents (police, supermarket staff, bank staff, etc.) 
• Cat II – UNS 2: those who are in a community, less contact with many people(office workers, warehouse employees, etc.) 

TECHNICAL STANDARDS AND TESTING CRITERIA FOR FACE MASK 

Factories can resort to AFNOR regulations to execute mask production. Moreover, these specifications enunciate testing criteria proposed by DGA (the French Government Defense procurement and technology agency) and IFTH (the French Textile and Apparel Institute).  

Can AFNOR technical specifications be considered as the European technical regulations? 

European Committee for Standardization has proceeded with a mutual agreement meeting between mask specialists and promulgate this agreement at the European level – CWA 17553:2020 CWA 17553:2020 “Community faces coverings – Guide to minimum requirements, methods of testing and use”. This standard proposes minimum requirements for the design, production, and evaluation of the mask conformity to customers following one or many times of use. The CWA standard has been established by the premise of the AFNOR approach. 

BUREAU VERITAS APPROACH 

CERTIFICATION BASED ON AFNOR S76-001 

ASSESSMENT AT FACTORIES 

Despite whether masks are used for fashion purposes or protection, producers must demonstrate their production process in conformity with specific requirements such as infrastructure, disinfection areas, and warehouses. Bureau Veritas auditors will examine the factory and production process to ensure the congruence of manufacturing activities. 

During the process of the factory evaluation, our auditors also collect product samples which later be sent to our testing laboratory.  

TESTING 

Testing services will be conducted by LNE (Laboratoire National De Métrologie et D’essais). LNE is one of 5 approved testing organizations that are eligible for mask testing operations in accordance with AFNOR S76-001 (reference the list of testing services on page 35 of AFNOR S76-001). 

SPEC S76-001 testing includes: 

• 6.2.1 – Visual inspection 
• 6.2.2 – Breathability of the mask fabric 
• 6.2.3 – Tensile strength of mask strap 
• 6.2.4 – Respiratory resistance 

The test was conducted before and after washing.