Call for experts participation in standards work on facemasks (Medical facemasks & Respiratory infection protection devices)
NSAI are calling for experts to participate in the revision/development of 2 standards under CEN/TC205 Technical Standardisation committee through the NSAI National Committee .
(1) Revision of EN 14683 “Medical facemasks – Requirements and test methods” & (2) Development of a new standard on “respiratory infection protection devices
Over the past year industry experts, researchers and experts from MTU, UCD and NUIG amongst others have made significant inputs to the CEN Technical Specification on Community Face Coverings. This is now being finalised, with a vote on the final text due in the coming weeks. There are two further items beginning that requires new expertise.
If you have the interest and expertise ( industry, research, manufacturing) you may be interested in getting involved in this very important development work
1. Revision of EN 14683 Medical facemasks – requirements and test methods.
The new EU MD regulations requires that all MD standards are updated to follow the new legislation. However this is also an opportunity to revise the contents and there are many aspects that have been suggested to update such as ergonomics, comfort over long periods of use, sizing, modern test methods etc.
2. New standard for respiratory infection protection devices
Reducing outward leakage is important to prevent transmission of infection, yet there is no standard for a mask or device which includes this specification, even EN 14683. There is a need for a standard that can be regulated under either MD or PPE regulation, and can be used by all ages, sizes and ability in both vocational and community settings, with various categories of performance. If successful one of these masks could become preferable to an EN 14683 mask.
At this early stage the performance requirements are still being formulated, and NSAI experts are leading the Task Group on this.
We are now seeking experts to join the national committee to support either of these two developments. A meeting will be held on the 26th of November (11am to 12 noon) to give an overview of this new work . If you would like to join the Zoom call please contact Elizabeth O’Ferrall at elizabeth.oferrall@nsai.ie .
If you require further information on the above you can contact Dr Steven Darby ( Chair of the NSAI National Committee ) at steven.darby@mtu.ie .
