Certification is necessary to ensure that the masks meet the required standards and are safe to use.
Face masks in the UK, must meet the requirements set by the British Standards Institution (BSI) to be certified.
The BSI is the national standards body of the UK and provides certification services for a wide range of products, including face masks.
Steps to be Certified
There are several steps to the certification process.
Firstly, the manufacturer must submit their product for testing to an accredited testing laboratory.
The laboratory will assess the mask's effectiveness in filtering particles, such as viruses and bacteria, and its breathability and test the mask for its flammability, resistance to liquid penetration, and other properties.
Once the mask has passed all the required tests, the manufacturer will receive a certificate of conformity from the BSI.
This certificate indicates that the mask has met the required standards and is safe to use and also include information about the mask's performance, such as its filtration efficiency and breathability.
Why it is important?
Its ensures that the masks are effective in preventing the spread of the virus.
Certification provides assurance to the public that the masks have been tested and meet the required standards in protecting public health.
It is important to note that not all face masks are required to be certified in the UK.
However, if a manufacturer wishes to sell their masks as medical devices or as personal protective equipment (PPE), they must be certified.
Additionally, certification is important for masks that are marketed as providing a certain level of protection, such as those with a high filtration efficiency.
Conclusion
In conclusion, certification of face masks is an important process that ensures their safety, quality, and effectiveness.
It is essential that manufacturers follow this process to ensure that their masks are safe and effective in protecting the public from the spread of the virus.