Comparison of filtration efficiency standards for COVID\\;19 protective masks

Abstract

Masks from different countries satisfying different standards entered the Chinese market during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the public misunderstanding of the concepts relating to mask filtration efficiency. This paper introduced comprehensively the highly recognized multi-national standards, including GB 2626-2019, GB 19083-2010, US 42 CFR 84 Part K, EN 149: 2001+A1: 2009, and EN 13274-7: 2019, focusing particularly on the filtration efficiency performance requirements and testing methods. This paper compared the performance requirements and markings of the particulate filtration efficiency in these standards, as well as the similarities and differences in the pretreatment, test conditions, and test procedures in the testing methods. Three types of masks were tested against different standard methods. Through standard comparative research and analysis, together with sample test, it will help to clarify the basic concepts in the filtration efficiency performance requirements and test methods of filtering half masks to protect against particles, promote all sectors of China to comprehensively understanding the performance and test method requirements of the main mask standards at home and abroad, and help the enterprises, testing agencies and governments to better control and supervise product quality. © 2021, Periodical Agency of Journal of Textile Research. All right reserved.