SIST-TS CEN/TS 17553:2023

Textiles and textile products - Community face coverings - Minimum requirements, methods of testing and use

Standardization of the following aspects of textiles, textile products and textile
components of products: 1) test methods; 2) terms and definitions; 3) specifications, and
if necessary, classifications, in terms of their expected behaviour, in particular where
required by other CEN Technical Committees or the CEC or EFTA.
Equipment relevant for the testing and use of textiles.
The use of multi material textile-based face coverings, and textile-based face coverings
incorporating transparent elements to allow for lip reading

Textilien und textile Produkte - Alltagsmasken - Mindestanforderungen, Prüfverfahren und Verwendung

Dieses Dokument legt die Mindestanforderungen an wiederverwendbare Alltagsmasken bzw. Alltagsmasken für den Einmalgebrauch fest, die für die Bevölkerung zur Bedeckung von Nase, Mund und Kinn vorgesehen sind (für die mindestens zu bedeckende Fläche siehe Bild 2), um das Risiko zu verringern, dass Tröpfchen/Aerosole in Richtung von Personen, die sich in der Nähe aufhalten, ausgestoßen werden. Diese Anforderungen betreffen:
—   Unbedenklichkeit;
—   Ausführung (einschließlich Passform);
—   Leistung;
—   Prüfverfahren;
—   Kennzeichnung;
—   Verpackung;
—   Gebrauchshinweise.
Bild 2 — Mindestens zu bedeckende Fläche (dunkle Fläche)
Diese Anforderungen gelten für:
—   Alltagsmasken aus ein- oder mehrlagigen textilen Flächengebilden (einschließlich Webware, Maschenware, Vliesstoffe), dazu gehören auch Alltagsmasken mit einem herausnehmbaren Filter zwischen den Lagen;
—   Alltagsmasken mit Sichtfenster, wodurch der Mund und die Mimik des Nutzers gesehen werden können, um eine vollständige Gesichtserkennung, das Ablesen von den Lippen und/oder die Gebärdensprache neben den anderen Kommunikationsarten zu ermöglichen (siehe A.6);
—   strukturierte Alltagsmasken aus geformten Kunststoffschalen und starre Komponenten von Gesichtsmasken.
Dieses Dokument gilt nicht für Alltagsmasken für Kinder unter 4 Jahren (d. h. Kinder bis zu einem Alter von 3 Jahren und 11 Monaten) (siehe A.1).
Dieses Dokument gilt nicht für medizinische Gesichtsmasken (in EN 14683 festgelegte Medizinprodukte) und auch nicht für filtrierende Halbmasken zum Schutz gegen Partikeln (in EN 149 festgelegte persönliche Schutzausrüstung).
Dieses Dokument behandelt keine luftundurchlässigen Nasen- und Mundbedeckungen (einschließlich Visiere) und keine Gesichtsmasken mit Einatem- und/oder Ausatemventil(en) (siehe A.2).

Textiles et produits textiles - Masques communautaires - Exigences, méthodes d'essai et instructions d'utilisation

Le présent document spécifie les exigences minimales pour les masques grand public réutilisables ou à usage unique destinés à la population générale, couvrant le nez, la bouche et le menton (pour connaître la zone de protection minimale, voir la Figure 2) afin de réduire le risque de projection de gouttelettes/d’aérosols en direction des personnes à proximité. Ces exigences portent sur :
—   l’innocuité ;
—   la conception (y compris l’ajustement) ;
—   la performance ;
—   les méthodes d’essai ;
—   le marquage ;
—   l’emballage ;
—   les informations d’utilisation.
[Figure 2]
Ces exigences s’appliquent à ce qui suit :
—   les masques grand public constitués d’une ou de plusieurs couches d’étoffes (qu’elles soient tissées, tricotées ou non tissées), et comprenant les masques grand public dotés d’un filtre amovible entre les couches ;
—   les masques grand public pourvus d’une fenêtre transparente permettant de voir la bouche et les expressions faciales du porteur afin de faciliter la reconnaissance faciale, la lecture labiale et/ou le langage des signes, utilisés avec d’autres méthodes de communication (voir A.6) ;
—   les masques grand public pourvus de composants de protection rigides et de coques en plastique moulées.
Le présent document n’est pas applicable aux masques grand public pour les enfants de moins de 4 ans (jusqu’à 3 ans et 11 mois) (voir A.1).
Le présent document n’est pas applicable aux masques médicaux (dispositifs médicaux spécifiés dans l’EN 14683) ni aux masques de protection respiratoire visant à protéger leur porteur contre les particules (équipement de protection individuelle spécifié dans l’EN 149).
Le présent document exclut les écrans bouche-nez imperméables (y compris les visières) et les masques pourvus de soupapes inspiratoire et/ou expiratoire (voir A.2).

Tekstilije in tekstilni izdelki - Obrazne maske za splošno uporabo - Minimalne zahteve, metode preskušanja in uporaba

Standardizacija naslednjih vidikov tekstilij, tekstilnih izdelkov in delov tekstilnih izdelkov: 1) preskusne metode; 2) izrazi in definicije; 3) specifikacije in po potrebi klasifikacije, v smislu njihovega pričakovanega obnašanja, zlasti kadar to zahtevajo drugi tehnični odbori CEN oziroma CEC ali EFTA.
Oprema, ki je relevantna za preskušanje in uporabo tekstilij.
Uporaba tekstilnih obraznih mask iz več materialov in tekstilnih obraznih mask s prosojnimi elementi, ki omogočajo branje z ustnic.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 04-Dec-2022
• ICS: 13.340.20 - Head protective equipment
• ICS: 59.080.99 - Other products of the textile industry
• Technical Committee: ITEK - Textile and textile products
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 05-Dec-2022
• Due Date: 09-Feb-2023
• Completion Date: 05-Dec-2022
• Ref Project: CEN/TS 17553:2022 - Textiles and textile products - Community face coverings - Minimum requirements, methods of testing and use

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST-TS CEN/TS 17553:2023
01-januar-2023
Tekstilije in tekstilni izdelki - Obrazne maske za splošno uporabo - Minimalne
zahteve, metode preskušanja in uporaba
Textiles and textile products - Community face coverings - Minimum requirements,
methods of testing and use
Textilien und textile Produkte - Alltagsmasken - Mindestanforderungen, Prüfverfahren
und Verwendung
Textiles et produits textiles - Masques communautaires - Exigences, méthodes d'essai et
instructions d'utilisation
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TS 17553:2022
ICS:
13.340.20 Varovalna oprema za glavo Head protective equipment
59.080.99 Drugi izdelki tekstilne Other products of the textile
industrije industry
SIST-TS CEN/TS 17553:2023 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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SIST-TS CEN/TS 17553:2023


CEN/TS 17553
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

SPÉCIFICATION TECHNIQUE

November 2022
TECHNISCHE SPEZIFIKATION
ICS 13.340.20 Supersedes CWA 17553:2020
English Version

Textiles and textile products - Community face coverings -
Minimum requirements, methods of testing and use
Textiles et produits textiles - Masques grand public - Textilien und textile Produkte - Alltagsmasken -
Exigences minimales, méthodes d'essai et utilisation Mindestanforderungen, Prüfverfahren und
Verwendung
This Technical Specification (CEN/TS) was approved by CEN on 19 September 2022 for provisional application.

The period of validity of this CEN/TS is limited initially to three years. After two years the members of CEN will be requested to
submit their comments, particularly on the question whether the CEN/TS can be converted into a European Standard.

CEN members are required to announce the existence of this CEN/TS in the same way as for an EN and to make the CEN/TS
available promptly at national level in an appropriate form. It is permissible to keep conflicting national standards in force (in
parallel to the CEN/TS) until the final decision about the possible conversion of the CEN/TS into an EN is reached.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.





EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2022 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TS 17553:2022 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

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Contents Page

European foreword . 5
Introduction . 6
1 Scope . 7
2 Normative references . 8
3 Terms and definitions . 8
4 Requirements . 11
4.1 General . 11
4.2 Innocuousness . 11
4.3 Design . 12
4.3.1 General . 12
4.3.2 Dimensions / Sizing . 12
4.3.3 Head harness . 13
4.3.4 Nose bridge . 14
4.3.5 Community face coverings with transparent window . 14
4.4 Materials . 14
4.5 Breathability . 15
4.5.1 General . 15
4.5.2 Differential pressure of material or material assembly . 15
4.5.3 Breathing resistance of the complete community face covering . 15
4.6 Filtration efficiency . 15
4.7 Packaging . 16
5 Durability (ageing) . 16
5.1 General . 16
5.2 Durability assessment (see A.8) . 16
6 Test methods . 17
6.1 General . 17
6.2 Visual inspection . 17
6.3 Breathability test methods (see A.3) . 17
6.3.1 Differential pressure of material or material assembly . 17
6.3.2 Breathing resistance of the complete community face covering . 19
6.4 Filtration efficiency test . 20
6.5 Head harness strength test . 20
6.5.1 Apparatus . 20
6.5.2 Test specimen . 20
6.5.3 Procedure. 21
6.5.4 Test report . 22
7 Product information and packaging . 22
7.1 General . 22
7.2 Markings . 23
7.3 Purchase information . 23
7.4 Instructions of use . 24
7.4.1 Requirements . 24
7.4.2 Warnings . 24
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Annex A (informative) Rationale . 26
A.1 Age limitation . 26
A.2 Valves and nose and mouth shields . 26
A.3 Breathability. 26
A.4 Test aerosol . 26
A.5 Filtration efficiency . 27
A.6 Community face coverings with transparent window . 28
A.7 Head harness . 28
A.8 Durability (see 5.2) . 28
A.9 Environmental impact (see 4.1, 4.4) . 28
A.10 Biocides . 29
A.11 Cleaning (see 4.1) . 29
A.12 Do It Yourself (DIY) . 30
Annex B (normative) Test method for the determination of the filtration efficiency as a
function of the particle size . 31
B.1 General . 31
B.2 Principle . 31
B.3 Aerosol . 31
B.4 Apparatus . 31
B.4.1 General . 31
B.4.2 Aerosol generator . 32
B.4.3 Balancing upstream and downstream . 32
B.4.4 Aerosol spectrometer (see A.5) . 32
B.5 Validation of the test rig (qualification testing) . 34
B.6 Preparation of the test specimens . 34
B.7 Conditioning and testing atmosphere . 35

B.7.1 Condition of the test specimens. 35
B.7.2 Testing atmosphere . 35
B.8 Procedure . 35
B.9 Calculation and expression of the results . 36
B.10 Uncertainty of measurement . 36
B.11 Test report . 36
Annex C (normative) Special national conditions . 37
Annex D (informative) Anthropometric data . 38
D.1 Facial measurements . 38
D.2 Human test panels for facial features - Examples . 40
D.2.1 From a French survey. 40
D.2.2 From Dutch surveys (online database). 42
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Annex E (informative) Design considerations . 43
E.1 General . 43
E.2 Design considerations for diverse wearers . 44
Annex F (informative) Practical performance assessment for checking the ergonomic
features of community face coverings . 46
F.1 General . 46
F.2 Practical performance testing procedures . 46
F.3 Parameters for practical testing for community face coverings . 47
F.3.1 Free from harmful features . 47
F.3.2 Community face coverings, putting on, taking off and fit . 47
F.3.3 Operation of closures, adjustment and restraint systems . 47
F.3.4 Coverage of the area intended to be covered, coverage maintained during
movements . 47
F.3.5 Freedom of movement . 48
F.4 Reasons for concluding if a product is unacceptable . 48
Annex G (informative) Topics for further investigations . 49
G.1 Microorganisms . 49
G.2 Cleaning . 49
G.3 Sizing . 49
G.4 Breathability . 49
G.5 Filtration efficiency . 49
Bibliography . 50


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European foreword
This document (CEN/TS 17553:2022) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 248 “Textiles
and textile products”, the secretariat of which is held by BSI.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes CWA 17553:2020.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to announce this Technical Specification: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
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Introduction
The use of community face coverings was acknowledged during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic as part of a
comprehensive strategy of measures. They are intended for use by people in areas of known or suspected
community or cluster transmission of respiratory infection. Typically, the general public wear community
face coverings in indoor (for example, shops, shared workplaces, schools, transport, etc.) and outdoor
settings where physical distancing can be impractical. Further guidance on where the general public may
be encouraged to use community face coverings, is given by national or local health authorities and
[1]
through World Health Organization recommendation .
Community face coverings are not suitable for children up to 4 years of age. It is recommended that
children between 4 and 12 years of age are supervised while wearing the community face covering.
NOTE 1 The minimum age criteria can be higher if required by national legal provisions or as advised by national
health professionals.
The wearing of a community face covering, schematically shown in Figure 1, reduces the
projection of the wearer's respiratory droplets of saliva, sputum or respiratory secretions when
talking, coughing or sneezing. A community face covering might also reduce penetration of the
respiratory droplets from an external source to a wearer’s nose and mouth, without claiming
protection for the wearer. It might also reduce how often a wearer touches his/her face with the
hands.

Figure 1 — Limitation of the respiratory droplets projection to the environment
This document specifies the functional and performance levels for community face coverings together
with information for use, marking, labelling and packaging. The appropriate test methods are also
defined.
IMPORTANT — Community face coverings are not subject to a mandatory conformity assessment
by notified bodies or laboratories. Their design in accordance with accepted best practices and
production quality control remain the producer's responsibility. The producer may need to call
upon a laboratory to verify the required performance.
IMPORTANT — The community face coverings specified in this document are not medical devices
(MD) within the meaning of Regulation EU/2017/745, nor are they personal protective
equipment (PPE) within the meaning of Regulation EU/2016/425.
The informative Annex G lists topics of further investigation which might lead to necessary improvement
of the safety requirements of the community face coverings.
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1 Scope
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).
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2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 13274-3:2001, Respiratory protective devices - Methods of test - Part 3: Determination of breathing
resistance
EN 14683:2019+AC:2019, Medical face masks - Requirements and test methods
EN ISO 6330, Textiles - Domestic washing and drying procedures for textile testing (ISO 6330)
EN ISO 7500-1, Metallic materials - Calibration and verification of static uniaxial testing machines - Part 1:
Tension/compression testing machines - Calibration and verification of the force-measuring system
(ISO 7500-1)
EN ISO 9237:1995, Textiles - Determination of permeability of fabrics to air (ISO 9237:1995)
EN ISO 16890-2:2016, Air filters for general ventilation - Part 2: Measurement of fractional efficiency and
air flow resistance (ISO 16890-2:2016)
ISO 21501-1, Determination of particle size distribution — Single particle light interaction methods — Part
1: Light scattering aerosol spectrometer
ISO 21501-4, Determination of particle size distribution — Single particle light interaction methods — Part
4: Light scattering airborne particle counter for clean spaces
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
aerosol
suspension of solid, liquid, or solid and liquid particles in a gaseous medium, having a negligible falling
velocity
[SOURCE: EN 16972:2020, 3.6 without “(3.170)” and “(generally considered to be less than 0,25 m/s)”]
3.2
air permeability
2
volume of air per unit surface area (square metre or m ) and unit time (second or s) passing
perpendicularly through a fabric under the specified test conditions (surface area, pressure loss and
duration)
3.3
breathing resistance
resistance of community face coverings to the flow of inhaled air (inhalation resistance) or exhaled air
(exhalation resistance)
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3.4
cleaning cycle
full processing cycle (washing and drying) of the product
3.5
community face covering
facepiece covering at least the mouth, nose and chin, with or without a head harness which can fastened
behind the head, looped behind the ears or other means of being retained in position
Note 1 to entry: The expression “community face covering” is used to differentiate from the term “mask”,
commonly used for personal protective equipment (PPE) or medical devices (MD).
3.6
droplet
very small drop of liquid
Note 1 to entry: A small drop, such as a particle of moisture discharged from the mouth during coughing,
sneezing, or speaking.
Note 2 to entry: These can transmit pathogens, resulting in infection, by dispersion into the air.
[SOURCE: ISO 15190:2020, 3.10]
3.7
exhaled air
air exhaled by the wearer
3.8
exhalation valve
non-return valve which allows the escape of (unfiltered) exhaled air from the facepiece
3.9
inhaled air
air inhaled by the wearer
3.10
inhalation valve
non-return valve which allows air to enter the facepiece and prevents exhaled air from leaving via the
inhalation path
3.11
material
component of community face coverings forming the barrier
3.12
material assembly
combination of all materials making up the community face covering presented exactly as the finished
community face covering construction
3.13
nose bridge
device of the community face covering to enhance fit by conforming to the contours of the nose
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3.14
particle
solid or liquid substance in the finely divided state
[SOURCE: EN 16972:2020, 3.170]
3.15
particle size
diameter of a sphere that produces a response, by a given particle-sizing instrument, that is equivalent to
the response produced by the particle being measured
Note 1 to entry: For discrete-particle light-scattering instruments, the equivalent optical diameter is used.
[SOURCE: ISO 14644-1:2015, 3.2.2]
3.16
producer
— the manufacturer of the product, when he is established in the European Union, and any other person
presenting himself as the manufacturer by affixing to the product their name, trade mark or other
distinctive mark, or the person
...