ASTM International has approved a new standard for barrier face coverings that will help establish minimum design, performance, labeling and care requirements for reusable barrier face coverings. The standard was developed by ASTM International Committee F23 on Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment.
F3502, “Standard Specification for Barrier Face Coverings,” is intended to apply to the general public and workers and includes specific requirements for barrier face coverings, including design and general construction criteria; particle filtration efficiency levels; sizing and fit testing criteria; labeling instructions; and guidance regarding cleaning and recommended periods of use.
“Members of the committee worked together to reach a consensus and address the gap that exists for barrier face coverings that are neither a respirator nor a surgical mask,” says Kathie Morgan, president of ASTM International. “The standard helps to benchmark products and will inform consumers when selecting face coverings for their intended use.”
Numerous ASTM International PPE standards have been recognized internationally by the World Health Organization and by U.S. health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety and the Food and Drug Administration.
The barrier face covering standard is available at astm.org/COVID-19 along with 28 other COVID-19-related standards as part of ASTM International’s ongoing commitment to provide no-cost public access to important standards used in the production and testing of PPE to combat the pandemic.
