A surgical mask gas exchange pressure test in progress at SIRIM.
FACE masks have become essential to daily life today, and it makes sense that consumers have become more discerning when it comes to their protection.
With face masks certified by SIRIM, the public would not have to contend with substandard ones.
The tests and inspections on face masks are carried out by SIRIM QAS International – a wholly-owned subsidiary of SIRIM Berhad – at its accredited and state-of-the-art testing laboratories in SIRIM Complex, Shah Alam.
Substandard face masks carry the risk of poor filtration, allowing for viral particle penetration. This would render it ineffective to protect the user against the virus.
As such, the testing, inspection and certification body says there is already a credible international standard for face masks – the BS EN 14683:2019 medical face masks – and that it is ready to perform product testing and certification to ensure that products in the marketplace are up to mark.
SIRIM QAS has several technologies at its disposal when it comes to testing. For medical face masks, it tests them for their bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE), differential pressure, splash resistance pressure (synthetic blood) and microbial cleanliness (bioburden).
Look out for the SIRIM label that indicates the product has undergone diligent testing.
Through testing and certification of the aforementioned parameters, compliance is determined based on minimum or maximum limit it needs to meet.
For example, its BFE property needs to be at least 95% while differential pressure or breathability needs to be less than 40pa/cmsq.
SIRIM QAS says its face mask testing and product certification process for manufacturers provides assurances of safety and reliability to users.
“Our testing provides independent assurance that your products are manufactured under an effective system of testing, supervision and control. Thus, there is improved production efficiency and reduced wastage and rejects.
“It also demonstrates product compliance with national or international standards, ensuring your product functions effectively and safely while enhancing your reputation and extending your market by using the product certification MS trademark and security label on your certified products as a marketing tool,” says SIRIM QAS in a statement.
With the rising concerns about the current health situation, product conformity can provide assurance to the general public that standards of quality are consistently maintained.
It enables manufacturers and suppliers to differentiate their products in the market and gain consumer acceptance.
Most importantly, the final decision is at the hands of consumers. When buying products, consumers should avoid substandard products even though they are cheaper, and instead look out for masks that have the MS trademark and security label by SIRIM QAS on them.
With the MS trademark and security label on products, consumers will be guided to identify quality and effective product among the mountains of options available in the market.
The security label comes with a QR code whereby customers can scan and obtain certification information.
Organisations interested in obtaining the face mask testing and certification can communicate directly with SIRIM QAS via its customer service (03-5544 6400), email to cserviceqas@sirim.my or by visiting www.sirim-qas.com.my.
