Standard Quality: Does The Child Mask You Selected Meet The National Standard

At present, with the adjustment of epidemic prevention policy, the order of social production and life is being orderly liberalized and restored. People have noticed that they will see warm prompts to wear protective masks when they go to the hospital or return home. In the domestic production and market system, medical respirators (GB19083-2010), daily protective respirators (GB/T 32610-2016), respiratory protective articles, self suction filter type anti particle respirators (GB 2626-2019), and children's masks (GB/T 38880-2020) all have corresponding types of masks, and protective masks with filtration efficiency ≥ 95% can meet the protection requirements.

Only GB/T 38880 － 2020 Technical Specification for Children's Masks is applicable to protective masks for special groups of children. This standard is a recommended national standard officially issued by the Market Supervision Administration on May 6, 2020, and will be implemented immediately upon release.

Children are in a critical period of growth and development, and need to be protected. How to choose appropriate masks has become a social focus. The Technical Specifications for Children's Masks is the first national standard for children's masks in China led by the China Industrial Textile Industry Association. It provides a basis for correct selection and wearing of children's masks, standardizing the industrial competition order, strengthening market supervision, and provides technical support and standard guarantee for children's mask manufacturers.

　　 What are the categories of child masks?

The Technical Specification for Children's Masks is applicable to masks worn by children aged 6 years and above to 14 years and below. Children's masks are divided into "child protective masks (F)" and "child hygiene masks (W)" according to their performance; According to the size of children's head and face, it is divided into small size (S), medium size (M) and large size (L).

Children's protective masks are mainly vertical, with good tightness, which can prevent the inhalation of microorganisms, droplets, dust, pollen and other particles. It can be used in moderately polluted or potentially moderately risky environments, such as stations, public transport, airports, supermarkets and other scenarios in haze days, high influenza season and major (Level III) public health emergencies.

Children's health masks are mainly flat, with good comfort, which can block the spread of particles such as microorganisms, droplets, dust, pollen, etc. It can be used in low pollution or low-risk environment, such as daily cold, flu, pollen season and general (Level IV) public health events in restaurants, classrooms, workplaces, dormitories and other scenarios.

　 What are the basic requirements for child masks?

The Technical Specification for Children's Masks stipulates the basic requirements, appearance quality and testing methods of masks, and puts forward 19 main performance indicators, including safety, protection and comfort. Safety is the premise and protection and comfort are the goals.

　　 First, safety performance:

The mask shall be able to cover the mouth, nose and jaw safely and firmly without peculiar smell. The mask will not be damaged or deformed during its normal service life. The field of vision shall not be significantly affected.

The raw materials of respirators shall not be recycled materials, known materials that may cause skin irritation or other adverse reactions shall not be used, chlorine bleaching treatment shall not be conducted, and portable fluorescent whitening substances shall not be detected. The formaldehyde content of respirators shall be ≤ 20mg/kg, and the residual amount of ethylene oxide shall be ≤ 2 μ G/g, and the residue of other restricted substances shall meet relevant requirements.

The mask shall not detect coliform bacteria and pathogenic pyogenic bacteria. The total number of fungal colonies shall be ≤ 100CFU/g, and the total number of bacterial colonies shall be ≤ 200CFU/g.

The bandage type mask belt should not be used. The breaking strength of the mask belt of the child protective mask and its connection with the mask body is ≥ 15N, and the breaking strength of the mask belt of the child sanitary mask and its connection with the mask body is ≥ 10N.

For masks equipped with nose clips, the nose clips should be no less than 5.5 cm long and should not break after 20 folds.

The inner layer material (including mask band) in direct contact with the skin of the mask shall not be printed or dyed (including stock solution coloring), and the pH value is 4.0~7.5. The color fastness to dry rubbing of the outer layer of the mask with printing or dyeing shall not be less than grade 4. Decomposable carcinogenic aromatic ammonia dyes are prohibited for the mask.

The mask should have a certain flame retardant performance, and should not have exposed metal objects and accessible sharp points and edges.

　　 Second, protection performance:

It is required that the particulate matter filtering efficiency of the child respirator shall not be less than 95%, and the protective effect shall not be less than 90%;

Children's health masks require that the particulate matter filtration efficiency is not less than 90%, and the bacterial filtration efficiency is not less than 95%.

　　 Third, comfort performance:

Children's protective masks require that the inspiratory resistance is not higher than 45Pa, and the expiratory resistance is not higher than 45Pa;

It is required that the ventilation resistance of children's health masks should not be higher than 30Pa;

In terms of wearing comfort, adjustable mask belt is recommended.

The GB/T 38880-2020 Technical Specification for Children's Masks is a combination of Beijing Institute of Labor Protection Science, Beijing Medical Device Inspection Institute, China National Institute of Standardization, Children's Hospital affiliated to the Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Inspection, Testing and Certification Group Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Customs Technology Center, Donghua University, key enterprises and other units and research institutes, Experts in various fields such as personal protection, medical health, ergonomics, textile materials and testing were organized to carry out a lot of research on the physiological characteristics of children of different ages, such as head and face size, respiratory system, etc., and designed a mask index system and test methods that meet the characteristics of children.

At the beginning of the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, according to the requirements of the General Administration of Market Supervision, the standard was finally completed by urgently accelerating the preparation process, enriching and improving the standard framework system, and receiving extensive attention and soliciting opinions from the society.

(Source: China Industrial Textile Industry Association)