VTT carries out tests to analyse the performance of respiratory protection masks (EN 149) and surgical masks (EN 14683) and their materials used in the manufacturing process. The measurements can be used for quality assurance and product development of already approved products. VTT does not carry out certification or approval of products.
Using selected measurements, we provide quality assurance data for the authorities, health care and importers as well as for the development of new products.
VTT’s measurement process is designed for the quality assurance of products that have already been CE-marked and approved as well as for product development. VTT’s measurements can help verify whether the performance of a product or material is appropriate for the purpose of use.
Further information on the approvals required for products can be obtained from the competent market authorities
Information about product certification is available at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Finnish Medicines Agency.
VTT's measurements were used for quality assurance during the COVID-19 pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, several countries reported quality problems with medical face masks and filtering half masks. Nearly 500 products were measured by VTT during the corona years. Of the nearly 300 masks measured during the first spring 2020, more than half were medical face masks intended for hospital use.
Medical face masks and filtering half masks for use by healthcare professionals performed well for the most part. Of those tested, 25% of both types of masks did not meet the lowest filtering efficiency requirement.
Unclassified masks for use by the general public, on the other hand, performed poorly in the tests. Almost 80% of them failed to pass the filtering efficiency of the lowest level of protection.
The medical face masks are classified in the standard in three different categories (Type I, Type II, Type IIR), the lowest of which should filter 95% of particles. In the standard classification of filtering half masks (FFP1, FFP2, FFP3), the filtration level of the material of the lowest-level mask must be at least 80 percent.
