ISQ SUPPORTS NATIONAL INDUSTRY IN THE QUALIFICATION OF MASKS FOR COMMUNITY USE

 "Portuguese industry produces one million masks every day with the priority of supplying the domestic market, but it is beginning to export," according to Pedro Siza Vieira, Minister of State, Economy and Digital Transition. The mask became our new accessory in public spaces. In this context, the ISQ considered it essential to make available the existing knowledge in its technological infrastructure, thus stimulating the national economy in the development of new activities with greater added value. This is the case for testing masks for Community use, the demand of which has increased at national level by the general population and which is in a position to respond, as it is present in various regions of the country and in the world. "ISQ is able to provide manufacturers with the necessary tests for the qualification of community masks Level 2 and Level 3, in accordance with those of the document "Masks intended for use under COVID-19 – Technical Specifications (See Information No. 009/2020, of 13/04/2020, of the Directorate-General for Health, on "COVID-19: MITIGATION PHASE – Use of Masks in the Community), also supporting manufacturers in the preparation of the technical dossier of the product", says José Medina, director of ISQ Laboratories. The director of ISQ goes on to say that they have been sought after " by the textile industry and sewing workshops (SMEs)". The testing methods developed by ISQ for community masks, based on applicable standards, take into account a very important aspect which is the size of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The size of the new coronavirus is much smaller than that of bacteria. Several scientific studies conducted by international reference entities since the beginning of the pandemic allow us to corroborate this information and measure the range of dimensions of this virus. "The ISQ, to determine the filtration efficiency (EF) of the mask, uses a method based on EN 13274-7:2019, making use of aerosols that allow simulating the average size of the virus. In this way, the ISQ determines the real value of THE in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, also ensuring the traceability of all results," explains Tania Farinha, head of the Chemical Metrology Laboratory at ISQ. Since the beginning of the pandemic, ISQ has responded to the market by offering new services ranging from conformity assessment of class I and PPE medical devices to "COVID OUT" to identify, analyze, evaluate and treat the risk of transmission of Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces and spaces. This new range of services also includes electrical safety tests for pulmonary ventilators and validation tests for surgical masks and respirators in accordance with EN 14683:2019 and EN 149:2019, respectively. In these areas, ISQ is already working with several national and international entities. These services are supported by laboratory capacity (16 accredited laboratories). Learn more at: https://isqgroup.com/covid-19/