LONDON – With meltblown nonwovens being a particular bottleneck in the provision of face masks and other items of PPE, the UK’s government is welcoming support from manufacturers who wish to offer their production facilities where they can meet the required specifications for use by the NHS and care sector.
New offers can continue to be made here.
A new hub containing guidance on personal protective equipment (PPE), and infection prevention and control (IPC) is also now available, containing information for both health and social care settings and other workers and sectors.
The hub also links to the cross-government UK-wide PPE plan to ensure that critical PPE is delivered to those on the frontline. This includes a new ‘Make’ strategy of encouraging UK manufacturers to produce PPE.
The UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) estimates that global demand for PPE has grown by 1,000% in the past few weeks and says it has been overwhelmed by the very many offers to help it has received from across the UK fashion and textile community. Many of you have offered to help produce masks and gowns for the
It adds that there are a number of bottlenecks in the supply chain the government is looking to resolve very quickly, the most important of which is the availability of the correct fabric. It is vital that all PPE is made from the appropriate material otherwise the protection given by items could be compromised.
The government is now working rapidly to put in place a quick and simple system to onboard companies to the NHS supply base, to develop the appropriate terms and conditions and to ensure the regulatory system is able to cope with the ramping up of production.
When these measures are all in place the government will be operating a triage system which in effect will see government work with larger manufacturing firms first. This does not mean that offers from smaller companies are unwanted. However, government officials have asked that small companies do not manufacture products without hearing from it regarding the required specifications.
UKFT has shared with the government details of those companies that are already able to source PPE at scale and speed.
Masks and surgical gowns have very specific performance requirements and if supplying PPE to hospital and health workers who are in constant contact with whi have contracted the virus, the products you make must meet these specifications. Currently all gowns and masks also have to be tested to ensure they meet the specifications and test laboratories are working at capacity. Read more here
Resources
Guidance for businesses high volume manufacture of PPE version 2
Specification for Personal Protective Clothing PPE to include Gowns Surgical Face mask Respirator masks Eye Protection Protective Coveralls
BSI Standards on PPE
The specific standards, which cover face masks, medical gloves and protective clothing are listed below. BSI has made these standards available for free during the current situation.
BS EN 149:2001+A1:2009 Respiratory protective devices. Filtering half masks to protect against particles. Requirements, testing, marking
BS EN 166:2002 Personal eye protection. Specifications
BS EN 14126:2003 Protective clothing. Performance requirements and tests methods for protective clothing against infective agents
BS EN 14605:2009+A1:2009 Protective clothing against liquid chemicals. Performance requirements for clothing with liquid-tight (Type 3) or spray-tight (Type 4) connections, including items providing protection to parts of the body only (Types PB [3] and PB [4])
BS EN 13795-1:2019 Surgical clothing and drapes. Requirements and test methods. Surgical drapes and gowns
BS EN 13795-2:2019 Surgical clothing and drapes. Requirements and test methods. Clean air suits
BS EN 455-1:2000 Medical gloves for single use. Requirements and testing for freedom from holes
BS EN 455-2:2015 Medical gloves for single use. Requirements and testing for physical properties
BS EN 455-3:2015 Medical gloves for single use. Requirements and testing for biological evaluation
BS EN 455-4:2009 Medical gloves for single use. Requirements and testing for shelf life determination
BS EN 14683:2019 Medical face masks. Requirements and test methods.
BS EN ISO 10993-1:2009 Biological evaluation of medical devices. Evaluation and testing within a risk management process
BS EN ISO 374-5:2016 Protective gloves against dangerous chemicals and micro-organisms. Terminology and performance requirements for micro-organisms risks
BS EN ISO 13688:2013 Protective clothing. General requirements
Click here to register to access the standards (Note: Downloads work on Internet Explorer rather than other browsers.)
Free shipping
To assist UK manufacturers and designers who have turned their production over to making PPE for the NHS, specialist courier Freight Brokers is making available a monthly total of 1,000 parcels – free of charge – to move goods from factories, warehouses and studios to NHS distribution centres.
The offer is open to non-Freight Broker customers as well as its regular clients on a strict first come first served basis.
The London-based company requires photographic proof of what each shipment contains. These images will be posted to Freight Brokers’ social media channels to spread the word on the great work being doing by so many to assist frontline medical staff and carers.
Please contact Ellie Marks on [email protected] or Louis Kurlander on [email protected] to discuss shipping requirements for NHS supplies.
