ASTM International announced that it is providing free public access to a suite of twenty-four standards used in the production and testing of personal protective equipment (PPE) to combat the COVID-19 public health crisis. In an effort to address the shortage of PPE and support manufacturers, testing labs, healthcare professionals, and the general public, the suite was developed by ASTM’s committees on personal protective clothing and equipment, textiles, rubber, pesticides, microbials, and alternative control agents, and medical and surgical devices and materials.
“ASTM International is committed to supporting healthcare providers, manufacturers, labs, and others in their efforts to address this global pandemic,” said ASTM International president Katharine Morgan in a news release. “Providing access to these standards at no cost will help companies manufacturing these products to understand necessary safety, quality and performance requirements, helping our world work better.”
The available standards cover PPE including face masks, medical gowns, gloves and hand sanitizers as well as test methods, performance specifications and terminology. As we work through the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical for people at home, in public, and on the job to understand what protections our current PPE provides. You can access the full suite of standards here.