Main description (English)

The pandemic crisis has raised many societal issues, but three constitute the civilizational -expectation responsible behaviour, immunization, and personal protective equipment. The common belief is the use of personal protective equipment to protect the individual from the environment and other people. In the current situation, the mask serves to isolate the individual and protect society from a potential carrier of the infection. Prior to the onset and spread of COVID-19, the use of halfface masks was restricted in the work environment of medical and industrial facilities. In these conditions, the masks become essential and cover the daily life of the whole society with a long-term perspective. From a seemingly simple and small sewing product, the mask turned out to be a complex and difficult tool for individual use and mass distribution. The most specialized mask is for medical purposes and is known as a surgical mask. One of the requirements for these masks is sterility, which is achieved only in closed production facilities - "clean room". The main standard that surgical masks meet is EN 14683 + AC, in which antibacterial properties are mandatory. The professional mask, known as a personal protective equipment from categories FFP1, 2 and 3, is the most common functional mask. It is produced in conventional industrial conditions and after the consumer requirements are met, it is subject to commercial distribution and official use. These masks for official use comply with the standard EN 149: 2001 + A1 and with the NaCl filtration relief - PPE-R / 02.075 Version 2 are subject to certification in accordance with EU Regulation 2016/425. The household mask is the most popular mask in society. It is usually made of available fabrics in home or craft conditions. The essential characteristic of this mask consists in the variety at the expense of the symbolic protective properties. The essential issue in the design and certification of masks concerns their action. The barrier mask prevents the penetration of particles into the interior of the textile media and acts as a protective screen. These properties are achieved by imparting water and oil repellent properties on the surface of the canvas. The mask acts as a shield, close to the face and holding the aerosols of human respiration in the small volume between the face and the mask. The filtering mask absorbs andretains moisture and particles in the exhaled air aerosol inside the textile medium. The subject of the article is the normative base for industrial production and legal trade in masks. The purpose of the present development is to clarify the process from conception, through production to the certification of masks with successful trade. Keywords: COVID 19, masks, protective equipment, certification.