France: DGA mobilising to test alternatives to protective masks against Covid-19.

At the request of the General Secretariat for Defence and National Security (SGDSN), under the authority of the Prime Minister, the Directorate General of Armament is mobilizing to identify alternative solutions to FFP2 and surgical masks.

 Prototypes of protective masks are being tested (Picture source: DGA)

Given the current urgency to provide effective personal protective equipment, the textile industry has been mobilized to send prototypes and samples of masks to the DGA MNRBC (Nuclear, Radiological, Bacteriological and Chemical Control) centre for performance assessment.

The DGA's mission is to measure the particle filtration efficiency of mask or fabric samples sent by industrialists, mainly from the textile industry. To do this, each mask is placed on a dummy head placed in a chamber filled with salt particles. This head simulates human breathing. The comparison between the density of the particles in the mouth and in the chamber allows calculating the percentage of particles stopping. Knowing the size of the viruses, this method makes it possible to evaluate the filtration efficiency of each mask.

By March 19, the DGA had received 700 samples. The results of the tests are then communicated to the industry. However, the DGA is not competent to recommend the use of the new masks. It, therefore, acts as a link in the chain of evaluation of the quality and performance of the samples.