AFNOR recommendations for ski chokers
If you’re planning to go winter sports this year, you may have been struck by the “AFNOR-compliant” chokers you’ve seen in the ski departments of specialist stores. The idea is brilliant: by offering protection against both cold and covid-19, instead of an ordinary mask, this accessory kills two birds with one stone. At a time when we’re experiencing a fifth pandemic wave, what are we to make of these claims?
When the manufacturer of your choker claims AFNOR “conformity”, “homologation” or “certification”, this should be understood as a self-declaration (see our explanation of the concept of certification below). In this case, the equipment manufacturer states that, to manufacture and test its product, it followed the recommendations of AFNOR SPEC S70-001, entitled “Masques Barrières pour le Sport – Guide d’exigences minimales, de méthodes d’essais et d’usage”. This document was drawn up in February 2021 by industry professionals with a view, at the time, to the reopening of gyms.
In-plant testing: tailored specifications
Unlike its big brother S76-001, which had its moment of glory with dressmakers in the spring of 2020, when France was short of masks, this guide is intended for manufacturers to give them specifications on :
- head-fitting device (shown here as a neckband)
- material filtration efficiency and dimensions
- breathing resistance and air permeability
- the carbon dioxide content of inhaled air.
For example, in terms of air permeability tests on fabrics, AFNOR SPEC specifies that for neck masks, a value of at least 130 l/m²/s with a vacuum of 100 Pa should be ensured (instead of 200 to 300 l/m²/s minimum for other models of sports barrier masks). Likewise, as for category 1 (now the only authorized category) barrier masks for the general public, the material’s filtration efficiency for 3-micron particles must be greater than 90%.
The mask + barrier gesture duo
Like all other models of barrier masks for sports, the “AFNOR-standard” neckband completes the barrier gestures and rules of physical distancing, without in any way exonerating compliance with the possibly stricter instructions of the competent winter sports and ski-lift authorities. At the beginning of November, the government made it compulsory to wear masks on ski lifts.
On the label of your ski choker, the correct statement is that it conforms to AFNOR specifications. They also recommend that the manufacturer affix the visible words “MBS AFNOR SPEC S70-001” to the product. And it’s a self-declaration: the sport barrier mask is not subject to mandatory conformity assessment. Your manufacturer can always try to stand out with quality and performance certified by someone else. In this case, he’ll turn to NF Masques Barrières certification, since in this case the products pass through the hands of a third-party verifier. And will be able to use the expression “certification”. However, as of December1, 2021, no choker model was yet displaying it.
