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What is EN14476 Standard

What is EN14476 Standard 

When sourcing hygiene products for your workplace it is vital to know which standards and certifications to look out for. But with so many products and standards out there now, how do you know which are right for you ?

What is EN14476 Standard
Certified BS EN14476 Alcohol Sanitisers

In simple terms, to ensure effectiveness against most viruses, products must meet the EN 14476 testing criteria. This is a European certification and products must go through strict rigorous testing to achieve it.

So what is EN 14476

EN 14476 specifies a test method and the minimum requirements for virucidal activity of chemical disinfectants and antiseptic products.

The test also ensures the product contains antiviral ingredients and is effective in killing viruses.

However, merely passing EN14476 testing does not in itself guarantee effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 or the virus known to cause COVID-19.

To make sure the product you use will definitely kill this virus. The test must be undertaken using a ‘surrogate’ for the SARs-CoV-2 virus strain such as Feline Corona virus.

This is a very similar corona virus to SARs-CoV-2, such that efficacy against the surrogate is sufficient to indicate the tested product will be effective in killing the actual SARs-CoV-2 strain.

BS EN Standards
550 80% alcohol wipes – BUY NOW 

What is EN14476 Standard ?

Which standards apply to which environments. 

The necessary standards will ultimately depend on the environment the product is used within.

  • The British Standards Institution states that the EN 14476 standard applies to areas and situations where disinfection is medically indicated including hospitals, medical facilities, schools and also nursing homes.
  • For food and hospitality industries. The Food Standards Agency recommends that disinfection products should meet BS EN standards advising to check product labels for BS EN 1276 or BS EN 13697.
  • The Association of Scotland’s Self – Caterers has also recommended that to be sure of killing viruses you should use a disinfecting agent certified for EN 14476.
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