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What are the standards for disinfection?

Disinfection is a crucial process in preventing the spread of disease and infection. However, it is important to adhere to certain standards to ensure that disinfection is done effectively and safely. In this article, we will review the most important disinfection standards.

Disinfection standards are set by regulatory agencies to ensure that disinfection products and processes are effective and safe for users. Standards vary by product and use, but in general, they set out requirements for composition, concentration, use pattern and contact time.

NF T72-110 standard

In force since March 2019, the AFNOR standard  NF T 72-110 deals with contact and non-contact surface disinfection processes that determine bactericidal, fungicidal, yeasticidal, sporicidal and virucidal activity, including bacteriophages.

The method is designed to determine the disinfectant activity of steam surface disinfection (SSD) devices used in the human health, veterinary, food processing, industrial and contract sectors.

Standard NF EN 14885

NF EN 14885 is the European standard for biocidal products used for disinfection. It defines the requirements and evaluation methods for products used in hospitals, food industry, environment and communities. This standard also establishes requirements for the documentation of biocidal products.

Biocidal products are chemicals used to destroy micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. The NF EN 14885 standard ensures that biocidal products are effective and safe for users and consumers.

The NF EN 14885 standard is divided into four parts:

  • Part 1: General Requirements and Test Methods
  • Part 2: Products for human hygiene and medical fields
  • Part 3: Products for the food industry, the environment and food contact surfaces
  • Part 4: Products for pets and the environment

Each part of the standard sets out specific requirements for biocidal products according to their use.

Standard NF T 72-281

The NF T 72-281 standard is the French standard that governs the methods for determining the bactericidal activity of antiseptics and disinfectants. This standard specifies the performance requirements for disinfectants and antiseptics, as well as the methods for evaluating their effectiveness.

Disinfectants are used to destroy microorganisms on inanimate surfaces such as walls, floors and furniture. Antiseptic products are used to destroy microorganisms on the skin or mucous membranes.

The NF T 72-281 standard is divided into four parts:

  • Part 1: Suspension method for the evaluation of the bactericidal activity of antiseptics and chemical disinfectants used in human and veterinary medicine
  • Part 2: Surface method for the evaluation of the bactericidal activity of antiseptics and chemical disinfectants used in human and veterinary medicine
  • Part 3: Suspension method for the evaluation of the bactericidal activity of antiseptics and chemical disinfectants used in the food industry, in domestic and community settings
  • Part 4: Specifications for requirements and evaluation methods for chemical disinfection products used in domestic, community and food industry settings.

Example of criteria required by the standard for airborne disinfection: NF T72281 :

Minimum logarithmic reduction rate required to meet NF T72281 standard (May 2009)

  • Bactericidal activity: greater than or equal to 5 log
  • Yeast killing activity: greater than or equal to 4 log
  • Fungicidal activity: greater than or equal to 4 log
  • Sporicidal activity: greater than or equal to 3 log

Note: A 5 log reduction is equivalent to going from 100,000 bacteria to 1 bacteria.

MRI validation laboratory standard NFT72-281

The test is performed in a laboratory, which must be COFRAC accredited.

Standard NF EN 1276

The NF EN 1276 is a European standard that specifies the performance requirements for chemical disinfection products used in the medical, food industry, community and environmental fields. This standard also specifies the methods for evaluating the effectiveness of products.

The NF EN 1276 standard is used to evaluate the efficacy of biocidal products against bacteria. This standard specifies the requirements for the evaluation of the bactericidal efficacy of chemical disinfection products using the suspension method.

Standard NF EN 1650

The NF EN 1650 standard is a European standard that specifies the performance requirements for chemical disinfection products used in the medical, food industry, community and environmental fields. This standard also specifies the methods for evaluating the effectiveness of products.

The NF EN 1650 standard is used to evaluate the efficacy of biocidal products against fungi. This standard specifies the requirements for the evaluation of the fungicidal efficacy of chemical disinfection products using the suspension method.

Standard NF EN 14476

The NF EN 14476 is a European standard that specifies the performance requirements for chemical disinfection products used in the medical, food industry, community and environmental fields. This standard also specifies the methods for evaluating the effectiveness of products.

The standard NF EN 14476 is used to evaluate the efficacy of biocidal products against enveloped viruses. This standard specifies the requirements for the evaluation of the virucidal efficacy of chemical disinfection products using the suspension method.

Conclusion on disinfection standards

Disinfection standards are essential to guarantee the effectiveness and safety of biocidal products. European standards such as NF EN 14885, NF EN 1276, NF EN 1650 and NF EN 14476 specify the performance requirements for chemical disinfection products used in different fields such as medicine, food industry, community and environment. French standards such as NF T 72-281 specify the methods for evaluating the effectiveness of disinfectants and antiseptics. It is important to refer to these standards to guarantee the effectiveness and safety of a professional disinfectant.

In IBL Specifik we design the material that meets these standards for the disinfection of each area and any professional or industrial place. Find the list of our cleaning and disinfecting materials and products here.

Discover also the benefits of steam cleaning and how it also allows to disinfect.

For more information on disinfection standards, please visit the Institute of Microbiological Research (MRI)

About the author

President and CEO of IBL SERVICE ET DISTRIBUTION, he designs and distributes cleaning and disinfecting products and equipment fromIBL Specifik.