China NCIA Consults on two Group Standards for Antibacterial and Antiviral Coatings

Group standard “Antibacterial and Antiviral Coatings” specifies the terms and definitions, grading, technical requirements, test methods, inspection rules, labeling, marking, packaging, and storage of antibacterial coatings and antiviral coatings. Group standard “Test Method for Determining for the Antiviral activity of Coatings” specifies the terms and definitions, test principles, reagents and materials, instrument and equipment, test preparations, test procedures, anti-virus durability tests and test reports for the anti-virus performance test of coatings.

On September 14^th, 2020, China National Coating Industry Association (NCIA) issued a notice ^[1]to solicit public feedback on two draft group standards for antibacterial and antiviral coatings. One group standard is Antibacterial and Antiviral Coatings, and the other is Test Method for Determining for the Antiviral activity of Coatings. The consultation will be concluded on October 14^th, 2020.

The preparation of the two standards based on the sharp demand of the market and consumers. Surface contact is an important way to spread many bacteria and viruses and cause diseases, so consumers urgently need paints and coating products with anti-viral functions to reduce the risk of infection. However, there are not enough standardized management measures for the market of antibacterial and antiviral coatings for now, and there is not a standard for the test methods of antiviral coatings in China. Considering the growing demand for such standards under the COVID-19 epidemic, NCIA prepared the two group standards.

According to the draft of Antibacterial and Antiviral Coatings, antibacterial coatings are divided into two levels: I and II, which is similar to HG/T 3950-2007 Antibacterial Coating. Specifically, level-I antibacterial coatings can be used in places with high antibacterial performance requirements, such as hospital, school, kindergarten, etc., while level-II ones can be used in places with any antibacterial performance requirements. Besides the grading, the antibacterial properties for products in the two levels are also the same as those in HG/T 3950-2007, and the antiviral properties for corresponding products at two levels are newly stipulated. Specific requirements are separately specified in Table 1, 2, and 3.

Table 1 Antibacterial Performance

Items		Antibacterial Rate/%
Items		Ⅰ	Ⅱ
Antibacterial performance	≥	99	90
Antibacterial Durability	≥	95	85

Table 2 Anti-fungal Performance

Items		Antibacterial Rate/%
Items		Ⅰ	Ⅱ
Anti-fungal performance	≥	0	1
Anti-fungal Durability	≥	0	1

Table 3 Antiviral Performance

Items		Antibacterial Rate/%
Items		Ⅰ	Ⅱ
Antiviral performance	H3N2 ≥	99.9	99.0
Antiviral performance	EV71 ≥	95.0	90.0
Antiviral Durability	H3N2 ≥	99.0	90.0
Antiviral Durability	EV71 ≥	85.0	80.0

Once the two group standards enter into force, all the member enterprises of NCIA must comply with relevant requirements. And for non-member enterprises or foreign manufacturers, although the standards are not compulsory for them, they shall also be ready in advance in case of a decrease in product competitiveness. Additionally, antibacterial and antiviral coatings for specific use situation shall also comply with the limits of hazardous substances specified in corresponding national standard, including GB 18581, GB 18582, GB 30981, etc.

For the aforementioned national standards, which all will take effect from December 1st, 2020, the English translations are on sale on ChemLinked now (VOC standards).