1. Overview
This test evaluates whether environmental surfaces can be disinfected by automatically dispersing a disinfectant into an enclosed test space using a dedicated device. The evaluation is conducted in accordance with EN 17272.
The standard specifies both small test spaces (0.25 m³ to 4 m³) and large test spaces (30 m³ to 150 m³). At our center, 0.4 m³ and 1 m³ test chambers are available for small-space testing, while a 30 m³ test chamber is available for large-space testing.
2. Applicable Products
・Disinfectants
・Sanitizing agents
・Hypochlorous acid solutions (including electrolyzed water)
3. Standards and Regulations
・EN 17272 – Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics – Methods of airborne room disinfection by automated process – Determination of bactericidal, mycobactericidal, sporicidal, fungicidal, yeasticidal, virucidal and phagocidal activities
4. Test Method
EN 17272 evaluates whether environmental surfaces can be disinfected by automatically dispersing a disinfectant throughout a test space using a dedicated device. The standard applies to the disinfection of non-porous surfaces and does not evaluate air disinfection. Furthermore, the device and the disinfectant are evaluated as a combined system and cannot be assessed independently.
The standard consists of the following two tests:
(1) Efficacy Test
This test verifies whether the combined device and disinfectant achieve the required antimicrobial performance against specified microorganisms.
At a minimum, the system must demonstrate bactericidal activity against four bacterial species (including Staphylococcus aureus) and yeasticidal activity against Candida albicans.
Carriers inoculated with the test microorganisms are positioned at a specified distance from the device with the inoculated surfaces facing away from the device, and the antimicrobial efficacy is evaluated.
The required test microorganisms vary depending on the intended field of use (e.g., medical area, veterinary area, or food, industrial, domestic and institutional area) and the performance claims to be demonstrated (e.g., virucidal, sporicidal, or mycobactericidal activity).
(2) Distribution Test
This test evaluates whether the disinfectant is distributed uniformly throughout the test space.
Carriers inoculated with a single bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus) are placed in the four corners of the test space with the inoculated surfaces facing away from the device. The antimicrobial efficacy is then evaluated at each location.
Unlike the efficacy test, the test microorganism used in the distribution test is fixed regardless of the intended application of the device or the specific performance claims.
