EN 17272

EN 17272 is a widely used standard to evaluate the biocidal action of automated airborne disinfection systems. It determines the efficacy of systems against a wide range of microorganisms including bacteria, mycobacteria, bacterial spores, fungi, yeast, viruses and bacteriophages. Compliance with this standard requires test results to achieve log reduction values given in the above table.

This test is applicable for automated airborne disinfection systems implemented in medical, veterinary, food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas.

This test method can take 3-4 weeks to complete.

At Microbe Investigations, we perform this test using the following microbial strains: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442), Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538P), Enterococcus hirae (ATCC 10541), Candida albicans (MTCC 3017), Aspergillus niger (ATCC 16888), Human adenovirus type 5 (ATCC VR-5), Murine norovirus (FLI S99). Additional strains can be added at the customer’s request.

This test is designed to determine the efficacy of automated airborne disinfection processes that disperse chemical disinfectants in the form of gas, vapor or aerosol. It differs from other tests for disinfectant efficacy, which may be concerned with manual application, direct spraying, wiping or immersing surfaces.

A disinfectant must achieve a specific log reduction in the number of viable microorganisms on test carriers to pass the test. The log reduction criteria vary based on the type of microorganism: >= 5 log reduction for bactericidal activity and >= 4 log reduction for mycobactericidal, sporicidal, fungicidal, virucidal and phagocidal activity.

Manufacturers should prioritize EN 17272 compliance to ensure their products are effective in real-world conditions where automated airborne disinfection processes are used. Compliance demonstrates that the disinfectant can achieve the required efficacy across various microorganisms, which is critical for applications in medical, veterinary, food and industrial settings. It also helps in cross-comparing different disinfection processes under standardized conditions.

No, this test is specifically designed for chemical disinfectants used in automated airborne disinfection processes and is not applicable to methods where the disinfectant is directly applied to surfaces through spraying, wiping, or immersion.

The standard does not specify the frequency of the tests. However, it is advisable to conduct the test in the initial phase of product development, when changes are made to the formulation or the method of manufacturing, to prove that the products remain compliant and effective.

Common reasons for failure in this test include insufficient log reduction in the number of viable microorganisms, poor distribution of the disinfectant throughout the enclosure and the presence of residual inhibitory effects that affect the results of the efficacy test.

This test assumes critical significance in public health and hygiene as it ensures that automated airborne disinfection renders a high degree of microbial inhibition action in various conditions. This is particularly important in healthcare institutions, food production units and other environments where high standards of hygiene need to be maintained.

Preparing your product for successful testing involves several steps including optimizing the formulation for airborne distribution, conducting preliminary tests to remove inhibitory effects and using analytical grade materials to ensure that the materials are free from toxins or inhibitory substances.

EN 17272 certification proves effectiveness against a wide range of microorganisms, enhancing the credibility of the product and aiding firms to meet European standards for wider market acceptance.