BS/EN efficacy standards
Understanding how our product has been tested to recognised BS/EN disinfectant efficacy standards
Overview
EN standards are performance benchmarks, not "approval stamps". Passing EN standards shows our formulation can meet minimum performance requirements under the test's defined conditions (organism set, soil load, time, temperature, method).
These standardised tests are widely used for:
Important distinction:
EN efficacy evidence is not the same thing as biocidal product authorisation in Great Britain. HSE authorisation is a separate regulatory process.
Reading the evidence
Organisms are in a liquid mix; the disinfectant is mixed with them, and survival is measured after the contact time. This is a good measure of intrinsic kill power in a controlled environment.
Examples: EN 1276, EN 1650, EN 13727, EN 13624, EN 14476, EN 17126, EN 13704
Organisms are dried onto a surface/carrier and the disinfectant is applied; this is more representative of real surface disinfection.
Examples: EN 13697 for surfaces; EN 14561/14562 for instrument carriers
Why this matters in housing: Surface/carrier tests tend to resonate more with "spray and wipe" reality than suspension alone.
EN tests typically use an interfering substance to simulate soil:
Clean = lower organic load (easier)
Standard test conditions with minimal interference
Dirty = higher organic load (harder)
More challenging conditions that better simulate real-world mess, biofilm-ish grime, and organic contamination
Our testing includes outcomes at various contact times. In procurement terms, this translates to:
The allowed marketing claim must match the test time and conditions.
Our testing includes performance at 10°C and 20°C. Lower temperatures generally make disinfection harder; "passes at 10°C" are often treated as robust for colder indoor spaces or poorly heated environments.
A "log reduction" is a standard way of expressing microbial kill:
| 5-log | 99.999% reduction | Typical bactericidal pass criterion in EN 1276 |
| 4-log | 99.99% reduction | Often used in yeasticidal/fungicidal contexts; EN 1650 commonly referenced at 4-log for yeasts/fungi |
| 3-log | 99.9% reduction | Appears in surface yeasticidal/fungicidal benchmarks; EN 13697 summaries often cite 3-log for yeasts/fungi |
In our dataset, we also have ">" values (e.g, >5.49). This typically means "at least" that reduction, often hitting the test's measurement ceiling.
Standard by standard
What it means: We've demonstrated bactericidal performance in a standardised suspension test used for food/industrial/domestic/institutional areas. It's one of the most widely recognised "baseline bactericidal" standards.
How we talk about it (correctly):
"Tested to EN 1276 for bactericidal activity under specified clean/dirty conditions and contact times."
What it means: Standardised evidence against yeasts and/or moulds in the "general areas" context. Our testing explicitly includes mould (e.g, Aspergillus brasiliensis) under EN 1650, which is very relevant to "mould remover" positioning.
How we talk about it (correctly):
"Tested to EN 1650 for yeasticidal/fungicidal activity under clean/dirty conditions and defined contact times."
Note: Mould remediation in buildings is broader than "kill claim" alone, addressing moisture sources and proper cleanup are essential.
What it means: Evidence on surfaces, not just in liquid suspension. This is often a key "real-world relevance" standard for spray-and-wipe applications.
How to use it in housing messaging:
"Surface-tested to EN 13697 under [clean/dirty] conditions at [contact time]"
Add "clean/dirty" and contact time wherever you can, because that's what specifiers care about.
What it means: This is the medical-area bactericidal suspension test. It signals performance expectation aligned to healthcare-style standards (even if we're not selling into healthcare).
What it means: Medical-area yeast/fungi suspension benchmark. If positioning "safe for occupied properties", this helps show performance under a more stringent sector framework.
Important: This does not automatically equal "safe around residents" without regulatory risk assessment and label context.
What it means: A recognised virucidal standard in medical context. Our testing includes specific test organisms.
Marketing sensitivity:
Claims must be kept exactly aligned to the test organism and what's permitted in our market/label. Virucidal claims can be extremely sensitive.
What it means: Sporicidal activity in the medical-area framework, using bacterial spores. Spores are harder to inactivate, so this is typically treated as a strong claim category.
What it means: Sporicidal activity benchmark for food/industrial/domestic/institutional areas.
What it means: These are instrument-oriented carrier tests (more demanding and specific). This is strong evidence of kill capability, but we avoid implying our mould spray is marketed as an instrument disinfectant unless that's genuinely the intended authorised use.
Sources
For detailed information about GB biocides regulation and product authorisation, visit our HSE Regulation page.
