Background The shortage of FFP2 and FFP3 respirators posed a serious threat to the operation of the healthcare system at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Aim Our aim was to develop and validate a large-scale facility that uses hydrogen peroxide vapour for the decontamination of used respirators. Methods A multidisciplinary and multisectoral ad hoc group of experts representing various organisations was assembled to implement the collection and transport of used FFP2 and FFP3 respirators from hospitals covering 86% of the Finnish population. A large-scale decontamination facility using hydrogen peroxide vapour was designed and constructed. Microbiological tests were used to confirm efficacy of hydrogen peroxide vapour decontamination together with a test to assess the effect of decontamination on the filtering efficacy and fit of respirators. Bacterial and fungal growth in stored respirators was determined by standard methods. Results Large-scale hydrogen peroxide vapour decontamination of a range of FFP2 and FFP3 respirator models effectively reduced the recovery of biological indicators: Geobacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus atrophaeus spores, as well as model virus bacteriophage MS2. The filtering efficacy and facial fit after hydrogen peroxide vapour decontamination were not affected by the process. Microbial growth in the hydrogen peroxide vapour-treated respirators indicated appropriate microbial cleanliness. Conclusions Large-scale hydrogen peroxide vapour decontamination was validated. After effective decontamination, no significant changes in the key properties of the respirators were detected. European Union regulations should incorporate a facilitated pathway to allow reuse of appropriately decontaminated respirators in a severe pandemic when unused respirators are not available.

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During recent decades, planning defense systems have evolved into capability-based planning (CBP) processes. This paper seeks to answer two questions: firstly, how to express a complex, real-world capability requirement; and secondly, how to assess if a system with interacting elements fulfills this requirement. We propose that both a capability need and the solution fulfilling it are expressed with a consistent set of models in a traceable manner. The models integrate current capability models, specific to planning level and capability viewpoint, with systems thinking approach. Our conceptual model defines the defense system in its environment, our data model defines and organizes the CBP terms, and our class diagram defines the CBP planning elements. We illustrate the approach by giving an example of capability parametrization and compare it both with the DODAF capability view and with the generic CBP process. Our data model describes how capabilities are degraded in action and extends the approach toward capability dynamics. The quantitative capability definition aims to support efforts to solve for real world interacting subsystems that combined implement the required capability.