Urban outdoor furniture is constantly exposed to environments that can harbor harmful microorganisms. Ensuring these surfaces are hygienic is a growing public health priority. A key method for verifying this protection is through standardized antibacterial performance tests. These laboratory assessments measure a material's ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria.
Several major international standards are used for this purpose. The most prominent is ISO 22196:2011 (Measurement of antibacterial activity on plastics and other non-porous surfaces). This standard is widely adopted and involves inoculating a material sample with specific bacterial strains, incubating it, and then calculating the antibacterial activity value based on the difference in bacterial counts between the test sample and a control.
Another critical standard is JIS Z 2801:2010 (Antibacterial products—Test for antibacterial activity and efficacy), which is very similar to ISO 22196 and is a cornerstone in the Japanese market. For materials treated with antimicrobial agents, ASTM E2149 is a common test method designed under dynamic contact conditions.
The choice of standard depends on the material type (porous vs. non-porous), its intended application, and the regional market requirements. Manufacturers and urban planners rely on these tests to select materials that contribute to cleaner, safer public spaces, reducing the risk of cross-contamination and promoting community well-being.