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May . 07, 2024 15:08 Back to list

standards for work clothes

standards for work clothes

What are workwear standards and why are they important? What do we all know?

The official definition describes a standard as a document that defines requirements for a particular product, material, component, system or service and describes in detail a particular method or process. Standards for work clothes facilitate international trade by ensuring compatibility and interoperability of components, products and services. The benefits to businesses and consumers include reduced costs, increased efficiency and improved security. The standards for work clothes were created with the aim that the consumer can be sure of the compliance of the product with all European requirements for protection and safety at work.

Standards of work clothes

CE mark

The CE mark means that the manufacturer or notified body has assessed the product and that it is safe and in compliance with EU requirements. Compliance of personal protective equipment with essential health and safety requirements is determined in Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of 9 of March 2016 on the repeal of Council Directive 89/686/EEC. It defines the legal obligations of various economic entities to ensure that personal protective equipment provides the required level of protection against risks in the workplace. The regulation also specifies requirements for the design and manufacture of personal protective equipment.

The products from our sales program are manufactured, tested and certified in accordance with the harmonized standards for work clothes from the regulation on "PPE" (personal protective equipment). The products provide protection and prevention of possible accidents or injuries when working in conditions that include cold, heat, flame, rain, reduced visibility, etc.

Personal protective equipment is classified into three risk categories according to the risks to the health and safety of users:

  • Category 1: Includes only minimal risks such as rain, cold environment or electrostatic charge.
  • Category 2: includes risks not covered by category I or III. This may include hazards in reduced visibility or cold environments.
  • Category 3: includes risks that may cause irreparable damage to health or expose the user to a fatal hazard, such as an electric arc.

The CE mark provides documentation that the product complies with the performance standards set for such products. There is no guarantee that the product will prevent the risk of accidents or serious injury when the user is exposed to such risks in a work environment. In the following, we have prepared a short presentation of the harmonized European standards (EN), which are used in the workwear collections in the Work Foxx online store.

 

Standards for work clothes and levels of protection

 

EN ISO 13688 - BASIC STANDARDS FOR WORK CLOTHES

The workwear standard EN ISO 13688 specifies general requirements for ergonomics, safety, size marking, ageing, compatibility and markings of protective clothing and the information that the manufacturer must attach to protective clothing.

The workwear standard EN ISO 13688 may only be used in combination with other standards that have specific protective requirements, and not independently.

 

HIGH VISIBILITY CLOTHING STANDARDSEN ISO 20471:2013+A1:2016 - HIGH VISIBILITY CLOTHING

This standard specifies requirements for protective clothing that can visually signal the presence of the user. The purpose of the standard is to ensure good visibility of the user in all light conditions during the day and when illuminated by vehicle headlights in the dark.

Performance classes are defined based on minimum areas of reflective and fluorescent materials and clothing design requirements. Each of these classes provides a different level of visibility, with Class 3 providing the highest level. The high visibility class can be achieved with a single garment or a combination of garments (eg jacket + trousers).

 

PROTECTION AGAINST RAIN STANDARDSEN 343:2019 - PROTECTION AGAINST RAIN

The standard specifies requirements and test methods for the properties of materials, seams and clothing for protection against rain , snow flakes, fog and soil moisture. Resistance to water penetration and resistance to water vapor are tested.

  • Value 1 - resistance to water penetration, class 1 to 4 (class 4 is the best waterproofing)
  • Value 2 - resistance to water vapor, class 1 to 4 (class 4 is the most permeable)
  • Value 3 - Rain tower test (optional test for ready-to-wear garments), R

 

PROTECTION AGAINST COLD STANDARDSEN 342:2017 - PROTECTION AGAINST COLD

The standard specifies test methods and requirements for sets of protective clothing intended for protection against cold (air temperature below -5 °C). The standard takes into account not only low air temperature, but also humidity and air speed.

The products from our offer are tested according to method B. This means that the thermal insulation was measured for a clothing set (jacket + pants or overalls) with a bottom layer. The value represents protection for a user performing light or moderate activity.

OEM printing logo personalized reflective safety Vest

Protection is only guaranteed if the full set is worn.

  • Value 1 - thermal insulation value of the set (with underwear B), Icler
  • Value 2 - air permeability, class 1 to 3 (class 3 is the most permeable)
  • Value 3 - water permeability (optional), WP

 

PROTECTION AGAINST COLD ENVIRONMENTS STANDARDSEN 14058:2017 - PROTECTION AGAINST COLD ENVIRONMENTS

This standard specifies requirements and test methods for the performance of individual protective clothing in cold environments (air temperature above -5 °C). Clothing can provide a certain level of protection for a certain time, depending on e.g. from personal constitution and activities, accompanying clothing and weather.

  • Value 1 - heat resistance, class 1 to 4 (class 4 is the warmest)
  • Value 2 - air permeability, class 1-3 (class 3 is the most permeable)
  • Value 3 - thermal insulation value, Icler. Compulsory for class 4. Optional for grades 1 to 3.
  • Value 4 - water penetration (optional), WP

 

PROTECTION AGAINST THE THERMAL HAZARD OF ELECTRIC ARC STANDARDSEN IEC 61482-2:2018 - PROTECTION AGAINST THE THERMAL HAZARD OF ELECTRIC ARC

This standard specifies methods for testing materials and clothing intended for use in heat and flame resistant clothing for workers exposed to an electric arc. Clothing that meets this standard ensures that the consequences for workers after an accident will not be worsened by the clothing itself.

According to the IEC 61482-2:2018 standard, there are two test methods:

  • Open arc test method - EN IEC 61482-1-1:2019, which is measured in cal/cm2 and is expressed as arc thermal protection value (ATPV), breaking energy threshold value (EBT) or accident energy threshold value ( ELIM). The higher the value, the better the protection.
  • Closed arc test method in a box - EN IEC 61482-1-2:2014, measured in kA. It is expressed in APC 1 (4 kA) or APC 2 (7 kA). APC 2 is a higher level of protection.

 

PROTECTION AGAINST HEAT AND FLAME STANDARDSEN ISO 11612:2015 - PROTECTION AGAINST HEAT AND FLAME

This standard specifies requirements for the performance of clothing made of flexible materials , which are intended to protect the user's body. The standard specifies minimum performance requirements for heat and flame protection clothing that can be worn for a variety of end-use purposes. Two-piece garments must be worn together to provide the stated level of protection.

  • A - limited flame spread, A1 or A2 (A1 - ignition on the surface, A2 - ignition on the edge)
  • B - convective heat, level B1 - B3 (B3 is the highest)
  • C - radiant heat, level C1 - C4 (C4 is the highest)
  • D - molten aluminum injection, level D1 - D3 (D3 is the highest)
  • E - molten iron splash, level E1 - E3 (E3 is the highest)
  • F - contact heat, level F1 - F3 (F3 is the highest)

Clothing designed to protect against the risk of exposure to molten metal splashes if they meet the following performance requirements code letters D and E meet design requirements that would prevent hot/molten substances from becoming trapped in folds , hanging and open pockets or similar.

 

PROTECTION AGAINST HEAT AND FLAME STANDARDSEN ISO 14116:2015 - PROTECTION AGAINST HEAT AND FLAME (LIMITED SPREAD OF FLAME)

This standard specifies minimum requirements for the performance of clothing to reduce the possibility that clothing and/or its materials may catch fire in occasional and short-term contact with small flames and thus pose a hazard.

The standard is divided into three indices, with index 3 being the highest.

Clothing approved in accordance with index 1 must not be used next to the skin and may only be used in conjunction with underwear approved in accordance with index 2 or 3.

 

PROTECTION IN WELDING AND RELATED PROCEDURES STANDARDSEN ISO 11611:2015 - PROTECTION IN WELDING AND RELATED PROCEDURES

This standard specifies minimum basic safety requirements and test methods for protective clothing intended to protect the user's body during welding and related operations. The standard defines design requirements to prevent hot/molten substances or sparks from becoming trapped in folds, hanging and open pockets or the like. Two-piece garments must be worn together to provide the stated level of protection.

This type of protective clothing is designed to protect the wearer from spatter (small splashes of molten metal), short-term contact with flame, radiant heat from the electric arc used for welding, and related processes.

The standard is divided into two classes:

  • Class 1 - Provides protection in low spatter and droplet welding techniques such as TIG or MIG (low current) with lower levels of radiant heat. The material must withstand at least 15 drops of molten metal.
  • Class 2 - Provides protection for welding techniques with heavy spray and droplet generation, such as MAG (with CO2 or mixed gases) or MIG, with higher levels of radiant heat. The material must withstand at least 25 drops of molten metal.

 

ELECTROSTATIC PROPERTIES STANDARDSEN 1149-5:2018 - ELECTROSTATIC PROPERTIES

The standard specifies material and construction requirements for electrostatic dispersive protective clothing used as part of an overall grounded system to prevent ignition discharges. The requirements may not be sufficient in flammable oxygen-enriched atmospheres. The material must meet the requirements of standards EN 1149-1 and/or EN 1149-3.

This European Standard does not apply to protection against high voltages .

 

SUN PROTECTION STANDARDSEN 13758-2:2003+A1:2006 - SUN PROTECTION (UV PROTECTION)

Prolonged exposure of the skin to the sun can cause short-term and long-term skin damage. UVA and UVB radiation can be significantly reduced with appropriate clothing. The level of protection varies widely and depends on many factors such as the properties of the fabrics and the design of the clothing. Protection may be reduced if the garment is stretched, wet or sweaty.


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