Personal protective equipment standards
11 most important personal protective equipment standards
For this purpose, we have prepared this short note to present and describe all the essential standards for equipment and safety at work. Please read it to refresh your knowledge, and we recommend you refer to it every time you purchase new protective and work equipment to ensure the highest level of safety for you and your colleagues.
What is a standard, and why do we need it?
A standard is a document that specifies requirements for a particular product, material, component, system or service and describes in detail a specific method or process. Standards facilitate international trade by ensuring the compatibility and interoperability of components, products and services. The benefits to businesses and consumers include reduced costs, increased efficiency and improved security.
Standards are developed and defined through knowledge sharing, and consensus building among technical experts called stakeholders and other interested parties - including businesses, consumers and environmental groups.
The formal definition of a standard is "a document established by consensus and approved by a recognized body that establishes, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results aimed at achieving an optimal level of order in a given context."
There are several different types of standards. Standards include requirements and recommendations for products, systems, processes or services. Standards can also be a way to describe a measurement or test method or to establish common terminology within a particular sector.
European Standards (EN)
European Standards (EN) are documents ratified by one of the three European Organizations for Standardization (ESO), CEN, CENELEC or ETSI; recognized as competent in voluntary technical standardization by EU Regulation 1025/2012.
Although CEN, CENELEC and ETSI deal with different fields of activity, they work together in many areas of common interest, such as the machinery sector or information and communication technologies (ICT). They also share standard policies on issues on which there is mutual agreement.
EN (European standard) "carries with it the obligation to implement at national level by obtaining the status of a national standard and withdrawing any conflicting national standard." Therefore, the European standard (EN) automatically becomes the national standard in the 34 CEN-CENELEC member countries.
The standards are voluntary, meaning there is no automatic legal obligation to use them. However, laws and regulations may refer to standards and even make them mandatory.
Guaranteed Quality
EN ISO 20471 - Clothing for high visibility
Today, employees in more and more industries have to wear safety work clothes. This is especially true in sectors where much work is done near traffic, cranes and other motorized vehicles and in the dark. EN ISO 20471-certified safety workwear ensures safety for employees while they focus on work. Employees will be visible at night, during the day and from all angles, including behind where it is impossible to see them. With appropriate EN ISO 20471 safety work clothes, neither reflectors nor fluorescent material will be "hidden" in a blind corner.
EN ISO 20471 is an international standard that sets requirements for visible work clothing for employees in high-risk areas. Appropriate safety work clothes are crucial and should be given attention. Even if work in areas where visibility is essential only takes place during a shorter part of the working day. EN ISO 20471 is divided into three classes according to your risk area and how well the product can protect the employee. The requirement for visibility - and therefore the requirement for the surface consisting of reflectors and fluorescent materials - determines which class you should choose. The table below shows the minimum area covered by reflective tape and fluorescent material in m2.
| Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | |
| Reflective tape | 0,10 m² | 0,13 m² | 0,20 m² |
| Fluorescent material | 0,14 m² | 0,50 m² | 0,80 m² |
The highest class is class 3. There are two ways to achieve class 3. Choose either an EN ISO 20471 product that is itself assessed as class 3 (e.g., Jacket) or two products that are jointly certified for class 3 (e.g., Jacket + work pants). This will ensure that employees always have the appropriate security class.
EN 342 - Protection against the cold
Clothing certified in accordance with EN 342: 2017 will protect you well against the cold. Choosing suitable clothing is essential when working in a cold environment, as protection and warmth are crucial. A cold climate is considered a temperature of -5°C or lower, measured not only based on the air temperature but also taking into account humidity and wind. If it's very windy, you may need a higher level of insulation, even if the actual temperature remains the same. Keeping your work clothes dry is essential as their ability to protect them can weaken when they get wet. To improve protection against the cold and prevent local cooling, it is also necessary to wear warm clothes and shoes on the hands and feet and warm headgear. It is also essential that your clothing is zipped up and tight around openings such as the wrists.
To avoid local hypothermia, you must wear gloves, a hat, etc. Each product is classified according to different values: thermal insulation value (Y), air permeability level (AP) and, when applicable, water resistance (WP).
EN 343 - Protection against rain and moisture
Work clothes certified according to the EN 343 standard protect against rain, let the skin breathe and wick away moisture from the body. We often encounter two versions of this standard. Both versions certify workwear for its ability to withstand high water pressure and breathability.
EN 343:2019
You must be dressed appropriately if you work outdoors in all weather conditions. The EN 343: 2019 standard has three values that indicate the level of protection the user gets while wearing the product. The first value indicates the waterproofness of the product, while the second value refers to the breathability of the entire product. Both values are rated on a scale of 1-4, with four being the highest. The third value is marked with R, or X. R means that the product was tested during pouring. This test is optional for the standard. X is the value given if the product has not been subjected to this test.
EN 343
This version has two values that you can refer to. The first value indicates the general waterproofness of the product, while the second value indicates its all-around breathability. Both values are rated on a scale of 1-3, with three being the highest. Products certified according to the EN 343 standard are also tested for tear resistance and stretchability, where the different layers of the product are tested for their ability to retain their shape after repeated use.
EN ISO 11611 - Welding protection
EN ISO 11611 describes the minimum requirements for work clothes that protect the wearer against short-circuit welding or similar processes with corresponding risks.
Safety clothing with the EN ISO 11611 certificate protects the user from sparks and short contact with fire. At the same time, they must reduce the risk of electric shock due to quick, accidental contact with electrical conductors. Work clothes must cover the entire body to provide the worker with optimal protection. This is achieved by wearing a jacket and matching trousers. We recommend using additional protection for the head, hands and front of clothing when using welding techniques that produce a lot of sparks. To avoid sparks igniting on work clothes, safety clothing certified according to EN ISO 11611 has only a minimum amount of pockets and other features to prevent sparks from getting stuck.
| EN ISO 11611 - Class 1 | EN ISO 11611 - Class 2 |
| Protection against less dangerous welding techniques and situations that cause less sparks and heat radiation. | Protection in situations that pose an additional risk, where the possibility of sparks and heat radiation is significantly greater. |
EN ISO 11612 in 14116 - Protection against heat and fire
IEC 61482-2 - Protection against thermal hazards associated with electric shocks
EN 1149-3 / 5 - Protection against electric shocks
Certifikata EN 1149-3 in EN 1149-5 certificates ensure safety against electric shocks.
EN 1149-3: 2004 - electrical discharge
This standard specifies requirements for work clothing that is tested for its ability to discharge an electrostatic charge from the surface of the clothing material. The benchmark confirms that the safety garment has been tested for its ability to remove electrostatic charges into the air and, therefore, will not transfer them to the garment's wearer.
EN 1149-5: 2008 - design and material properties
This standard describes the requirements for the electrostatic properties of safety clothing used in areas with a risk of sudden electrostatic discharge. The test method for EN 1149-5: 2008 specifies requirements for the materials and design of safety clothing with electrostatic properties to protect the user as best as possible.
EN 13034 - Protection against liquid chemicals
EN 13034 / EN 13034 + A1 provides limited protection against small amounts and splashes of liquid chemicals (type 6 and type PB equipment [6]). Safety clothing with this certificate is suitable for use in areas with a risk of exposure to small splashes of chemicals but where complete body protection is not required. Safety clothing with the EN 13034 certificate is suitable for cases where work occurs in areas with a risk of exposure to small amounts of chemicals. Remove protective clothing quickly if exposed to chemicals.
EN 13758-2 UPF 40+ - Protection against the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays
EN 13758-2 is a standard for products that protect the skin from the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays. Clothing certified to this standard is marked with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF value) that indicates the level of protection. The degree of protection depends on several factors, including the fabric's thickness, density and color. However, the protective effect of the material is affected by the wear and tear of the clothing. By wearing 13578-2 certified clothing, you reduce the risk of skin damage from the sun's rays.
WORK FOOTWEAR STANDARDS
EN ISO 20345
EN ISO 20347
SAFETY CLASSES
| SAFETY CLASS | CATEGORY | FOR WHOM THEY ARE INTENDED |
| S1 (Safety Class S1) | Shoes, sandals and shoes with caps. They are not water-repellent. | Intended for general use at work and leisure in dry conditions. |
| S1P (Safety Class S1P) | Shoes with intermediate sole and cap. They are not water-repellent. | Intended for workers who need particularly sturdy footwear for use indoors, in the summer or occasionally outdoors throughout the year. |
| S2 (Safety Class S2) | Protective footwear with cap. Water repellent. | Intended for workers who need particularly sturdy footwear with a cap, non-slip and anti-static soles and a closed heel. Water-repellent according to EN ISO 20345. |
| S3 (Safety Class S3) | Waterproof shoes with midsole and cap. | Outdoor workers who need extra sturdy footwear that is also waterproof. The shoes are mainly worn by people who often work on their knees. |
| S4 (Safety Class S4) | Protective footwear with a non-slip sole and cap. Water-repellent according to EN ISO 20345. | Outdoor workers in demanding conditions who need particularly strong footwear that is water-resistant and has a non-slip sole.. |
| S5 (Safety Class S5) | Safety footwear with nail protection and cap. Water repellent. | Outdoor workers working in wet and harsh conditions that require additional shoe reinforcements. |
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The standards listed in this report cover the most common safety and protective products. Safety and work clothes are divided into other industries we have not covered, but they still have their standards.
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