PPE standards
PPE is classified into three categories :
Category I
Work equipment covering minor risks
Category II
Specific protective equipment for significant risks
Category III
Safety equipment for serious risks with irreversible or fatal effects
Mulliez Flory advises you in the design of your PPE and in the choice of the most specific materials to create your work clothing truly personalized in its look, combining comfort, safety and efficiency while meeting the required safety standards.
EN 20 471: High Visibility Clothing
Clothing intended to visually signal the presence of the user, in order to detect it and see it clearly in dangerous conditions, in all daylight conditions and at night in the light of the headlights.
There are 3 classes of signal clothing:
- Class 3: highest level
- Class 2: intermediate level of visibility
- Class 1: lowest level of visibility
Depending on the classes of PPE, the visibility will therefore be different. The more we go to class 3 PPE, the more fluorescent areas and retro-reflective bands will be.
EN 343: Protection against bad weather (PPE category 1)
This standard specifies the characteristics of protective clothing against the influence of bad weather, wind and ambient cold above -5 ° C. Two essential characteristics, among others, are measured (for each, 3 performance levels exist corresponding to 3 classes. The higher the class, the more efficient the material):
- Resistance to water penetration: 0 to 3 (top number on the pictogram)
- this resistance should also be measured at the seams
- Evaporative resistance (level of breathability of the garment): 0 to 3 (bottom number on the pictogram
EN 342: protection against cold (category 2 PPE)
This standard specifies the characteristics of protective clothing against the influence of bad weather, wind and cold, for temperatures below -5 ° C.
Three essential characteristics are retained:
X: air permeability: air flow which passes through the complex, that is to say the assembly of the different layers constituting the garment, under an air pressure of 100 Pa. is low, the less the garment is breathable and the more it protects against the wind.
Y: evaporative resistance: assesses the garment's permeability to water vapor, that is to say its ability to evacuate perspiration. The lower the evaporative resistance, the more breathable the material. The measurement is carried out on the layers offering protection against the penetration of water from the outside (outer layer and possibly waterproof-breathable insert).
Z: thermal resistance: measures the thermal insulation offered by the garment, worn in combination with standardized clothing (comprising a warm underwear with long sleeves and legs, plus a fleece jacket and pants and a balaclava). This insulation value makes it possible to determine the temperature of use according to the intensity of the activity and the duration of exposure envisaged.
EN ISO 14116 - 11612
Protection against heat and flame
Protective clothing to protect workers against brief contact with a flame and against at least one type of heat. Heat can be in the form of convective heat, radiant heat, a large splash of molten metals, or a combination of heat hazards.
protective clothing with limited flame spread.
protective clothing for industrial workers exposed to heat (except clothing for firefighters and welders).
EN ISO 11611: protection during welding and related techniques
There are 2 classes of clothing:
- class 1 : against low risks during welding techniques and situations causing the least spattering and low radiant heat
- class 2 : against greater risks during welding techniques and situations causing more projections and higher radiant heat.
Compulsory full protection of the upper and lower parts of the bust, neck, arms and legs.
The seams must resist the propagation of the flame and the pockets have flaps made of flame retardant materials.
EN 1149 - 13034
Liquid / electrostatic chemical risks
Test methods
EN 1149-1: for surface resistivity
EN 1149-2: for electrical resistance through a material
EN 1149-3: for the measurement of load attenuation
Requirements
EN 1149-5: clothing performance (materials and design)
EN 13034 type6 / PB6: protective clothing against liquid chemicals, limited protection (type 6 equipment)
EN 61482-2: protection against the thermal effects of an electric arc
Specifies the requirements and test methods applicable to materials and articles of clothing used for the protective clothing of workers against the thermal hazards of an electric arc.
EN 14404: protection against the risk of knee hygroma
Requirements for knee protection for knee work. Clothing conforming to this standard is used for people with an activity requiring work on uneven, hard floors, with prolonged support on the knees.
Performance levels according to standard EN14404:
- Level 1 : knee protectors are suitable for flat floors where objects over 1cm high are not a common danger
- Level 2 : knee protectors are suitable for difficult conditions, such as working kneeling on broken rocks in mines and quarries
EN 510: protection against mechanical risks
Protection against the risk of being caught in moving machine parts
Directive 89/686 / EEC - Change for January 2016
This directive was published on December 21, 1989, applying to PPE intended for professionals but also for leisure and sports activities.
It sets the conditions for placing on the market, for free movement within the Community, as well as the essential safety requirements which PPE must meet in order to preserve the health and ensure the safety of users.
As of December 31, 2015, this "European Directive" in connection with PPE will be replaced by a "European Regulation" that the member states of the European Commission will have to put in place within two years.
The European Regulation will be directly implemented and must be strictly.
Unlike a European Directive which, depending on the State, can be applied in different ways according to the needs of each.
This new regulation will be strongly oriented towards PPE designed and manufactured for single use against heat, humidity and water.
This Regulation brings several new features
Before December 31, 2015, a PPE protection quality control, called "AET" (Examination Certificate), had to be carried out every 10 years. From January 2016, this period will be reduced to 5 years.
PPE is classified into three categories.
- Category 1 : Work equipment covering minor risks
- Category 2 : Specific protective equipment for significant risks
- Category 3 : Safety equipment for serious risks with irreversible or fatal effects.
In this new regulation, the focus will be on this third category. It will be extended to other risks, so that a number of additional types of PPE will have to undergo the conformity assessment procedure in the future.