Protective Clothing
EN 471 High Visibility Garments
The number of areas where high visibility clothing is deemed necessary continues to grow. Whether it be for winter, all weather protection or summer hot climate use.
Garment types are grouped into three classes based on the conspicuity provided, with the classes dictating the minimum quantities of background and retro-reflective materials to be used.
CLASS 3
Highest Protection Level
Bands of retroreflective material shall not be less than 50mm wide. Minimum background material 0.80m2 Minimum retroreflective material 0.20m2
CLASS 2
Intermediate Protection Level
Bands of retroreflective material shall not be less than 50mm wide.
Minimum background material 0.50m2.
Minimum retroreflective material 0.13m2.
CLASS 1
Lowest Protection Level
Where advanced visibility is an advantage, but for minimal risk/off road purposes only. Bands of retroreflective material shall not be less than 50mm wide. Minimum background material 0.14m2 Minimum retroreflective material 0.10m2
For guidance on selection of clothing, reference can be made to the UK code of practice
“All those working on or near the roads should wear high visibility warning clothing (Class 2 or 3) complying to EN 471 paragraph 4.2.3(b).” The clothing ‘“shall have two horizontal bands of retroflective material not less than 50mm apart around the torso and bands of retroflective material joining the uppermost torso band from the front to the back over each shoulder”. In addition, “on motorways or other high speed roads full length sleeved garments should also comply with paragraph 4.2.4 ‘Full length sleeves’”.
EN340 Protective clothing – general requirements
EN342 Ensembles for protection against cold
EN343 Protection against foul weather This standard relates to protective clothing against rain, wind and cold at temperatures higher than -5degC. The standard provides for 2 performance parameters, water-proofness (3 levels) and breathing properties (3 levels)
EN348 Test method – determination of behaviour of materials on impact of small splashes of molten metal.
EN366 Protection against heat and fire, method of test evaluation when exposed to a source of radiant heat.
EN367 Protection against heat and fire, test method – determination of the heat transmission on exposure to flame.
EN368 Resistance of materials to penetration by liquid chemicals
EN369 Resistance of materials to permeation by liquid chemicals
EN373 Assessment of resistance of materials to molten metal splash
EN381 Protective clothing for handheld chainsaws
EN393 50N Buoyancy Aid
EN395 100N Lifejackets
EN396 150N Lifejackets
EN399 275N Lifejackets
EN463 Resistance to penetration by a jet of liquid chemicals
EN464 Determination of leak tightness of gas tight suits
EN465 Protection against liquid chemicals, performance requirements for chemical protective clothing with spray tight connections between different parts of the clothing (type 4 equipment)
EN466 As above but with type 3 equipment
EN467 Protection against liquid chemicals
EN468 Determination of resistance to penetration by chemical liquid spray
EN469 Protective clothing for fire fighters
EN470 Protective clothing for use in welding and allied processes
EN510 Risk of entanglement with moving parts
EN530 Abrasion resistance of protective clothing
EN50286 Electrical insulating protective clothing for low voltage installations
EN1149-1 Electrostatic requirements – surface resistivity (test methods & requirements)
EN531 Exposure to heat for industrial workers excluding fire fighters and welders clothing
EN532 Test method for limited flame spread including heat and flame
EN533 Protection against heat and flame – limited flame spread materials and material assemblies
EN702 Determination of the contact heat transmission through protective clothing or its materials
EN863 Mechanical properties – test method for puncture resistance
EN 1486 Protective clothing for fire fighters – test methods and requirements for reflective clothing for
specialised fire fighting
EN1073 Protective clothing against radioactive contamination
EN1082 Gloves and arm guards protecting against cuts and stabs by hand knives
EN1149 Protective clothing – electrostatic properties
EN1150 Visibility clothing for non-professional use
EN ISO 13995 Mechanical Properties – test method for the determination of the resistance to puncture and dynamic tearing of materials
EN 13997 Mechanical properties, determination of resistance to cut by sharp objects