Clothing Standards

Standards EN343

EN 343

Protective clothing against the weather

E.P.I of categories 1

This standard specifies the characteristics of protective clothing against the influence of bad weather, wind and ambient cold for temperatures above -5 ° C.

Two essential characteristics, among others, are measured; resistance to water penetration and evaporative resistance (level of breathability of the garment). For each characteristic, three levels of performance exist, corresponding to three classes. The higher the class, the better the material.

Resistance to water penetration should also be measured at the seams.

X : Resistance class to water penetration::

In the rain, water pressure on clothing can range from 13,000 Pa (Pascals) to 20,000 Pa (0.13 to 0.20 Bar). Class 3 corresponds to materials whose resistance to penetration of water, as well as that of seams is greater than 13000 Pa (0.13 bar)

Classification of materials according to resistance to penetration of water. The test is performed according to EN 20811 (ISO 811).

Resistance

to the penetration of water

CLASS

Tests to be performed	1	2	3
Before pretreatment	wp > 8000 Pa	No tests requested	No tests requested
Seams before pretreatment	wp > 8000 Pa	wp > 8000 Pa	wp > 13 000 Pa
After each pretreatment	No tests requested	wp > 8000 Pa	wp > 13 000 Pa

Pretreatments: washing or dry cleaning (5 cycles), abrasion, repeated bending, influence of fuel and oil.

8000 Pa = 80 cm of water column(800 schmerber) = 0,08 bar

13 000 Pa = 130 cm of water column (1300 schmerber) = 0,13 bar

Y : Evaporative resistance class:

(R "and" expressed in. Pa/W)

The evaporative resistance measurement (R "and") makes it possible to evaluate the degree of comfort of the garment. The lower the evaporative resistance, the more "breathable" the material is (allowing perspiration to escape as vapor).

As an example, with a mean physiological stress (150W / m2) for an individual at work equipped with a jacket and trousers (without thermal lining), the recommended continuous wearing time of the suit at an ambient temperature 20 ° C is 75 minutes for Class 1 materials and 90 to 250 minutes for Class 2 materials. 2) for an individual at work equipped with a jacket and trousers (without thermal lining), the recommended continuous wearing time of the suit at an ambient temperature 20 ° C is 75 minutes for Class 1 materials and 90 to 250 minutes for Class 2 materials.

The resistance is measured for the assembly of the different layers of materials constituting the garment, with the exception of the thermal liner.

CLASS	1	2	3
R’’ and’’ (1/m2.s)	150 < AP	20 < AP < 150	AP < 20

Standard EN 471

High visibility signaling clothing for professional use

This standard specifies the characteristics that clothing must have in order to visually indicate the presence of the user. They make it possible to detect it and to see it in dangerous conditions and in all the conditions of day and night lighting in the light of the headlights.

X : Class of the surface of the material (0 to 3): it gives the class of the visible material of retroreflective and fluorescent.

- class 3 : defines the highest level of visibility

- class 2: defines an intermediate level of visibility

- class 1: defines the lowest level of visibility

Each class must have minimal surfaces of visible materials constituting the garment: base material (fluorescent) and retroreflective material (strips) or alternatively constituted by the surface of material with combined characteristics ...

Visible minimum surfaces of each material in m2

Values in m2	Class 1 clothing	Class 2 clothing	Class 3 clothing
Fluorescent material	0,14	0,50	0,80
Retroreflective material	0,10	0,13	0,20
Combined material	0,20	-	-

Y: Class of the reflective material (0 to 2) : it gives the class of the retroreflective material according to its coefficient of retroreflection.