FIRE & ELECTRICAL SAFETY
PPE placed on the EU market must also carry CE marking. This symbol implies the conformity to all provisions of the relevant directives. Manufacturer’s information is also required to be supplied alongside the PPE and forms an integral part of assessing the conformity of an item of PPE. When choosing thermal protective clothing you will come across a variety of standards. It is important to understand what these standards mean and also to have an idea of the testing that is behind achieving the standard. *Table 1 outlines some of the key standards you’ll come across.
IMPORTANCE OF WEARABILITY There are factors other than safety that determine the effectiveness and ‘wearability’ of protective apparel, namely comfort and appearance. A responsible garment manufacturer
Standard
EN ISO 15025 in conjunction with EN ISO 14116
EN ISO 11612 Is about
Limited flame spread materials, material assemblies and clothing
Protective clothing — Clothing to protect against heat and flame
EN ISO 11611
Protective clothing for use in welding and allied processes
IEC 61382-2 (draft EN 61482-2)
Live working — protective clothing against the thermal hazards of an electric arc
*Table 1
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will offer design assistance so that ergonomic needs can be translated into wearer benefits, providing protective work wear that is as attractive and comfortable as street wear whilst still meeting stringent protection standards. Comfort is not a luxury, but allows for more efficient working and increased attention during hazardous work. There are two basic characteristics that have an impact on a wearer’s comfort which can be measured objectively.
• Garment weight: The weight of a garment can help or hinder performance for the wearer and the type of fabric being used in the construction (i.e. is it a fabric with inherent flame resistant properties or is it a coated fabric), can have implications on the overall weight.
• Moisture management: A criteria of moisture management is the evaporation of moisture or perspiration from the skin through the fabric structure. The Sweating Guarded Hotplate test method (ISO 11092) measures the resistance of a material to let water vapour through which is expressed as Ret (water vapour resistance in m².Pa/W). A fabric’s moisture management performance is also influenced by its air permeability, the capacity to let air pass through (tested according to ISO 9237). Air permeability (expressed in litre/m²/sec) is an important measure of comfort, because it is a measurement of the air moving through a fabric and around the skin, leaving a dry feeling on the wearer’s skin.
Garment design is also an important element that has a direct influence on moisture management and overall comfort of the wearer and must be considered when specifying appropriate PPE and its supplier.
SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP Whether you are buying directly from a garment manufacturer or through a distributor, a reputable organisation will be able to offer advice on the type, style and protective properties of a garment to ensure the best balance between comfort and protection in a given work environment.
Depending on your requirements, extensive choice will be offered from existing ranges or bespoke garments may be able to be developed to meet specific needs. Ensuring garments are manufactured to the required standards is essential. For peace of mind, work with a garment manufacturer or supplier that has the British Safety Industry Federation’s Registered Safety Supplier mark, the CE mark or is a member of the Nomex® Partner Programme.
By understanding exactly what to look for, the different standards the garments must adhere to and the various types of protection available when choosing heat and flame protective garments, not only will workers be protected properly in life threatening situations, but you’ll be completely ‘in the know’ about what to expect from your garments.
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