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Standards and directives

We operate in a regulated global market in many countries. Thus, we must manage requirements that may vary greatly between countries or regions.
The common goal of our product managers and services is to offer reliable, sustainable, high-performance products in compliance with the regulations and/or standards of each territory where they are used.
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Standards and certifications

All you need to know about PPE standards

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Standards

EN360 SELF-RETRACTABLE FALL

Fall arrester with self-locking device and a self-retractable system for the lanyard. An energy reducer (absorber) can be built-in in the equipment.

EN ISO 20471

HIGH VISIBILITY CLOTHING

This standard specifies the requirements for protective clothing aiming to signal the presence of the wearer visually, so that he may be detected and seen in hazardous situations, in all conditions of daylight, and night under illumination of car headlights.

There are three classes of high-visibility clothing. Each class must have minimum surfaces of visible material constituting the garment; the higher the class, the more visible the garment:

 

  Class 3 Class 2 Class 1
Background material (Fluorescent) 0,80 m² 0,50 m² 0,14 m²
Retroreflective material (Bands) 0,20 m² 0,13 m² 0,10 m²

 

Marking : 

X : Class of high visibility surface (from 1 to 3)

EN ISO 20471  

2
Max. 25x

EN ISO 20471

2 : Class of hight visibility surface (from 1 to 3)

Max. 25x : Optional marking, number of maximum washes authorized for the model. On this example: 25 washes maximum (see indication of service temperature on the garment tag).

EN388 : ISO 23 388 MECHANICAL RISKS

The EN388 standard applies to all types of protective gloves with respect to physical and mechanical aggression from abrasion, cutting from slicing, perforation and tearing. Since the 2016 version of the standard, new optional performance have appeared.

 

TEST Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5
Abrasion resistance
(Number of cycles)
100 500 2,000 8,000 -
Blade cutting resistance (index) 1.2 2.5 5 10 20
Tear resistance (N) 10 25 50 75 -
Puncture resistance (N) 20 60 100 150 -

 

Impact resistance on the metacarpal area: if this performance is claimed, the "P" mark appears.

Marking example:

4233X P

 

TEST CUT RESISTANCE
EN ISO 13997 (TDM
LEVEL A LEVEL B LEVEL C LEVEL D LEVEL E   LEVEL F
APPLIED FORCE (N) 2 5 10 15 22 30

 

Marking example:


4543D ou 4X43D

Cut by blade, 2 test methods:

EN388 6.2.:  For low to middle risk of cutting. A circular blade on which a constant force of 5 N is applied, moves back and forth until the sample is cut. It measures the number of completed cycles and is credited with the corresponding level.

EN ISO 13997:  For materials that blunt the blade during the EN388 6.2 test and/ or are particularly resistant, for high risk of cutting. A straight blade makes a single movement of 20 mm with a force of 2N, the test is repeated with a different force as many times as necessary until the sample is cut. A level corresponding to the force required to cut the sample is assigned. This method better represents the usage situations that present a high risk of cutting.

EN 343

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AGAINST RAIN

This standard specifies the requirements and test methods applicable to the materials and seams of protective clothing against foul weather (for example precipitation in the form of rain or snow), fog and ground humidity.

y : Class of resistance to water penetration (1 to 4), Wp

y : Class of water vapour resistance (1 to 4), Ret

R : Water tower test on whole garment (optional)

 FINNMARK2


 
EN343

3

1

X

 

 

 

 

 

DEFINITIONS

THERMAL RESISTANCE (Rct) IN M².K/W:

Measurement of the thermal insulation provided.

Divided into 4 classes (from 1 to 4) from the least insulating to the most insulating.

The higher the value, the greater the thermal insulation.

AIR PERMEABILITY (AP) IN MM/S :

Determines the complex's permeability to air.

Divided into 3 classes (from 1 to 3) from the least airtight to the most airtight.

RESULTANT EFFECTIVE THERMAL INSULATION :

Measured on moving dummy (/cler).

The thermal insulation coefficient, expressed in m².K/W, is used to determine the optimum usage temperature of the garment in relation to the individual's activity and his exposure time.

Thermal insulation is measured with undergarments of type:

  • (B) for ensembles (Undershirt with long sleeves, long underpants, socks, bootee + thermojacket, thermopants, knitted gloves, balaclava)
  • (R) for garments (Undershirt with long sleeves, long underpants, socks, bootees, jacket, trousers, shirt, knitted gloves, balaclava)
  • (C) provided by the manufacturer

WATER VAPOUR RESISTANCE (Ret) IN (M².PA)/W :

Measures the evaporative resistance, i.e. the product's obstacle to the passage of water vapour, or the barrier it offers to evaporation of transpiration on the surface of the skin. The higher a product's water vapour resistance, the greater this product's barrier to the passage of water vapour : 

A breathing product has a low water vapour resistance.

Divided into 4 levels (from 1 to 4) from the least breathable to the most breathable.

Water vapour resistance Ret Class Class
1 2 3 4
M2 - Pa w Ret > 40 25 < Ret > 40 15 < Ret > 25 Ret < 15

 

RESISTANCE TO WATER PENETRATION (WP) IN PASCAL:

Measurement of the outer material and seams' resistance to water penetration under a water pressure of (980+/-50) Pa/min.

Divided into 4 levels (1 to 4) from the least impermeable to the most impermeable.

Water penetration resistance WP Class
1 2 3 4

Specimen to be tested:

Material before treatment Material after each pre-treatment

WP > 8 000 Pa- -WP > 8 000 Pa -WP > 13 000 Pa - WP > 20 000 Pa
Seams before pre-treatment WP > 8 000 Pa WP > 8 000 Pa WP > 13 000 Pa -
Seams after pre-tratment by cleaning - - - WP > 20 000 Pa

 

TOWER TEST:

Wicking length on sleeves and lower hems Max 5 cm
Wicking length on trouser hems Max 10 cm
Length of wick on hood hems Max 4 cm
Class 3 0 cm²