EN ISO 13688 explained: the base standard for protective clothing
EN ISO 13688 explained: the base standard for protective clothing
EN ISO 13688 sets the general requirements every protective garment must meet, such as sizing, comfort, harmlessness and labelling.
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Quick answer
EN ISO 13688 (2013+A1:2021) is the foundation standard for protective clothing. It is always used with a specific performance standard, such as EN ISO 20471 for hi-vis, so you will rarely see a garment certified to it alone. It is why protective clothing is sized by body measurements in centimetres and carries the "i" symbol telling you to read the user information.
At a glance
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| What it covers | General requirements for all protective clothing |
| Current edition | EN ISO 13688:2013+A1:2021 |
| Status in GB | Designated in Great Britain (GOV.UK notice 0142/26, 15 October 2026) |
| Status in Ireland and NI | Harmonised in the EU, so it applies in Ireland and Northern Ireland (since 9 December 2022) |
| On the label | Sizes in cm (chest and height, or waist and height) and the "i" pictogram |
What it requires
| Area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Sizing | Sizes are given by body measurements |
| Harmlessness | Materials must not harm the wearer, for example pH and restricted substances |
| Ageing | Performance must hold over the stated washes |
| Marking | Label and user information in the local language |
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EN ISO 13688 questions
Why does my hi-vis jacket say EN ISO 13688 as well as EN ISO 20471?
Because EN ISO 13688 is the base standard that every protective garment must also meet.
Need this for a team?
We can supply and brand PPE for your whole team, delivered across the UK and Ireland.
Official sources
Standards and site rules change. Always check the current edition, the product's declaration of conformity and your own risk assessment.
- GOV.UK: Designated standards for PPE (Great Britain): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/designated-standards-ppe
- European Commission: Harmonised standards for PPE (EU, applies in Ireland and Northern Ireland): https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/single-market/goods/european-standards/harmonised-standards/personal-protective-equipment_en
- BSI: the UK National Standards Body (publishes BS EN standards): https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/about-bsi/uk-national-standards-body/
- NSAI: National Standards Authority of Ireland (publishes I.S. EN standards): https://www.nsai.ie/