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Standards guide · Clothing

Protective clothing explained

Every garment has a base label. Then one pictogram per protection.

  • EN ISO 13688:2013
  • EN 343:2019
  • EN 342:2017
  • EN 14058:2017+A1:2023
  • EN ISO 11612:2015
  • EN ISO 11611:2015
  • IEC 61482-2:2018
  • EN ISO 14116:2015
  • EN 1149-5:2018
  • EN 13034
  • EN ISO 13982-1
  • EN 14605
  • EN 14126
  • EN ISO 11393

Read this ifYou need rain, cold, FR, arc, welding, chemical or anti-static wear

The base label (EN ISO 13688)

Every protective garment has this. It is about size, comfort, harmless materials and labelling.

1LChest 104-112 cm · Height 176-188 cm
2Read the instructions pictogram (open book with i, ISO 7000-1641)360° · ✕△ · ⊡ · ⌂ · ✕○
4Heat and flame pictogram (ISO 7000-2417)EN ISO 11612A1 B1 C1 F1High visibility clothing pictogram (ISO 7000-2419)EN ISO 204712
5CE marking2797

Example garment label (illustrative).

  1. Size L

    Size + body pictogram

    Chest girth and height in cm (e.g. 104-112 / 176-188), shown on a little body figure.

  2. i

    Read the instructions

  3. Wash

    Care symbols

    Washing, bleach, drying, ironing, dry-clean (ISO 3758 symbols). Max washes if limited.

  4. Pictos

    Standard pictograms

    One pictogram per protection standard, with its levels.

  5. CE

    Conformity mark

    CE / UKCA. Body number if Category III.

  • EN ISO 13688 is never claimed alone as protection - it is the base for the other clothing standards.

Weather

Rain wear: EN 343

Umbrella-style pictogram with two numbers and an optional R. Example: 4 / 3 / R.

Protection against foul weather pictogram (umbrella, ISO 7000-2413)EN 343
On the label
  1. 4

    Water penetration class (1-4)

    How waterproof the fabric and seams are. 4 = best (at least 20,000 Pa).

    1 low4 high
  2. 3

    Breathability class (1-4)

    How easily sweat vapour escapes (Ret). 4 = best. Class 1 has a wearing-time limit.

    1 low4 high
  3. R

    Rain tower (optional)

    The whole garment passed a shower test. X = not tested.

Cold weather clothing: EN 342

For temperatures below -5 C. Example: 0.392 (B) / 3 / WP.

Protection against cold pictogram (snowflake, ISO 7000-2412)EN 342
On the label
  1. 0.392

    Insulation Icler (m2K/W)

    Measured on a moving mannequin. Higher = warmer.

  2. (B)

    Underwear set used

    B, C or R = which standard underwear was worn in the test.

  3. 3

    Air permeability class (1-3)

    3 = most windproof.

    1 low3 high
  4. WP

    Water penetration (optional)

    X if not tested.

Cool weather clothing: EN 14058

For around -5 C and above. Snowflake pictogram with four places. Example: 2 / 3 / X / WP.

Protection against cold pictogram (snowflake, ISO 7000-2412)EN 14058
On the label
  1. 2

    Thermal resistance class (1-4)

    Rct of the fabric layers. Class 1 0.06, 2 0.12, 3 0.18, 4 0.25 m2K/W or more.

    1 low4 high
  2. 3

    Air permeability (1-3, opt.)

    3 = most windproof. X if not tested.

  3. X

    Icler (opt.)

    Whole-garment insulation. Required for class 4, optional for 1-3.

  4. WP

    Water penetration (opt.)

    X if not tested.

Standard For Look at
EN 343 Rain Waterproof 1-4, breathable 1-4
EN 14058 Cool (about -5 °C and up) Thermal class 1-4
EN 342 Cold (below -5 °C) Insulation value, wind class

Flame, heat and arc - in depth

Which job needs what? FR, arc and heat clothing

Typical starting points. Your risk assessment decides.

JobMain hazardUsually look for
Welders, fabricatorsSpatter, sparks, UV, brief flameEN ISO 11611 Class 1 or 2 + A1/A2; EN 407 / EN 12477 gloves; welding helmet
Electricians, utilities (live LV work)Electric arc, flash fireIEC 61482-2 APC 1/2 or ATPV to match arc assessment; EN ISO 11612; EN 1149-5 if needed; EN 50365 helmet
Oil, gas, petrochemFlash fire, static, chemicalsEN ISO 11612 (A, B, C) + EN 1149-5 + IEC 61482-2; often EN ISO 20471 and EN 13034 Type 6
Foundry, smeltingMolten metal, radiant heatEN ISO 11612 with D (aluminium) or E (iron) and C (radiant); EN 407 gloves with E/F
Road and rail utilitiesTraffic + arc/flameEN ISO 20471 Class 2/3 (rail: RIS-3279-TOM) combined with IEC 61482-2 and EN ISO 11612

Heat and flame: EN ISO 11612

Example: A1 A2 B1 C1 E3 F1. Each letter is a hazard, each number a level.

Heat and flame pictogram (ISO 7000-2417)EN ISO 11612
On the label
  1. A1

    A - Limited flame spread

    A1 = face (surface) ignition test. A2 = edge ignition test. At least one must pass.

  2. A2

    A2 - edge ignition

  3. B1

    B - Convective heat (1-3)

    Flame heat. B1 4-<10 s, B2 10-<20 s, B3 20 s+.

  4. C1

    C - Radiant heat (1-4)

    Furnace glow. C1 7-<20 s, C2 20-<50, C3 50-<95, C4 95 s+.

  5. D-

    D - Molten aluminium (1-3)

    D1 100 g, D2 200 g, D3 350 g. Not claimed here.

  6. E3

    E - Molten iron (1-3)

    E1 60 g, E2 120 g, E3 200 g.

  7. F1

    F - Contact heat 250 C (1-3)

    F1 5-<10 s, F2 10-<15 s, F3 15 s+.

Code Hazard Levels
A1 / A2 Flame spread (surface / edge) Pass
B Convective heat (flames) 1-3
C Radiant heat (glow) 1-4
D Molten aluminium 1-3
E Molten iron 1-3
F Contact heat (250 °C) 1-3

Welding: EN ISO 11611

Example: Class 2 A1 + A2.

EN ISO 11611
On the label
  1. Class 1

    Class 1 or 2

    Class 1 = less hazardous welding, fewer spatters, low radiant heat (e.g. MIG at low current, gas welding). Class 2 = more hazardous, more spatter (e.g. MMA, flux-cored, gouging).

  2. A1

    Flame spread - surface

    Passed face ignition.

  3. A2

    Flame spread - edge

    Passed edge ignition.

  • Class 1 = at least 15 drops of molten metal, Class 2 = 25 drops, before a 40 C rise. Clothing must be kept free of oil and grease, and electrical insulation only applies when dry.
  • Class 1 - lighter welding, fewer sparks.
  • Class 2 - heavy welding, lots of spatter (e.g. stick welding, gouging).

Arc flash: IEC 61482-2

Two different tests - box test (APC) and open arc (ATPV/EBT).

Electric arc thermal hazard pictogram (IEC 60417-6353)IEC 61482-2
On the label
  1. APC 1

    Box test class (IEC 61482-1-2)

    APC 1 = 4 kA arc for 0.5 s. APC 2 = 7 kA arc for 0.5 s. Focused arc in a box.

  2. ATPV 8

    Open arc rating (IEC 61482-1-1)

    Arc Thermal Performance Value in cal/cm2. Higher = more protection.

  3. EBT

    Breakopen threshold

    Used instead of ATPV when the fabric breaks open first.

  4. ELIM

    Incident energy limit

    Energy with zero chance of second-degree burn (newer metric).

  • Match the rating to the incident energy in your arc-flash risk assessment. APC classes and cal/cm2 values cannot be converted directly.
  • Box test (IEC 61482-1-2): APC 1 (4 kA) or APC 2 (7 kA).
  • Open arc (IEC 61482-1-1): ATPV or EBT in cal/cm². Higher = more protection.
  • Match it to your arc-flash risk assessment.

Box test: good / better

IEC 61482-1-2 classes.

  1. APC 14 kABox test class 1
  2. APC 27 kABox test class 2

Open arc: ATPV / EBT in cal/cm²

Higher = more protection. Match it to your arc-flash risk assessment.

  1. 4cal/cm²
  2. 8cal/cm²
  3. 12cal/cm²
  4. 25cal/cm²
  5. 40cal/cm²

Limited flame spread: EN ISO 14116

Example: Index 3 / 5 H 40 C. A lighter flame standard than EN ISO 11612.

Heat and flame pictogram (ISO 7000-2417)EN ISO 14116
On the label
  1. Index 3

    Index 1, 2 or 3

    1 = no flame to edge, but holes allowed - must be worn OVER an index 2/3 garment, never next to skin. 2 = no holes. 3 = also self-extinguishing within 2 s.

  2. 5

    Washes

    Number of cleaning cycles tested.

  3. H

    Wash type

    H = home wash, I = industrial, C = dry clean.

  4. 40 C

    Wash temperature

  • Index 1 - never next to skin. Wear over index 2 or 3 clothing.
  • Index 3 - best of the three.

Anti-static: EN 1149-5

Stops sparks from static build-up in flammable or explosive areas.

Protection against static electricity pictogram (ISO 7000-2415)EN 1149-5
On the label
  1. EN 1149-5

    Standard

    Fabric passes EN 1149-1 (surface resistance) or EN 1149-3 (charge decay).

  2. Covered

    Must cover everything

    Close the garment fully and cover all non-compliant layers underneath.

  3. Earthed

    Must be earthed

    Wear with antistatic (A) or ESD footwear on a suitable floor.

  • Do not take off or open anti-static clothing inside the flammable zone. Not for oxygen-enriched atmospheres without approval.
  • Only works when closed, covering everything, and earthed through footwear.

Multi-norm garments

One garment, several standards. Read each pictogram separately.

Heat and flame pictogram (ISO 7000-2417)Electric arc thermal hazard pictogram (IEC 60417-6353)Protection against static electricity pictogram (ISO 7000-2415)Protection against chemicals pictogram (flask, ISO 7000-2414)High visibility clothing pictogram (ISO 7000-2419)
On the label
  1. 11612

    Heat and flame

    e.g. A1 B1 C1 F1

  2. 11611

    Welding

    e.g. Class 1 A1

  3. 61482

    Arc flash

    e.g. APC 1 / ATPV 8 cal/cm2

  4. 1149-5

    Anti-static

  5. 13034

    Chemical splash Type PB[6] or 6

  6. 20471

    Hi-vis

    e.g. Class 2

  • Only the standards printed on the label apply. "Flame retardant" in a product name is not a standard.
  • Every layer counts: wearing a non-FR layer on top (e.g. a normal hi-vis vest) can cancel the protection.
  • One garment, several standards.
  • Read each pictogram on its own.
  • Every outer layer must be FR too. A normal hi-vis vest on top cancels it.

Chemical clothing

Type 1 is the highest. "PB" = partial body (e.g. apron, sleeves). "-B" = also protects against infective agents (EN 14126).

TypeProtects againstStandardTypical use
Type 1Gases (gas-tight suit)EN 943-1/-2Emergency, hazardous gases
Type 2Gases (non gas-tight, air-fed)EN 943-1Specialist
Type 3Liquid jetsEN 14605Pressurised chemical handling, tank cleaning
Type 4Liquid spraysEN 14605Spraying pesticides, cleaning
Type 5Dry particlesEN ISO 13982-1Asbestos, dusts, powders
Type 6Light splashes / mistEN 13034Light chemical handling, labs
-B suffixInfective agentsEN 14126Healthcare, sewage, bird flu
  • Type 3 = liquid jets. Type 4 = sprays. Type 5 = dust. Type 6 = light splash.
  • Lower number = better liquid protection.

Chainsaw trousers (EN ISO 11393)

Example: Class 1, Design A. Chainsaw pictogram on the label.

Protection against chainsaws pictogram (ISO 7000-2416)EN ISO 11393
On the label
  1. Class 1

    Chain speed class

    Class 1 = 20 m/s, Class 2 = 24 m/s, Class 3 = 28 m/s. Choose at least the chainsaw's chain speed.

  2. Design A

    Leg protector design (A, B, C)

    A = front of legs (plus inner left leg). B = front plus more side cover. C = all-round (360 degrees), often for arborists and climbers.

Common mistakes

  • "Flame retardant" in the name - but no standard on the label.
  • Polyester base layers under FR wear. They melt.
  • Washing FR clothing with fabric softener or bleach if the label says no.
  • Rolling up sleeves or leaving jackets open.
  • Treating EN 1149-5 as flame protection. It is not.

The law

  • PPE at Work Regulations 1992: suitable, compatible, maintained.
  • COSHH 2002 (chemical suits); Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (arc risk); DSEAR 2002 (flammable atmospheres - anti-static).

Shop Clothing

WeatherEN 343EN 343 4:4EN 342EN 14058
FlameEN ISO 11612A1B1C1D3E3F1
WeldingEN ISO 11611Class 1Class 2
ArcIEC 61482-2APC 1APC 2
EN ISO 14116EN 1149-5Multi-norm hi-vis
ChemicalType 6Type 5Type 4Type 3EN 14126
ChainsawEN 381

Frequently asked questions

What does A1 A2 B1 C1 E3 F1 mean?

EN ISO 11612: A1/A2 flame spread (pass), B convective heat, C radiant heat, D molten aluminium, E molten iron, F contact heat. Higher number = better.

What is the difference between APC and ATPV?

APC 1 (4 kA) or APC 2 (7 kA) is the box test. ATPV or EBT in cal/cm² is the open-arc test. Higher = more protection. Match it to your arc-flash risk assessment.

Is EN 1149-5 flame protection?

No. EN 1149-5 is anti-static only. It works when closed, covering everything and earthed through footwear.

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