Changes to industrial heat and flame protection standards
June 12th 2008

At a recent seminar, SATRA Technology Centre explained that materials suppliers, garment manufacturers, suppliers and users of industrial heat and flame protective clothing need to be aware of changes to the standards used for CE marking of new products.

European standard EN ISO 11611 for welders garments has already replaced EN 470-1. EN ISO 11612 (clothing for protection against heat and flame) and EN ISO 14116 (limited flame spread tests and requirements for heat and flame clothing) are due to replace EN 531 and EN 533 respectively.

There are some significant differences between the old and the new standards, for example all three standards impose requirements for fabric strength, tear resistance and seam strength whereas previously only EN 470-1 applied such requirements.

Other points highlighted by SATRA: new requirement for limited flame spread testing (depending on the garment design, materials will be tested for limited flame spread by either surface and/or edge ignition); new requirement for limited flame spread testing of seams and closures (fasteners/zips); EN ISO 11611 introduces a requirement for radiant heat transmission, two classes of performance in the molten metal droplet test and radiant heat test, and an electrical resistance test; EN ISO 11612 introduces a heat resistance test for all materials and a new class of protection (Class F Contact heat); new optional tests include manikin testing, resistance to thermal effects of an arc and water vapour resistance and water penetration resistance; EN ISO 14116 is now a full garment specification and therefore provides a better basis for type approval of limited flame spread only garments than EN 533.

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