EN ISO 11611 - Thermal cutting, welding, grinding
The EN 11611 standard is a European standard that covers protective clothing for use in welding and related processes. This standard was developed to ensure the safety of workers exposed to the risks associated with welding, such as heat, molten metal spatter, radiation, flames, and electric shocks.
The EN 11611 standard specifies minimum basic requirements for protective clothing specifically designed to provide protection during welding and related processes, such as cutting, grinding, and thermal spraying. The standard covers both the materials used in the protective clothing and the design of the garments themselves.
The EN 11611 standard includes two classes of protection:
- Class 1: This class provides protection against less hazardous welding processes and situations involving less spatter and radiation. Class 1 clothing is suitable for activities such as gas-shielded welding or manual metal arc welding with light electrodes.
- Class 2: This class offers a higher level of protection for more hazardous welding processes and situations involving more spatter and radiation. Class 2 clothing is suitable for heavier welding activities, such as welding with heavy electrodes or performing cutting and gouging processes.
To comply with the EN 11611 standard, protective clothing must meet various requirements, including:
- Flame-retardant properties: The clothing must resist ignition and must be self-extinguishing when the flame is removed.
- Protection against molten metal spatter: The clothing must resist penetration by molten metal and protect the user from burns.
- Protection against radiant and convective heat: The clothing must protect the wearer from the heat generated by welding and cutting flames, as well as radiation from the workpiece and the flame.
- Electrostatic properties: If required, the clothing must meet the requirements of the EN 1149 standard for electrostatic protection.
- Mechanical strength: The clothing must be resistant to tearing, abrasion, and puncture to provide reliable protection during welding.
It is important to note that the EN 11611 standard is not the only standard that may apply to protective clothing for welders. Other standards, such as EN 11612 (for protection against heat and flames) or EN ISO 20471 (for visibility), may also be relevant, depending on the specific work environment and risks.