EN ISO 11612 - Flame-Retardant Clothing
The EN 11612 standard is a European standard that applies to protective clothing for workers exposed to heat and flames. This standard was developed to ensure the safety of people working in environments where there is a risk of contact with open flames, radiant heat, convective heat, or molten metals. Some examples of such work environments include the petrochemical industry, the steel industry, firefighting, and welding.
The EN 11612 standard sets minimum basic requirements for protective clothing designed to protect workers from the thermal risks of heat and flames. The standard covers both the materials used in the protective clothing and the design of the garments themselves.
To comply with the EN 11612 standard, protective clothing must meet various performance requirements, including:
- Limited flame spread (A1 and A2): The clothing must not catch fire and must be self-extinguishing when the flame is removed. The A1 test is for surface ignition, and the A2 test is for edge ignition.
- Convective heat (B1 to B3): The clothing must provide protection against convective heat. There are three performance levels, with B1 being the lowest and B3 the highest.
- Radiant heat (C1 to C4): The clothing must provide protection against radiant heat. There are four performance levels, with C1 being the lowest and C4 the highest.
- Molten aluminum splashes (D1 to D3): The clothing must resist penetration by molten aluminum and protect the user from burns. There are three performance levels, with D1 being the lowest and D3 the highest.
- Molten iron splashes (E1 to E3): The clothing must resist penetration by molten iron and protect the user from burns. There are three performance levels, with E1 being the lowest and E3 the highest.
- Contact heat (F1 to F3): The clothing must provide protection against contact heat. There are three performance levels, with F1 being the lowest and F3 the highest.
It is important to note that the EN 11612 standard is not the only standard that applies to protective clothing against heat and flames. Other standards, such as EN 11611 (for welding and related processes), EN 1149 (for electrostatic protection), or EN ISO 20471 (for visibility), may also be relevant, depending on the specific work activities.
In addition, the standard may also specify requirements for electrostatic properties (if required) and the sizing and ergonomics of the clothing. Protective clothing that complies with the EN 11612 standard provides a basic level of protection against heat and flames, but it is important to note that additional standards may apply, depending on the specific work environment and risks.