Protective clothing against liquid chemicals – Performance requirements for chemical protective clothing offering limited protective performance against liquid chemicals (Type 6 and type PB [6] equipment)
Protective clothing that is certified to the EN ISO 13034 standard is designed to protect the wearer where there is a risk of potential exposure to weak chemical substances in spray form or accidental low-volume splashes. The standard does not cover protective clothing for regular chemical handling, but must only be used where there is a limited risk of potential exposure. The clothing is designed to provide protection long enough for the wearer to remove it before the liquid penetrates the material.
EN 13034 clothing is often called “Chemical Splash” workwear.
The standard defines two types of protection:
⦁ TYPE 6; all aspects of the protective garment have been verified. Both the chemical resistance of the material and the liquid resistance of the entire garment meet the minimum requirements of EN ISO 13034.
⦁ TYPE PB [6]; “partial body protection”, only the chemical resistance of the protective garment’s material has been verified. Type PB [6] garments must be used in combination with other EN ISO 13034 certified garments to provide full protection.
EN ISO 13034 sets the following minimum requirements for material;
| Property | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Abrasion resistance | Class 1: > 10 cycles |
| Tear resistance | Class 1: > 10 N |
| Tensile strength | Class 1: > 30 N |
| Puncture resistance | Class 1: > 5 N |
| Liquid repellency, chemicals | Class 3: > 90% (for at least one chemical) |
| Resistance to penetration by chemicals | Class 2: < 5 % (for at least one chemical) |
Chemicals used to test liquid repellency and resistance to penetration;
| Chemical | Concentration, weight % | Chemical temperature °C (+- 2°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphuric acid (H2SO4) | 30 (solution) | 20 |
| Sodium hydroxide | 20 (solution) | 20 |
| Ortho-xylene | Undiluted | 20 |
| 1-butanol | Undiluted | 20 |
Specific performance levels and protection classes are stated in the user information provided for each garment.
Protective clothing that meets the minimum requirements of the EN ISO 13034 standard is marked with the following pictogram;
