Normes EPI (Equipement de Protection Individuelle)

Mulliez-Flory can advise you on the design of your PPE and your choice of highly specific materials to create work clothes that are truly personalizable in terms of look, combining comfort, safety and effectiveness while meeting all the expected security standards.

This standard specifies the characteristics of protective clothing against foul weather, wind and ambient cold down to -5°C. Two key characteristics are measured among others (for each one, three are three performance levels corresponding to three classes; the higher the class, the better the material's performance):

• Resistance to water penetration: 0 to 3 (top number on the icon); this
• resistance is also measured at the seams.
• Resistance to evaporation (breathability): 0 to 3 (bottom number on the icon).

This standard specifies the characteristics of protective clothing against foul weather, wind and cold, for temperatures below -5°C.
Three key characteristics are assessed:

• X: air permeability : ir flow passing through the compound, i.e. the assembly of the different layers forming the clothing, under air pressure of 100 Pa. The lower the value, the less permeable the clothing is by air and the more it protects against the wind.
• Y: resistance to evaporation: evaluates the garment's permeability by steam, i.e. its ability to evacuate perspiration. The lower the resistance to evaporation, the more the material breathes. This measurement is taken from the layers offering protection against the penetration of water from the outside (outer layer and possibly a breathable waterproof insert).
• Z: thermal resistance measures the thermal insulation afforded by the garment when worn in combination with standardized apparel (including a long sleeve, full leg long johns, plus a fleece knit jacket and trousers, and a hood). This insulation value is used to determine the temperature of use, depending on the intensity of the activity and the expected exposure time.

EN ISO 14116: Limited flame spread clothing.
EN ISO 11612: Protective clothing for industrial workers exposed to heat (except clothing for firefighters and welders)
Protective clothing to protect workers during brief contact with a flame and against at least one type of heat. Heat can take the form of convective heat, radiant heat, molten metal splashes or a combination of heat risks.

There are two classes of garments:

• Class 1 : for low risks during welding and in situations with the fewest splashes and low level radiant heat.
• Class 2 : for greater risks during welding and in situations causing more splashes and higher radiant heat.

Compulsory full protection of the upper and lower torso, the neck, arms and legs.
The seams must be resistant to flame spread and the pockets are fitted with flaps made of non-flammable materials.

EN 1149 : Protective clothing with electrostatic properties

Test methods:

EN 1149-1 : for surface resistivity
EN 1149-2 : for electric resistance through a material
EN 1149-3 : for measuring load dissipation capacity

Requirements:

EN 1149-5 : clothing performance (materials and design)

EN 13034 type6/PB6 : Protective clothing against liquid chemicals, limited protective performance (Type 6 equipment)

Specifies the requirements and test methods applicable to materials and clothing used for workers' protective clothing against the thermal hazards of an electric arc.

Requirements for the protection for work in kneeling position. Clothing that complies with this standard can be used by people whose activity requires them to work on their knees for extended periods of time, on hard, uneven ground.
Performance levels as per EN 14404:

• Level 1: knee protection that is suitable for flat ground where objects more than 1 cm high are not a common risk.
• Level 2: knee protection that is suitable for difficult conditions, such as working while kneeling on broken rocks in mines and quarries.

Protection against the risk of entanglement with moving parts.

This directive was published on 21 December 1989 and covers PPE designed for professional use but also for leisure and sporting purposes.

It lays down the conditions governing placement on the market, free movement within the EU and the basic requirements which PPE must satisfy in order to protect the health and ensure the safety of users.

As from 31 December 2015, this "European Directive" on PPE will be replaced by a "European Regulation" that the Member States of the European Commission will need to implement within two years.

The European Regulation will come directly into effect and must be followed to the letter.

This differs from a European Directive that, depending on the State, can be applied in different ways according to each country's needs.

The new regulation will have a strong focus on PPE designed and manufactured solely for use against heat, humidity and water.

This Regulation includes a number of additions

• Prior to 31 December 2015, PPE protection quality control had to be performed every 10 years, resulting in an examination certificate. Beginning in January 2016, that time frame will be reduced to five years.
• There are three categories of PPE:
  • Category 1 : work equipment covering minor risks;
  • Category 2 : special protective equipment for major risks;
  • Category 3 : safety equipment for serious risks with irreversible or fatal effects.

In this new regulation, the emphasis will be placed on Category 3 which will be expanded to include other risks, such that a number of additional PPE types will be subject to the compliance assessment procedure going forward.