Today’s PPE clothing norms: Quick guide for safety compliance

As PPE fabric experts, we often receive this question from HSE managers: "How can I ensure the protective clothing meets the right safety norms?" With so many regulations to navigate, it can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve created this guide—to help you quickly understand the key PPE norms and select the right protective fabrics. Our goal is to ensure your workers remain compliant and fully protected against the specific risks they face. Here, we outline both programs and their key differences. We also explore how each can support your sustainable workwear selection with more eco-friendly materials.

If you want to learn more about the PPE garment regulations in Europe, visit the ISO Standards website to learn more. 

EN ISO 11612: 2025 - Protection against heat and flame 

Effective since:
2015 (latest update); next review is expected in 2025.

Common applicable industries:
Oil & gas, chemical, steel and metal, welding, and general manufacturing.

Norm overview:
EN ISO 11612 specifies requirements for clothing designed to protect workers against heat and flame. This includes protection from brief contact with flames, radiant heat, convective heat, molten metal and aluminium splashes.

There are 6 indexes in the EN ISO 11612:
A: Flame-spread behaviour – A1 (on face) and/or A2 (on edge)
B: Resistance to convective heat – B1 to B3
C: Resistance to radiant heat – C1 to C4
D: Resistance to molten aluminium splash – D1 to D3
E: Resistance to molten metal splash – E1 to E3
F: Contact heat resistance – F1 to F3

PPE clothing requirements:
Garments must resist ignition and provide protection from thermal risks, with different performance levels for each hazard type (e.g., A1 for flame spread, B1 for convective heat).

Protective fabric requirements:
Fabrics designed for EN ISO 11612 must provide heat resistance while maintaining durability and flexibility. These fabrics often feature flame-retardant treatments or inherently flame-resistant fibres such as aramid or modacrylic.

Areas of attention when selecting your safety wear:
Ensure that the fabric is tested under the same conditions your workers face. Durability after repeated laundering is also critical, so choose fabrics that retain their protective qualities over time.

Our protective fabrics compliant with EN ISO 11612:
Industrial Safety fabrics portfolio.

EN ISO 11611:2015 - Protective clothing for welding and allied processes

Effective since:
2015 (latest update); next review expected in 2025.

Common applicable industries:
Welding, metal cutting, foundries, and related processes.

Norm overview:
EN ISO 11611 specifies the requirements for protective clothing worn during welding and similar processes that pose comparable risks. This norm protects workers from small molten metal splashes, brief contact with flames, and radiant heat from the electric arc.

PPE clothing requirements:
Safety garments for welding and allied processes must provide protection from heat, flame, and molten metal splashes. They are classified into two classes—Class 1 for lower-risk environments and Class 2 for higher-risk tasks where more protection is required, such as during manual metal arc welding. The choice between Class 1 and Class 2 also depends on the frequency of welding activities throughout the day and the type or intensity of welding performed, as more frequent or intense welding demands higher protective standards.

Protective fabric requirements:
Fabrics must be flame-resistant and offer protection from radiant and convective heat as well as molten metal splashes. They should be made from either inherently flame-resistant fibres or treated to meet the flame-resistant standards.

Overview of welding workwear classes:
Classification of workwear as Class 1 or Class 2 based on the type and intensity of welding activities. Source: NEN-EN-ISO.

Areas of attention when selecting your safety wear:
Ensure that the garment provides the correct level of protection (Class 1 or Class 2) based on the specific welding process. Durability after repeated washing is crucial, as they may degrade over time. Maintenance of the garment can be part of the services provided by industrial laundries. This approach supports extending the usage and overall lifetime of the safety wear.

Our protective fabrics compliant with EN ISO 11611:
Tecapro^® and Tecapro^® Ecogreen^®.

IEC 61482-1-1:2019 (Open Arc) and IEC 61482-1-2:2014 (Box Test) - Protection against thermal hazards of an electric arc

Effective since:
IEC 61482-1-1 (2019); IEC 61482-1-2 (2014); next review expected in 2025 for IEC 61482-1-2.

Common applicable industries:
Electrical utilities, power generation, electrical maintenance, and industrial manufacturing (technical services).

Norm overview:
These standards specify the performance requirements for protective clothing worn by workers exposed to the thermal hazards of an electric arc. IEC 61482-1-1 measures the Arc Thermal Performance Value (ATPV), which indicates the amount of incident energy the fabric can withstand before causing burns. IEC 61482-1-2 evaluates garments under the Box Test method, which replicates an arc exposure in a confined box.

In 2019, IEC 61482-1-1 introduced the Incident Energy Limit Value (ELIM). This method determines the thermal protection value against arc flash in cal/cm² (ATPV, ELIM) of the fabric or garment.

• ATPV (Arc Thermal Protection Value):
  The maximum thermal energy that arc flash protective clothing can withstand until the wearer has a 50% probability of sustaining second-degree burns.
  
  
• ELIM (Incident Energy Limit Value):
  The maximum incident energy that protective clothing can avoid in a hazardous situation with a 0% probability that sufficient energy will pass through the clothing to cause a second-degree burn.

Generally, the ELIM value is lower than the ATPV value.

PPE clothing requirements:
Safety wear must be tested and rated for arc flash protection based on either ATPV or Box Test methods. The ATPV score indicates the amount of energy the fabric can absorb, while the Box Test classifies garments into Class 1 (4 kA) or Class 2 (7 kA) arc protection levels.

Protective fabric requirements:
Fabrics must be arc-rated and flame-resistant, offering protection against both arc flash and secondary thermal hazards like heat and flame. It's essential to select fabrics with a high Arc Thermal Performance Value (ATPV) and to consider multi-layer systems if workers face combined hazards, such as molten metal or radiant heat exposure.

Areas of attention when selecting your safety wear:
Ensure that garments are tested under the correct method (ATPV or Box Test) for their specific working conditions. Consider the risk level (Class 1 or Class 2 for the box test) based on the potential arc energy in the work environment and ensure that other features such as breathability and durability are maintained without compromising protection.

Our protective fabrics compliant with IEC 61482-1-1 and IEC 61482-1-2:
All our FR fabrics, based on the needed level of protection.

EN ISO 20471:2013 - High-visibility clothing

Effective since: 2013 (latest update):
Next review expected in 2028.

Common applicable industries:
Construction, road and rail infrastructural, mining, and logistics.

Norm overview:
EN ISO 20471 specifies visibility requirements for workers exposed to risks associated with low-light environments. This standard ensures that PPE increases visibility in daylight and under illumination from vehicle headlights.

PPE clothing requirements:
High-visibility safety clothing must include fluorescent material and retroreflective strips that cover a minimum surface area based on three class levels (Class 1 to Class 3).

Protective fabric requirements:
High-visibility fabrics are typically made with fluorescent materials combined with high-visibility colours yellow, orange or red. These fabrics must maintain brightness and reflectivity even after exposure to sunlight and wear and repeated (industrial) washing.

Areas of attention when selecting your safety wear:
When selecting high-visibility garments, focus on their durability after frequent (industrial) washing and exposure to UV radiation, which can fade colours over time. The material should also be breathable and comfortable for long wear, especially in industries where visibility is crucial around the clock or at summertime, such as construction or roadwork.

Our protective fabrics compliant with EN ISO 20471:
All our High Viz Yellow and Orange colour from our portfolio, EG 270 NB1043, Tecapro®, Tecasafe®, Tecawork^® Ecogreen^® EG 270, Tecawork^® NB 1043.

EN 1149-5:2018 - Electrostatic properties

Effective since:
2018 (latest update); next review expected in 2025.

Common applicable industries:
All general manufacturing industries where workers operate in and around flammable or explosives (ATEX) areas, such as refineries, petrochemicals, transport and deliveries of gas, electronics, oil & gas, chemical manufacturing.

Norm overview: 
The European standard EN 1149-5 specifies the requirements for protective garments that provide electrostatic dissipation, preventing electrical discharges that could ignite in ATEX zones.

PPE clothing requirements:
Safety garments must demonstrate electrostatic dissipative properties to reduce the risk of sparking in flammable atmospheres (ATEX Area).

Protective fabric requirements:
Anti-static fabrics are typically made with fibres that dissipate electrostatic charges. Carbon or metallic fibres are often woven into the fabric to neutralize electrostatic buildup, reducing the risk of sparks. All our flame resistant fabrics comply with this anti-static norm.

Areas of attention when selecting your safety wear:
Ensure that workers in ATEX zones wear the correct PPE to dissipate electrostatic charges. Garments should comply with EN 1149-5 and must be grounded properly, either directly or through conductive footwear. However, PPE compliant only with EN 1149-5 is not sufficient. Since the goal is to protect against potential explosions in ATEX areas, the protective clothing should also provide thermal protection, such as compliance with EN ISO 11612 (Heat and Flame).

Our protective fabrics compliant with EN ISO 1149-5:
Tecapro^® portfolio, Tecasafe^® Ecogreen^® portfolio, Tecashield^® portfolio and Tecawork^® KG 9308 and Tecawork^® MK 9014.

EN 13034:2005 + A1:2009 - Protection against liquid chemicals (Type 6 and Type PB (Partial Body) 6)

Effective since:
2009 (latest update); next review expected in 2025.

Common applicable industries:
(Petro)chemical, industrial maintenance and general manufacturing. 

Norm overview:
EN 13034 is designed for workers who may come into incidental contact with small quantities of liquid chemicals. It offers limited chemical splash protection.

PPE clothing requirements:
Garments must offer body protection against low-risk chemical splashes. These garments are categorized as Type 6.  It provides protection against light sprays, liquids, low-pressure aerosols, or light splashes where a full barrier against liquid permeation at the molecular level is not required.

Protective fabric requirements:
These fabrics must be engineered to repel small amounts of chemical splashes. They are treated with liquid-repellent finishes to provide protection without the bulk of higher-grade chemical suits.

Areas of attention when selecting your safety wear:
Verify that the fabric offers the appropriate level of resistance for the specific chemicals workers may encounter. While suitable for incidental exposure, these fabrics are not designed for prolonged chemical contact. If there is a higher risk of chemical exposure, ensure the safety garment is compatible with other PPE. The following chemicals are tested for repellency and resistance to penetration:

• Hydro-based chemicals:

  • Sulfuric acid (30%)

  • Sodium hydroxide (10%)

• Oil-based chemicals:

  • Butanol-1 (alcohol)

  • O-xylene (hydrocarbon)

Maintenance of the repellent properties, including re-impregnation of the treatment, is typically managed through industrial laundries after each wash cycle to ensure continued protection.

Our protective fabrics compliant with EN ISO 13034:
Industrial Safety fabrics portfolio.

Stay ahead of risks: Assess your PPE clothing compliance with a protective clothing audit

This guide covers some of the most common PPE norms in the industrial safety industry, but there are many more standards that may apply depending on your specific needs. Compliance requirements can vary greatly based on the risks in your work environment, so it's always advisable to begin with a thorough risk assessment to determine the appropriate norm application. 

If you have any additional needs for specific norms or require further guidance, feel free to connect with us directly. And if you're looking for an easy way to evaluate your protective clothing, consider conducting a protective clothing audit. Our Proclaud^® service simplifies this process, helping you ensure your workers are fully protected and compliant with the necessary standards. Learn more about Proclaud®.