Ballyclare workwear, protective clothing, and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) is approved to the requisite national and international safety standards governing performance and quality of manufacture. Our customers safety is of the utmost importance to us and you can rest assured our workwear and protective clothing will help keep you safer while at work.
To ensure your protective clothing is maintained to the highest safety standards throughout it's life our Managed After Care Service Centre can provide a full after care service. Our knowledgeable and experienced team will manage everything for you, from collection to delivery and laundry to repair and everything in between. Work with them to keep your teams' protective clothing conformant to the relevant safety standards. Workwear that is unclean and unrepaired is unsafe, uneconomical and ultimately unlawful. Care and cleaning of your garments will ensure your teams stay protected and legal.
Below, the main standards our workwear and PPE conform to can be expanded to give you a clearer understanding of what each PPE safety standard covers. For example the standard for firefighter clothing EN469 (Protective clothing for firefighters. Performance requirements for protective clothing for firefighting activities).
Under the Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment (PPE), Module D is an externally-audited accreditation and ‘System for ensuring quality of production by means of monitoring’ and relates to the consistent and compliant manufacture of complex (“life saving”) PPE.
Protective clothing - protection against rain.
BS EN343 specifies the requirements for the clothing with protection against precipitation (rain, snow, but also fog and humidity off the ground). The standard imposes requirements on material and seams.
Water penetration
X : 4 classes where 4 is the highest class and indicates the highest level of protection.
Water vapour permeability
Y: 4 classes where 4 is the highest class and indicates the highest level of protection. In addition to requirements for water penetration and water vapour permeability set within the standard there are also requirements for mechanical strength and provision of information (user manual).
High visibility clothing standard that was replaced by EN ISO 20471 in 2013.
High visibility warning clothing for professional use - test methods and requirements.
EN ISO 20471 specifies the requirements for high visibility clothing to the visual presence of the passive road user in both day light and low light situations.
The standard is split into 3 classes.
The classification is made on the basis of the proportion of fluorescent material (HV colour) and proportion retro-reflecting material. Requirements are set for the colour quality, brightness and reflection in new condition, but also after washing and exposure to xenon light.
In addition to material properties, the standard specifies the fluorescent positioning requirements and retro-reflective material as well as to the mechanical properties and provision of information user manual).
Railway Group Standard is the high visibility standard for the UK rail sector. Railway workers working on and track side must wear RIS-3279-TOM compliant workwear. RIS-3279-TOM replaced GO/RT 3279 in 2017. All Ballyclare garments which conform to GO/RT 3279 also comply to the new standard.
Protective clothing - to protect against heat and flame.
EN ISO 11612 specifies the requirements for heat and flame-resistant clothing that covers the entire body, excluding hands, feet, neck and head. In addition to limited flame spread (A1/A2) the clothing must also provide protection against one other source of heat. The levels or protection offered by an EN 11612 compliant garment are expressed in code letters and numbers listed after the standard on the garment CE label and user information sheet.
Flame spread
A1: Surface ignition
A2: Edge ignition
Convective heat
B: 3 classes (B1, B2, B3), where 3 indicates the highest class and highest protection level.
Radiant heat
C: 4 classes (C1, C2, C3, C4), where 4 indicates the highest class and highest protection level.
Molten aluminium
D: 3 classes (D1, D2, D3), where 3 indicates the highest class and highest protection level. Molten iron
E: 3 classes (E1, E2, E3), where 3 indicates the highest class and highest protection level. Contact heat
F: 3 classes (F1, F2, F3), where 3 indicates the highest class and highest protection level.
In addition to requirements for flame-resistance and heat protection, the standard also sets the requirements to mechanical strength, design and provision of information (user manual).
Protection against flame – Limited flame spread. Clothing that can make brief contact with small flames. The standard is only intended for protection against flames, not against other forms of heat.
Protective clothing for use in welding and allied processes.
EN ISO 11611 specifies the requirements for welding clothing, including, welding hoods, aprons, sleeves, and gaiters. The requirements are also for clothing worn during welding associated processes with similar risks. The clothing is intended to protect against small splashes of molten metal, short contact with flame, radiant heat and minimizes the possibility of electric shock due to short contact with electrical conductors (max voltage 100V DC). Perspiration and pollution can affect electrical conductivity.
The welding standard has 2 classes:
Class 1 for regular welding
Class 2 for heavy-duty welding The primary difference between the classes is the amount of weld splatter, the degree of radiant heat, and also tear strength. Class 2 will only be awarded if all requirements have been met.
Flame spread
A1: Surface ignition
A2: Edge ignition
Radiant heat
Class 1: RHTI24 > 7 seconds
Class 2: RHTI24 > 16 seconds Impact of small metal splashes
Class 1: > 15 splashes
Class 2: > 25 splashes
Electrical resistance
Rv > 105 Ω. Tear strength
Class 1: > 15N
Class 2: >
20N In addition to requirements for protection against flame, heat, and electrical resistance it also sets a requirement for mechanical strength, design and provision of information (user manual).
Protective clothing with protection against the thermal hazards of an electric arc (Open-arc method).
EN IEC 61482-1-1 specifies the open arc test method and requirements for flame and heat-resistant protective workwear where there is also the risk of an electric arc. Hereby the thermal protection is assessed. This standard is a derivative of ASTM 1959F applied in the US and determinates the so-called Arc Protective Performance Value (ATPV), expressed in cal/cm2. The ATPV value is the value where the wearer has a 50% chance of getting second-degree burns. The Arc energy is always scaled up to 50% of the measured values either below or above are the Stoll curve values. Included in the newest version of this standard is a more conservative type of arc rating for materials called the Incident Energy Limit Value (ELIM) this is also reported in cal/ cm2. The ELIM rating is the value where the wearer is protected 100% of the time.
Protective clothing with protection against the thermal hazards of an electric arc (Box-test method).
EN IEC 61482-1-2 specifies the box test method and requirements for flame and heat-resistant protective workwear where there is also the risk of an electric arc. Hereby the thermal protection is assessed. Other effects such as light, sound, pressure, hot oil and metals and electric shock, are not covered by this standard. The standard does not apply to arc welding.
On the basis of applied current the standard recognises 2 classes:
In addition to assessing the heat build-up, the standard also sets requirements for flame protection, mechanical strength, design and provision of information (user manual).
The 2020 Safety Standard
Where an IEC 61482-2 garment is certified to the 2009 edition of the standard, the double triangle pictogram will be displayed on the garment CE label and user information document. When an IEC 61482-2 garment is certified to the 2020 edition of the standard, the arc flash pictogram will be displayed on the garment CE label and user information document. Ballyclare has included the arc flash pictogram on the compliancy prints of our multi-norm range to show that the fabric has been tested to the requirements of EN 61482-1-1:2019 specifically for the ELIM rating. This can be found listed below the Cal rating within each garment.
IEC 61482-1 Protection against electric arc - test methods.
IEC 61482-1-1Protective clothing against the thermal hazards of an electric arc - open arc testing.
IEC 61482-1-2 Protective clothing against the thermal hazards of an electric arc - box test method.
The 2020 Safety Standard
Where an IEC 61482-2 garment is certified to the 2009 edition of the standard, the double triangle pictogram will be displayed on the garment CE label and user information document. When an IEC 61482-2 garment is certified to the 2020 edition of the standard, the arc flash pictogram will be displayed on the garment CE label and user information document. Ballyclare has included the arc flash pictogram on the compliancy prints of our multi-norm range to show that the fabric has been tested to the requirements of EN 61482-1-1:2019 specifically for the ELIM rating. This can be found listed below the Cal rating within each garment.
Protective clothing with electrostatic (anti-static) properties.
EN 1149-5 specifies the properties for protective wear used in explosive atmospheres.
The clothing is part of an earthed system to avoid ignition sparks. The requirements may be insufficient in oxygen-rich flammable environments.
The standard does not apply to mains voltage. The standard uses 2 material tests. At least one of the methods mentioned below must be obtained.
EN 1149-1: surface resistance
Surface resistivity ≤ 2.5 x 10^9 Ω
EN 1149-3: charge decay
Shielding factor > 0.2 and/or Half-life < 4 s
In addition to anti-static properties of materials, the standard also has design and information requirements (user manual).
Protective clothing for limited protection against liquid chemicals.
EN 13034 specifies the requirements for limited protection against small splashes or light mist of chemical fluids. The standard has the following tests and requirements:
Wear resistance according to Martindale abrasion.
Tear strength (trapezium test sample)
Tensile strength
Puncture resistance
Liquid repulsion
Resistance to fluid penetration
Seam strength
Clothing test
In addition to material and garment properties the standard has information requirements (user manual).
BS EN 469:2005 - Protective clothing for firefighters - performance requirements for protective clothing for firefighting. This standard checks firefighter clothing EN469 against the minimum performance requirements for protective clothing designed to be worn during firefighting activities. The firefighter clothing EN469 standard looks for general clothing design, the minimum performance levels of the material used, the methods of test to be used to determine these performance levels, marking and information supplied by the manufacturer. Within the EN469 standard there are two levels. Level 1 specifies the minimum requirements for firefighting clothing involving work associated with outdoor firefighting and their support activities, taking into account the environments and conditions of the expected operational scenarios of such firefighting activities. The level 1 is not applicable for protection against risks encountered in fighting fires or rescue from fire activities in structures, unless combined to a level 2 or other specialised PPE. Level 2: specifies the minimum requirements for firefighting clothing for risks encountered in fighting fires and rescue from fire in structures.
BS EN 15614:2007 - Protective clothing for firefighters - laboratory test methods and performance requirements for wildland clothing.
EN 13911:2004 - Protective clothing for firefighters - requirements and test methods for fire hoods for firefighters.
EN 659:2003 - Protective gloves for firefighters.
BS EN 15090:2012 - Footwear for firefighters.
Specifies general performance requirements for ergonomics, innocuousness, size designation, ageing, compatibility and marking of protective clothing.
European Regulation 2016/425
This Regulation defines the obligations of producers of protective clothing. They must demonstrate that the clothing complies with the health and safety requirements set out in the Regulation. The most common way is through certification of the clothing in accordance with European harmonized standards for protective clothing known as EN standards by a so-called notified body: an independent body designated for this purpose.
In addition, producers must provide user instructions explaining the levels of protection provided by the item of PPE and guidelines on use, cleaning and maintenance. Harmonized standards are, after the setting of standards, assessed by a CEN consultant whether the standard contains all the components and is sufficient to demonstrate a presumption of conformity with the European Regulation. All other standards are valid for use and can be used as guidance.
Personal protective equipment is divided into 3 categories:
Category 1
Low-risk. Products in this category are designed to offer protection against the following risks:
Category 2
Medium-risk PPE. Category 2 includes products designed to protect against risks other than those listed in categories 1 and 3.
Category 3
High-risk. Products in this category are designed to protect against risks that may cause death or irreversible damage to health relating to the following:
Requirements of a standard In general, standards are made up of 3 different parts:
Depending on the requirement of the standard, tests will be conducted either in a new state or after pre-treatment by washing as per the manufacturer's care instructions.
Garments can be pre-treated under laboratory conditions using any of the following methods:
The minimum number of wash and dry cycles prescribed in a standard is usually 5.
BALLYCLARE Workwear
All Ballyclare protective clothing complies to the relevant standards in order to be compliant to the EU Regulation 2016/425. Ballyclare is actively participating in the standardization process both nationally and internationally so is perfectly placed to ensure that its products are up to date with the latest standards. If you have any questions about standards and their applications, please contact our standards experts.
