Standards & Guidelines
Respirators or Filters
P1: Against non-toxic and harmful fine dust up to 4-times the limit.
Not against particles of carcinogenic and radioactive materials, micro-organisms
(viruses, bacteria, fungus and its spores) and enzymes.
P2: Against harmful materials up to 10-times the limit.
Not against particles of radioactive materials, viruses and enzymes.
P3: The more toxic a material is, the lower will be its limit.
In order to prevent an exceeding, it is strongly recommended to use filters of that category
which protect up to 30-times the limit.
Protective Gloves
Category I:
This category contains light protection gloves, the user is able to judge in regard of minor risks as for instance household or exposure to weather and sunbeams.
Identification of gloves: CE mark
Category II:
This category contains protection gloves against medium risks, tested according to EN 388 (protection against mechanical risks), EN 374-2 (protection against microbiological risks) and EN 374-3 (protection against chemical risks). Furthermore, the user himself is able to evaluate the immediate effect.
Identification of gloves: CE mark
Category III:
This category contains protection gloves against complex and irreversible risks for a limited period of time. The gloves are tested like in category II but the user is not able to evaluate the immediate effect. Additionally, the production plant and all relevant products are controlled on a regular basis by a notified body stated on the glove.
Identification of gloves: CE mark and the identification number of the notified body.
AQL-value:
Acceptable Quality Level
Procedure to determining the quality. In reference to DIN EN 455 a value for tightness of 1,5 for disposable medical gloves had been determined.
EN 420: 2003: Identification and product information
Here are a few important pictograms:
 EN 388 |
Protective gloves against mechanical risks
Efficiency levels as follows: abrasion resistance/ cut resistance/ tear resistance/ puncture resistance |
 EN 407 |
Protective gloves against thermal risks |
 EN 511 |
Protection against cold |  EN 374-2 |
Protective gloves against micro-organisms |
 EN 374-3 |
Protective gloves against chemicals (limited chemical resistance)* |
 EN 407 |
Protective gloves against chemicals** |
*
The pictogram “limited chemical resistance” applies for gloves that pass the penetration test but do not reach a minimum breakthrough time of 30 minutes with at least three chemicals in the definition list.
**
The pictogram “chemical resistance” must be accompanied by a three-digit letter code. That code refers to the three chemicals (from a list of twelve defined standard chemicals) with a determined breakthrough time of at least 30 minutes.
Letter code in reference to EN 374-3:
| Letter Code | Chemical | CAS-Number (Chemical Abstracts Service) |
| A | methanol | 67-56-1 |
| B | acetone | 67-64-1 |
| C | acetonitrile | 75-05-8 |
| D | methylene chloride | 75-09-2 |
| E | carbon disulfide | 75-15-0 |
| F | toluene | 108-88-3 |
| G | diethylamine | 109-89-7 |
| H | tetrahydrofuran | 109-99-9 |
| I | ethyl acetate | 141-78-6 |
| J | n-heptane | 142-85-5 |
| K | sodium hydroxide 40% | 1310-73-2 |
| L | sulphuric acid 96% | 7664-93-9 |
The CAS-number stands for an international standardised identification of every known chemical substance.
Protective Clothing
Cat. III: Protection against minor risks
Cat. III: Protection against medium risks
Cat. III: Protection against high risks
There is a division of category III in 6 types (from 6 – 1):
Type 6: limited spray density
Type 5: density against particles
Type 4: density against spray
Type 3: liquid-tight
Type 2: none gas-tight
Type 1: gas-tight
Category III:
In regard of type 6 – 4, breathable materials can normally be applied; this is highly dependent on the barrier properties of the different materials as well as the work to be carried out.
Here are a few important pictograms:
 EN 13034 |
Protective clothing against sprays Requirements for chemical protective clothing with limited protection against liquid chemicals. |
 EN 13982-1 |
Protective clothing against solid particles Part 1: Protection against airborne solid particles |
 EN 14605 EN 465 |
Spray-tight protective clothing Requirements for chemical protective clothing with spray-tight seams.. |
 EN 14605 EN 466 |
Liquid-tight protective clothing Requirements for chemical protective clothing with liquid-tight seams. |
EN 14126 |
Protective clothing against infectious agents German version EN 14126:2003 |
 EN 1073-2 |
Protective clothing against radioactive contamination Part 2: test procedure and requirements for non-ventilated protective clothing against radioactive contamination by solid particles; German version EN 1073-2:2002 (does not protect against nuclear radiation) |
 EN 1149-1 |
Protective clothing – electrostatic characteristics Part 1: surface resistivity (test procedure and requirements). |
EN 533 |
Protective clothing against heat and flames Materials and material combinations with limited flame spread |
Protective Shoes
S1:P steel or plastic cap and closed heel section,
S1:P antistatic (depends on model), energy absorption capacity in heel area
S1P: steel or plastic cap and midsole against penetration, not watertight
S2:P like S1, but only for sectors with wet influences
S3:P like S2, additional midsole against penetration and more profiled outsole
ESD (Electro Static Discharge)
Protection shoes are described as ESD shoes if the peak is between 105 and 107 ohm. These shoes are recommended if it is necessary to reduce the electronic loading by deduction of the electrostatic loading.
Pollution, moisture and bending can significantly influence the electrical resistance.
The EN standards EN 344, 345, 346 and 347 regulate the basic requirements for safety-, protective- and working shoes for commercial use.
EN 344: Requirements and test procedures for for safety-, protective- and working shoes for
EN 344: commercial use
EN 345: Working shoes with steel cap (resilient up to 200J)
EN 345: (see S1 – S3 – categories)
EN 346: Working shoes with steel cap (resilient up to 100J)
EN 347: Working shoes without toe cap
