Comparative study on standards of protective clothing at home and abroad

     Protective clothing is a kind of work clothing to protect the human body from physical, chemical, biological and other external factors. It is an important equipment to protect workers from external injuries and ensure safety and health production. The standard of personal protective clothing puts forward requirements for the basic terms, selection and use, protective performance, performance testing methods of protective clothing in typical working environment, and plays a normative and guarantee role in human safety protection.

    To ensure the safety of personnel is the core goal of safety production standardization. China, the international organization for Standardization (ISO) and the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) have always attached great importance to the standardization of protective clothing, and established corresponding technical committees for standardization, mainly including "SAC / TC 112 personal protective equipment", "ISO / TC 94 / SC 13 protective clothing", "CEN / TC 162 protective clothing including hand, arm protection and life jackets", etc.

     Based on the classification of China's and ISO's protective clothing standard system, this paper compares the main types of protective clothing standards of China, ISO and Cen, and puts forward suggestions for the improvement of the standard system in combination with the revision plan of protective clothing standards during the 13th five year plan and the focus of technical research.

      1. standard comparison of protective clothing

      From the aspects of basic standards, management standards, technical standards, product standards and method standards, the standards of protective clothing of China, ISO and Cen are compared.

    1.1 general protective clothing

   There is one general standard for protective clothing in China, which is the general requirements for technical protective clothing (GB / T 20097-2006). There are two ISO standards in this category. In addition to the general requirements for protective clothing (ISO 13688:2013), the terms of protective clothing (ISO / TR 11610:2004) are also included. This kind of European standard includes 4 items. In addition to the terms and general requirements of protective clothing, it also includes the selection, use and maintenance standard of protective clothing for management (CEN / TR 15321:2006), the performance requirements and test methods standard of protective equipment for hand, arm, chest and other parts of technical class (EN 13567:2002).

   1.2 flame retardant and heat insulation clothing

   There are five standards for flame retardant and thermal insulation clothing in China, including the standards for products (GB 8965.1-2009) and welded clothing (GB 8965.2-2009), the standards for the determination of the impact resistance to molten metal (GB / T 17599-1998), the standards for the detection of toxic and harmful substances in flame retardant clothing (GB / T 31420-2015), and the standards for the measurement of flame retardant performance of clothing under the condition of flashover with Dummies (GB / T 23467—2009）。

     There are 15 ISO standards, including the selection, maintenance and use of thermal and flame protective clothing for management (ISO / TR 2801:2007); performance requirements and test methods of high temperature protective clothing for Technology (ISO 11612:2015); welding protective clothing for products (ISO 11611:2015) and flame retardant protective clothing (ISO 11611:2015) 14116:2015); 11 methods, in addition to the determination of material resistance to molten metal impact (ISO 9150:1988) and evaluation of resistance performance standard (ISO 9185:2007), including the determination of material performance under thermal radiation (ISO 6942:2002), the determination of heat transfer under flame conditions (ISO 9151:2016), the determination of heat emission through thermal protective clothing and materials (ISO 9151:2016) 12127-1:2015 and ISO 12127-2:2007), measurement of heat transfer performance of complete thermal insulation clothing (ISO 13506-1:2017) and calculation of skin burn (ISO 13506-2:2017), limited flame diffusion test (ISO 15025:2016), measurement of thermal conductivity energy (ISO 17492:2003), convective heat test of heat-resistant clothing (ISO 17492:2003) 17493:2016).

     Most of the flame retardant and heat insulation clothing standards of ISO are adopted in Europe.

     1.3 chemical protective clothing

     There are 5 standards for chemical protective clothing in China, including selection, use and maintenance standards for management (GB / T 24536-2009); general technical requirements for Technology (GB 24539-2009); acid and alkali products (GB 24540-2009), solid particle chemical protective clothing (GB / T 29511-2013); chemical penetration test standards for method (GB / T 23462-2009).

    There are 14 ISO standards in this category, including technical classification label and performance requirements (ISO 16602:2007), solid particles (ISO 13982-1:2004) and liquid pesticides (ISO 27065) protection performance requirements. There are 11 method categories, including liquid and gas chemicals penetration test (ISO 6529:2013) and liquid chemicals protective clothing permeability test (ISO 6529:2013) 6530:2005) and liquid pressure measurement (ISO 13994:2005), fine particle aerosol inward leakage rate measurement of solid particle protective clothing (ISO 13982-2:2004), respectively, based on internal pressure method (ISO 17491-1:2012) and inward leakage method (ISO 17491-2:2012), respectively, based on injection method (ISO 13994:2005) 17491 - 3:2008), spray method (ISO 17491 4:2008) and human body spray method (ISO 17491 5:2013) were used to measure liquid jet penetration resistance, low vapour pressure chemicals cumulative osmosis test (ISO 19918:2017), and protective clothing materials for liquid pesticide retention and permeability determination (ISO 22608:2004) and other methods.

     There are 18 Cen standards in total, including the selection and application standards of management (CEN / TR 15419:2017); 6 technical standards, including air tight protective clothing (EN 943-1:2015) and liquid chemical protective clothing (EN 943-1:2015), in addition to ISO standards for solid particles and liquid pesticide protective clothing 13034:2005) requirements for protective performance, requirements for body and respiratory protective properties and testing methods for solid suspended particulate matter protective clothing (EN 1073 - 1:2016), performance requirements for liquid or spray sealed connection clothing (EN 14605:2005), performance requirements for airtight protective clothing for emergency disposal of products (EN) 943-2:2002); 10 items of method category, in addition to the liquid chemicals (EN ISO 6530:2005) and solid particles (EN ISO 13982-2:2004, EN ISO 17491-3:2008, EN ISO 17491-4:2008) protection performance and gas chemical permeability test standard (EN ISO 19918:2017), also include aerosol and solid particle protection test (EN ISO 19918:2017) 464:1994), joint connection and assembly test of chemical protective clothing materials (EN 14325:2004), determination of permeability of sprayed liquid chemicals, emulsion and dispersion (EN 14786:2006), and determination of permeability of protective clothing materials to continuous liquid (EN 16523-1:2015) and continuous gas (EN 16523-2:2015) chemicals.

     1.4 protective clothing for mechanical damage

     The standards of protective clothing for mechanical damage in China include puncture resistance and dynamic tear resistance test (GB / T 20654-2006) and puncture resistance test (GB / T 20655-2006).

     12 items of ISO standards, including the performance requirements of leg guards (ISO 11393-2:1999) and upper body protectors (ISO 11393-6:2007) for technical hand-held chain saw protective clothing; 4 items of product category, including apron, trousers and vest (ISO 13998:2003), chain hand cover and arm protectors (ISO 13999-1:1999) and gloves and arm protectors (ISO 13999-1:1999) made of non chain materials 13999-2:2003), as well as sandblasting protective clothing (ISO 14877:2002); method category 6 items, in addition to the standards for the determination of puncture resistance and dynamic tearing resistance (ISO 13995:2000) and puncture resistance (ISO 13996:1999), including the chain saw cutting resistance test of hand-held chain saw protective clothing (ISO 11393-1:1998), performance requirements and test methods for protective leggings (ISO 11393-1:1998) 11393-5:2001), determination of cutting resistance to sharp objects (ISO 13997:1999), and impact cutting test of gloves and protective arms against cutting injury (ISO 13999-3:2002).

     There are 11 Cen standards, including the technical requirements for leg guards (EN 381-5:1995) and gaiters (EN 381-9:1997) of technical hand-held chain saw protective clothing, as well as the performance requirements for gloves and arm guards against knife cutting injury (EN 14328:2005); the product category adopts ISO standard for small folding knife cutting (EN ISO 13998:2003) and sandblasting protective clothing (EN ISO 14877:2002); method standard 6 items, in addition to ISO chain saw cutting resistance test (EN 381-1:1993 / ISO 11393-1:1998), puncture and tear resistance test (EN ISO 13995:2000) and sharp object cutting resistance test (EN ISO 13997:1999), the waist protection performance of chain saw protective clothing (EN 381-2:1995) and wear resistance of clothing materials (EN 530: 2010) and puncture resistance test (EN 863:1995).

    1.5 electrostatic and radiation protective clothing

    Our country's electrostatic and radiation protective clothing are four product standards, including anti-static clothing (GB 12014-2009), anti-static wool knitted clothing (GB / T 23464-2009), anti oil, easy decontamination and anti-static clothing (GB / T 28895-2012) and microwave radiation protective clothing (GB / T 23463-2009).

    The ISO standards are four standards for electrostatic propensity test methods of textiles: charging method (ISO 18080-1:2015), rotating machinery (ISO 18080-2:2015), horizontal mechanical friction method (ISO 18080-4:2015) and manual friction method (ISO 18080-3:2015).

    There are five Cen standards, including technical performance requirements for radiation pollution protective clothing under non ventilation conditions (EN 1073-2:2002) and material performance and design requirements for electrostatic protective clothing (EN 1149-5:2008); surface resistivity measurement method (EN 1149-1:2006), material (vertical resistance) measurement resistance method (EN 1149-2:2006) and charge attenuation method (EN 1149-2:2006) 1149-3:2004).

   1.6 other protective clothing

    ther protective clothing includes labor protective clothing, high visibility protective clothing and insect protective clothing, etc. There are three standards in China, including management type of labor protection clothing (GB / T 13640-2008), product type of high visibility warning clothing (GB 20653-2006) and insect protection clothing (GB / T 28408-2012). ISO this type of standard is the performance requirement standard for high visibility warning clothing of technical type (ISO 20471:2013). There are 4 Cen standards in total, including technical knee protection requirements (EN 14404:2004), method high visibility warning clothing performance requirements (EN ISO 20471:2013), non professional protective clothing (EN 1150:1999) and clothing accessories (EN 13356:2001) visibility requirements and test methods.

   2. Research focus of protective clothing technology in China during the 13th five year plan

China has set up the "13th five year plan" national key research and development program "research and development and application demonstration of human injury mechanism and rescue and protection technology and equipment in disaster environment". The project focuses on the research of protective clothing technology for high temperature, smoke, hazardous chemical accident, explosion and its complex environment, breaking through the key technologies of protective clothing such as fire fighting and emergency rescue, hazardous chemical accident disposal, anti cutting and anti explosion. The relevant research results can provide reference and basis for the revision of the technical content of standards in China.

   2.1 flame retardant and heat insulation clothing

   In terms of the impact resistance of the fabric, from the current "fireproof fabric outer surface 600 ℃, heat-resistant impact 5-6 minutes, inner surface temperature ≤ 45 ℃" to the temperature of the outer surface 600-800 ℃, heat-resistant impact 6-10 minutes and inner surface temperature ≤ 45 ℃ under fire conditions, the reference standard is GB 8965. In terms of comprehensive thermal protection performance of light-duty fire-proof clothing, TPP value is increased from TPP value ≥ 35 at present to TPP value ≥ 37. In terms of the lightness and performance improvement of firefighter's fire-fighting protective clothing, the current "weight 3.5kg, TPP value of thermal protection performance 28" has been increased to ≤ 2.6kg, TPP value ≥ 30.

    2.2 chemical protective clothing

    In terms of harmful air and liquid barrier fabrics, from the current "anti hazardous chemicals fabric filter effect ≥ 99.9%", to the filter effect ≥ 99.97% or to the safe and respirable standard, the reference standards are GB / T 23462 and GB / T 24536. In terms of airtight chemical protective clothing, from the current "resistance to penetration of mustard gas, acid and alkali for not less than 60 min", to the resistance to penetration of more than 5 types of typical hazardous chemicals for not less than 60 min, the reference standard is GB 24539. In terms of non airtight chemical protective clothing, from the current "resistance to acid, alkali, etc. is not less than 60 min", to the resistance to more than three types of typical hazardous chemicals is not less than 60 min, refer to GB 24539.

   2.3 protective clothing for mechanical damage

   In terms of portability and tear resistance improvement of rescue service, the current "weight of rescue service is 2.5kg, tear strength is 100N" has been increased to ≤ 1.5kg, tear strength is ≥ 120N, and the reference standard is GA 633-2006. In terms of light anti cutting clothing for police use, it has been improved from no special anti cutting clothing temporarily to cutting resistance index ＞ 8, wear resistance ＞ 8000 n, tear resistance ＞ 75 n, puncture resistance ＞ 150 n, referring to GB 24541-2009.

  3.Suggestions on the improvement of technical standards of protective clothing in China

   Compared with ISO and Cen standards, China focuses on the technical standards and product standards of protective clothing, and the method standards and management standards need to be supplemented. From the point of view of the types of protective clothing, it is urgent to supplement the standards of chemical protective clothing and mechanical damage protective clothing. In addition, with the increasingly prominent role of individual protection in emergency rescue, it is necessary to strengthen the standard of individual protective clothing in typical scenes of emergency rescue. Based on the existing protective clothing standard system in China, combined with the relevant standard formulation and revision plan during the 13th Five Year Plan period, and drawing on the experience of ISO and Cen standards, this paper puts forward suggestions for the improvement of standards from the five aspects of foundation, management, technology, product and method standards

  3.1 general protective clothing

   The basic standard uses ISO 11610 as reference to supplement the terminology standard of protective clothing, and specifies the terminology related to the application scenarios of protective clothing. Refer to CEN / TR 15321 for management standard, and supplement selection, use and maintenance standard of protective clothing

  3.2 flame retardant and heat insulation clothing

  The management standard refers to CEN / TR 2801, and complements the selection, use and maintenance standards of thermal protective clothing. In terms of technical standards and product standards, China needs to follow up the research results on the thermal shock resistance, flame resistance and other material properties of flame-retardant and thermal insulation clothing as well as the performance of the whole set of clothing in a timely manner, and revise the relevant technical requirements in a timely manner under the conditions of both protection and economy.

   According to the method standards, there are many standards that need to be supplemented in terms of test methods of flame retardant and heat insulation clothing in China, including those of supplementary clothing materials such as ISO 6942, ISO 12127-1, ISO 12127-2, ISO 17492 and ISO 17493, those of ISO 9151 and ISO 15025, and those of ISO 15025 13506-2 supplement the calculation standard of skin burn of thermal protective clothing, and refer to en 348 supplement the performance test standard of anti molten metal.

  3.3 chemical protective clothing

   In terms of management standards, the supplementary classification and labeling standards of ISO 16602 can be used for reference. In terms of technical standards, we can refer to ISO 13982-1 and en 1073-1 to supplement the requirements for the whole body and respiratory protection of solid particles, ISO 27065 to supplement the performance requirements for liquid pesticide protective clothing, and en 943-1, en 13034 and en 14605 to supplement the performance requirements for liquid chemical protective clothing. In terms of product standard, refer to en 943-2 to supplement the standard of airtight chemical protective clothing for emergency disposal. According to the method standards, the permeability test, liquid pressure penetration test and liquid pesticide penetration test standards of liquid chemical protective clothing supplemented by ISO 6530, ISO 13994 and ISO 22608, the aerosol penetration test method standards of solid particle protective clothing supplemented by ISO 13982-2 and the clothing materials supplemented by low pressure chemicals supplemented by ISO 19918 are used for reference According to ISO 13491 series standards, the permeability test standards for gaseous and liquid chemicals are supplemented by different methods, the air tightness test methods for liquid and gas chemical protective clothing are supplemented by en 464, the process requirements for protective clothing are supplemented by en 14325, and the permeability test methods for continuous liquid and gas chemicals are supplemented by en 16523 series standards.

    At the same time, timely follow up the research on the filtration effect of chemical protective clothing materials, effective use time of impermeability, performance requirements and test methods for the impermeability of typical hazardous chemicals, and the application results of fiber materials, nano materials, composite materials and other material technologies in chemical protective clothing, and timely revise the standards such as GB / T 23462, GB / T 24536 and GB 24539.

   3.4 protective clothing for mechanical damage

   Using ISO 11393 as reference to supplement the performance requirements, test methods and other standards of the protective clothing for users of hand-held chain saw, and using ISO 13999 series standards as reference to formulate the product standard of the protective clothing for knife cutting. The product standard uses ISO 14877 as reference to supplement the standard of sandblasting operation protective clothing, and the method standard uses ISO 13997 as reference to supplement the standard of cutting resistance of sharp objects. On this basis, timely follow up the research results of the light performance and tear resistance of the rescue and rescue clothing and the cutting resistance of the light anti cutting clothing for police, take into account the performance and economy of the protective clothing for mechanical operation, and timely revise the relevant standards, including GB / T 20654, GB / T 20655, etc.

   3.5 electrostatic and radiation protective clothing

   In terms of technical standards, the protective performance requirements of EN 1073-2 supplementary radiation protective clothing for particulate radioactive pollution and the material performance and design requirements of EN 1149-5 supplementary electrostatic protective clothing are used for reference. In terms of methods and standards, en 1149 series standards are used for reference to supplement the test method standards of surface resistance and charge attenuation of electrostatic protective clothing, and ISO 18080 series standards are used for reference to supplement the test method standards of electrostatic performance of clothing materials.

  3.6 other protective clothing

   In terms of technical standards, ISO 20471 is used to supplement methods and requirements for High Visibility clothing, and en 14404 is used to supplement requirements for knee protection performance. Methods en 1150 and en 13356 were used for reference to supplement the standards of test methods and performance requirements for non professional visible clothing and accessories.

  4 Conclusion

  According to the standards of protective clothing of China, ISO and Cen, this paper compares the general protective clothing, flame retardant and heat insulation clothing, chemical protective clothing, mechanical damage protective clothing, electrostatic and radiation protective clothing, and other protective clothing, and puts forward the standards of performance inspection and test methods of flame retardant and heat insulation clothing, performance technical requirements and test methods of chemical protective clothing, and mechanical damage protection The technical requirements and method standards of clothing, electrostatic and radiation protective clothing and other protective clothing shall be improved.

    According to the revision plan and technical research focus of protective clothing standards during the 13th Five Year Plan period in China, this paper puts forward the application characteristics of protective clothing, supplement the relevant content of application scenarios, formulate and improve the terminology standards of protective clothing; based on the relevant management practice of protective clothing, establish or improve the classification, identification, selection, use, maintenance and other related management standards of various sub categories of protective clothing; in terms of flame retardant In terms of thermal insulation clothing, chemical protective clothing, mechanical damage protective clothing, etc., taking into account the protection and economy of protective clothing, timely revise the technical content of the corresponding standards, reflect the scientific and technological achievements into the standards, and provide guarantee for the protection performance.

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