CHEMICAL PROTECTION TESTING

Testing of chemical protection devices can be performed to a comprehensive range of European, Australian and American Standards.

The following list of standards is not exhaustive, but does give an indication of some of INSPEC's capabilities:

Protective clothing against chemicals (including gloves)

Performance requirements

EN 943-1 : 2002	Type 1a, 1b, 1c and 2 equipment.
EN 943-2 : 2002	Type 1a-ET and Type 1b-ET equipment.
BS 8428 : 2004	Type 3-ET equipment.
EN 14605 : 2005         (referring to EN 14325 : 2004)	Type 3, Type 4, Type PB [3] and Type PB [4] equipment.
EN 13034 : 2005           (referring to EN 14325 : 2004)	Type 6 and Type PB [6] equipment.
EN 374-1 : 2003	Gloves (see our Hand Protection page).

General

Performance requirement	Test method (clause)
EN 943-1 : 2002 EN 943-2 : 2002 BS 8428 : 2004 EN 14605 : 2005 EN 13034 : 2005	Relevant requirements of EN 340: 2003, (4 to 6).
	Pre-conditioning: 5 cycles of cleaning to manufacturer’s instructions, if appropriate.
	Conditioning.

Materials

Performance requirement (clause)	Test method
EN 943-1 : 2002 (4.1) EN 943-2 : 2002 (5.1) BS 8428 : 2004 (4.2) EN 14605 : 2005 (4.1) EN 13034 : 2005 (4.1)	Abrasion resistance, EN 530.
	Trapezoidal tear resistance, EN ISO 9073-4.
	Tensile strength, EN ISO 13934-1.
	Puncture resistance, EN 863.
	Resistance to ignition, EN 13274-4, method 3.
EN 943-1 : 2002 (4.1) EN 943-2 2002 (5.1) BS 8428 : 2004 (4.2, 4.3) EN 14605 : 2005 (4.1)	Flex cracking resistance, EN ISO 7854.
	Permeation resistance, EN ISO 6529 or EN 374-3.
EN 13034 : 2005 (4.1)	Liquid repellency and resistance to penetration, EN ISO 6530.

Fitted gloves (if relevant)

Performance requirement (clause)	Test method
EN 943-1 : 2002 (4.2) EN 943-2 : 2002 (5.3.1) BS 8428 : 2004 (5.2)	EN 374-1 : 2003 (see Test methods - chemical and our Hand Protection page).

Fitted visors (if relevant)

Performance requirement (clause)	Test method (clause)
EN 943-1 : 2002 (4.1) EN 943-2 : 2002 (5.2) BS 8428 : 2004 (5.4)	Permeation resistance, EN ISO 6529 or EN 374-3.
EN 943-1 : 2002 (5.5)	General, distortion of vision, field of vision and mechanical strength.
EN 943-2 : 2002 (5.4) BS 8428 : 2004 (5.4)	General, distortion of vision, field of vision and mechanical strength, EN 943-1 : 2002 (5.5).
	Distortion of vision, after exposure to chemicals.
EN 14605 : 2005 (4.4)	General, distortion of vision.
	Field of vision and mechanical strength, in conjunction with spray test (EN 468) or jet test (EN 463), as appropriate.

Fitted facemasks (if relevant)

Performance requirement (clause)	Test method (clause)
EN 943-1 : 2002 (5.6)	Various.
EN 943-2 2002 (7.1) BS 8428 : 2004 (5.5)	Various, conforming to EN 943-1 : 2002 (5.6).

Fitted safety footwear (if relevant)

Performance requirement (clause)	Test method (clause)
EN 943-2 2002 (5.3.2) BS 8428 : 2004 (5.3)	Permeation resistance, EN ISO 6529 or EN 374-3.
	Requirements of EN 345-2 : 1997 (7).

Seams, joins and assemblages

Performance requirement (clause)	Test method (clause)
EN 943-1 : 2002 (4.2) EN 943-2 2002 (6) BS 8428 : 2004 (6) EN 14605 : 2005 (4.2)	Seam strength, EN ISO 13935-2.
	Permeation resistance, EN ISO 6529 or EN 374-3.
EN 14605 : 2005 (4.2)	Resistance to penetration by liquids, EN 463 or EN 468.
EN 13034 : 2005 (4.2)	Seam strength, EN ISO 13935-2.
EN 943-1 : 2002 (4.3, 5.7.1) EN 943-2 : 2002 (6.4, 7.2) BS 8428 : 2004 (6.5, 6.6)	Attachment points and connections, EN 943-1 : 2002 (5.7.1 or 6.5).

Requirements for the whole suit

Performance requirement (clause)	Test method (clause)
EN 943-1 : 2002 (5)	Various.
EN 943-2 : 2002 (4, 7.1, 7.2)	Test methods as for EN 943-1 : 2001.
EN 943-1 : 2002	Practical performance tests (clause 6.2).
EN 943-2 : 2002 (8.1)	Practical performance tests at ambient temperature, EN 943-2 : 2002 (8.1.1).
BS 8428 : 2004 (7.4)
EN 943-2 : 2002 (8.1)	Practical performance tests at low temperature, EN 943-2 : 2002 (8.1.2).
BS 8428 : 2004 (7.4)
BS 8428 : 2004 (7.3)	Resistance to penetration by liquids (EN 463).
EN 14605 : 2005 (4.3)	Resistance to penetration by liquids (EN 463 or EN 468) after practical tests by human test subjects.
EN 13034 : 2005 (5)	Resistance to penetration by liquids in the form of a light spray (mist test, modified EN 468) after practical tests by human test subjects.

 

Test methods - chemical

Gas and liquid permeation tests:

EN 374-3 : 2003, EN ISO 6529 : 2001, ASTM F739-07, ASTM F1383-07.  Garment materials or seams, gloves.

We can conduct tests for organic liquids and gases (by GC), inorganic solutions or gases (by conductivity) and light absorbing solutions (by UV/Vis spectroscopy) and many are UKAS accredited.

We can conduct testing to the chemicals listed in EN 374-1 : 2003 / EN 943-2 : 2002 / BS 8428 : 2004, EN ISO 6529 : 2001 and ASTM F1001-99a (2006).

Many other chemicals or mixtures can be tested, depending on their properties or formulation.

We have undertaken several “bespoke” jobs using this equipment and the expertise behind it, including many commercial formulations, eg, pesticides, drugs, paints and petroleum based products.

Liquid pressure penetration tests:

ASTM F903-03(2004), ISO 13994 : 1998, (UKAS accredited). Garment materials or seams, gloves.

We can test most organic or inorganic liquids, mixtures and commercial formulations.

Liquid penetration and repellency test (“gutter test”):

EN ISO 6530 : 2005, (UKAS accredited).  Garment materials.

We can test most organic or inorganic liquids, mixtures and commercial formulations.

 

EN & BS performance requirements for clothing & gloves
providing protection against chemicals & radioactive contaminants

Protection against CBRN agents
Type	Description	Performance requirement
Category A, B, C & D Suits	Suits offering the highest level (Category A) to the lowest level (Category D) of protection against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) agents.	BS 8467 : 2006

 

Protection against liquid or gaseous chemicals
Type	Description	Performance requirement
Type 1 & 2 Suits	Type 1 (‘gas-tight’): 1a:  breathable air supply independent of the ambient atmosphere, eg internal compressed air apparatus 1b:  breathable air supply, eg external compressed air apparatus 1c:  breathable air providing positive pressure, eg airlines Type 2 (‘non-gas-tight’): breathable air providing positive pressure, eg airlines	(BS) EN 943-1 : 2001
Type 1a-ET & Type 1b-ET Suits	Gas-tight suits for emergency teams	(BS) EN 943-2 : 2001

 

Protection against liquid chemicals
Type	Description	Performance requirement
Type 3-ET Suits	Liquid-tight connections for emergency teams	BS 8428 : 2004 1
Type 3 Suits	Liquid-tight connections	(BS) EN 14605 : 2005 2, 3
Type 4 Suits	Spray-tight connections
Types PB [3] and PB [4]	Liquid and spray tight connections. Parts of the body, eg aprons.
Type 6 Suits	Limited Protection	(BS) EN 13034 : 2005 2
Type PB [6]	Limited Protection. Parts of the body
Gloves	Chemicals (and microorganisms)	(BS) EN 374-1 : 2003

 

Protection against solid particulate chemicals
Type	Description	Performance requirement
Type 5	Protection against aerosols and fine dusts	(BS) EN ISO 13982-1 : 2004

 

Protection against radioactive contaminants
Description	Performance requirement
Ventilated protective clothing against particulate radioactive contamination	(BS) EN 1073-1 : 1998
Non-ventilated protective clothing against particulate radioactive contamination	(BS) EN 1073-2 : 2002
Protective gloves against ionizing radiation and radioactive contamination	(BS) EN 421 : 1994

 

1   prEN 466-2 : 1996 for Type 3-ET suits for emergency teams is no longer being developed as a European standard.

2   Refers to (BS) EN 14325 : 2004 (Test methods and performance classification for chemical protective clothing).

3   Replaces EN 465 - 467 : 1995 and prEN 1511 - 1513 : 1997.

 

If you require testing to a standard not listed above, please contact us as our scope of testing is regularly expanded.

In addition to the testing performed against published standards, we can offer limited or experimental testing tailored to your own bespoke specifications or methods.

We look forward to being of service to you.

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