In Europe EN 14126 - Protective clothing - Performance requirements and test methods for protective clothing against infective agents - the product standard is used to determine whether a clothing provides the necessary protection against infectious diseases. The standard sets requirements for materials, stitches and clothing.

Appropriate protective clothing is indispensable when working with harmful substances or in hazardous environmental conditions.

EUROLAB Testing and approving:

• Protective clothing against chemicals taking into account EN 943-1, EN 943-2, EN 14605 and EN ISO 13982-1
• Gloves for use against chemicals and microorganisms according to EN 374 and EN 388
• Protective clothing against radioactive contamination according to EN 1073-1 and EN 1073-2
• Protective clothing against infectious agents according to EN 14126
• Personal protective communities against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (KBRN) agents according to BS 8467
• Diving suits according to EN 14225 standard series

Material requirements

If the garment can be cleaned and reused at least five times, the materials from which it was made must be submitted to five cleaning cycles before the actual test procedure can be performed.

Evaluation of optional chemical properties as well as mechanical properties and burning behavior, EN 14325 - Protective clothing against chemicals - Chemical protective clothing materials, sutures, joints and assemblies are carried out according to test methods and performance classification.

In addition, EN 14126 includes four test methods to determine the class of protection against various specific biohazards. The higher the degree of protection, the higher the level of protection.

The four tests differ depending on the nature of the biohazard (bacteria or viruses) and the source of contamination (particles, moisture or aerosol).

The test method ISO 16604 shows the level of protection against penetration of viruses carried by the blood and begins with a visual screening of the resistance to penetration of blood according to ISO 16603. The second determines the maximum pressure (from 5 to 16604 kPa) on a sample to be tested according to ISO 0 for 20 minutes. Test results are converted into a classification between 1 and 6 (6 = pass the test under 20 kPa pressure).

The test according to ISO 22610 determines the level of protection against penetration of bacteria by mechanical friction under humid conditions. For 75 minutes, the sample is subjected to a bacterial contamination under light mechanical load and damp. Test results are converted into a class between 1 and 6. Level 6 corresponds to no breakthrough after 75 minutes.

The level of protection against penetration of aerosols contaminated with bacteria has been tested according to ISO / DIS 22611. These tests determine the resistance of a material to penetration by an aerosol-infected bacteria through a comparison membrane filtration under reduced pressure. Test results are translated into a classification between 1 and 3, level 3 corresponds to a penetration less than 0,001%.

ISO 22612 determines the level of protection against particles contaminated with bacteria. A sample is powdered with a small amount of talcum powder and placed on a vibrating plate for 30 minutes. Test results are converted into a classification level from level 10 to level 3, corresponding to the penetration of less than 3 contaminated particles.

Sewing requirements

The seams must comply with the relevant requirements of EN 14325, and also the seam resistance is classified according to this standard.

Clothing requirements

Protective clothing against infective agents must comply with the relevant requirements of EN ISO 13688 and the requirements specified in the relevant standard for protective clothing against chemical hazards:

Applicable standard according to the type of clothing

• Type 1a, 1b, 1c, 2: EN 943-1 and EN 943-2 for ET (emergency team) clothes
• Type 3: EN 14605
• Type 4: EN 14605
• Type 5: EN ISO 13982-1
• Type 6: EN 13034

Partial body protection: EN 3 for type 14605; EN 6 for Type 13034

Marking

In addition to the requirements for marking the corresponding garment type for protection against chemical hazards, the garment must be specified by adding the suffix "-B", for example using type 4-B and the appropriate pictogram.