Classification of protective clothing

The following classification of protective clothing takes into account the different types of work clothing used depending on the requirements at the workplace. Read our article and take care of your safety in professional protective clothing.

Gas-tight protective clothing

The first type of clothing included in the classification of protective clothing is gas-tight protective clothing. Effective protection against chemicals in the form of gases is provided by gas-tight clothing (coverall with boots, fastened with a gas-tight zipper and gloves attached to the sleeves of the coverall with special, tight clamps) in combination with insulating respiratory protection equipment.

According to EN 943-1, the following types of gas-tight clothing are distinguished:

• type 1 - clothing that protects the entire body, with gas-tight features - meeting the requirements of the leak test according to EN 464,
• type 1a - clothing with a breathing apparatus worn inside the suit,
• type 1b - clothing with a breathing apparatus worn outside the suit,
• type 1c - clothing with breathing air supplied from an external compressed air line,
• type 2 - clothing that protects the entire body, does not meet the requirements of the tightness test according to EN 464, in which protection against the penetration of hazardous substances is provided by overpressure inside the suit.

Protective clothing against dust

Dustproof clothing is used when the worker comes into contact with non-toxic dust. This type of clothing is made of fabrics with special weaves, characterized by sufficient dustproofness while allowing air to pass through to a limited extent, most often made of Tyvek coated polypropylene nonwoven fabric. Dustproof clothing is among the 5 types of chemical protective clothing. It is worth mentioning that in the case of protection against toxic dusts, clothing should meet the guidelines contained in the EN 13982-1 standard.

Protective clothing against liquid chemicals

Liquid spray protection clothing - type 6 - made of impregnated fabrics and fibers, protects against short-term and low-intensity contact with liquid chemicals. The parameter that characterizes this type of protective clothing is the water-repellency index and the water-permeability index.

Protective clothing against sprayed liquids - type 4 - made of materials coated with plastics, thanks to which it is extremely tight against penetration of sprayed liquids.

Protective clothing against liquid jets - type 3 - made of materials coated with plastics, with the proviso that they should be specially adapted to minimize the risk of leakage due to pressurized liquid spraying.

Selection of clothing that protects against chemical factors

The classification of protective clothing indicates the types of work clothing necessary for use, but proper use is also important. It is necessary to try to take action to eliminate or reduce the causes of the hazard, when this does not work, chemoprotective clothing and other PPE are used. The first step is to identify the chemical substance, its type or form of occurrence, thanks to which we will be able to choose the type of clothing according to the above-mentioned CE standards (type 1 to 6). Then it is worth considering other hazards such as high temperature, hot spatter, explosive atmosphere, radiation or sharp edges. You should also remember about the intensity of the chemical substance, thanks to which we will be able to classify the garments according to the above-mentioned CE standards, type 6, 4 or 3, and to determine the concentration and toxicity of the chemical substance, and the parameter related to the breakthrough time. The chemical protective properties of the clothing will be maintained only if they are properly selected in terms of potential mechanical damage. Remember about other equipment protecting against chemicals - respiratory protection, chemical resistant gloves, face and eye shields, or the so-called partial body protection, eg lab coats, front gowns, protective sleeves, dungarees, hoods. (Supplementary designation "PB").

Safe working hours in protective clothing against chemicals

When working in tight protective clothing, heat is emitted by the employee's body, which, due to the inability to transfer it entirely to the environment, causes its accumulation under the protective barrier. As a result, it leads to an increase in human body temperature, and intense sweat secretion causes an increase in the humidity of the microclimate under the clothes. This puts a strain on the worker's body, especially its cardiovascular system. Therefore, it is necessary to properly organize work, taking into account the breaks necessary for the regeneration of the body. In order to reduce the discomfort of working in barrier protective clothing, special barrier underwear made of double-layer knitted fabrics should be used underneath it. Clothes which are classified according to the classification of protective clothing should be put on directly over the underwear.

The above classification of protective clothing will be an excellent guide to obtain professional workwear. See our workwear proposals and choose models for yourself!