Environmental standards

ATEX

Which protective clothing to use in ATEX zones

What does the regulation say?

Directive 1999/92/EC - Annex 2 - Part 3
In order to prevent the risk of ignition, in accordance with Article 3, electrostatic discharges from workers or the working environment as charge carriers or generators must also be taken into account. Workers must be equipped with appropriate work clothing made of materials that do not generate electrostatic discharges that could ignite explosive atmospheres.
Directive 89/686/EEC - Clause 2.6
PPE for use in explosive atmospheres.

PPE intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres must be designed and manufactured in such a way that it cannot be the site of an electrical or electrostatic arc or spark or result from an impact which could ignite an explosive mixture.

To date, the 1149-5 standard remains the reference standard for protective clothing intended for use in ATEX zones.

Visual ATEX allowing to identify the PPE with the 1149-5 standard in the CEPOVETT Safety range

ATEX

ATEX ZONES : Exposed professions

Transport, Storage of explosive or combustible materials
Cleaning of tanks, silos, containers having contained explosive or combustible materials
Silos (agriculture, food industry, cement plants…)
Chemicals, petrochemicals, preparations (paints, solvents…)
Plastics
Energy (thermal power plants, gas storage and distribution)
Wood sector (sawmills, joineries)
Alcohol (distillery)
Metallurgy (blast furnaces, coking plant)
Mines and quarries
Industries implementing or using natural gas
Service stations, car garages
Arts and entertainment (Pyrotechnics, cinema, theater)
Waste incinerators
Pharmaceutical industry
Nuclear industry
Also exposed are the professions that handle, store, transport substances such as: flour, sugar, milk, coal, sulfur, starch, cereals, wood, plastics, metals…)

EN ISO 20471:2013 EN 343:2003+A1:2007 EN 14058:2004 EN 342:2005 EN 14404:2004+A1:2010

High visibility clothing

REPLACES THE STANDARD EN 471

High-visibility clothing is intended to make its wearers perceptible to drivers of vehicles or other mechanical equipment in all light conditions, day or night, in the light of a vehicle’s headlights.

The class of the garment is determined using 2 criteria:
- Fluorescent fabric surface (Yellow, Orange or Red)
- The surface of retroreflective strips or materials

Area measured on the smallest size
⚠ Attention to the rules for marking high visibility clothing. If a fluorescent fabric area is covered, the garment may be downgraded

Protective garments against wet weather

Protective clothing designed to protect against bad weather (rain, snow), fog and ground humidity.

Performance coding in the form of two indices:
- X – Water penetration resistance class from 1 to 3
- Y – Evaporative resistance class from 1 to 3

These garments must have taped seams

Protective clothing for cool climates

Protective clothing designed to protect the body against moderately cold environments – Temperature down to -5°C

Performance coding in the form of 5 indices:
- Y Thermal resistance class – Rct
- Y Air Permeability Class (optional) – AP
- Y Water penetration resistance class (optional) – WP
- Y Insulation value (optional) – Moving dummy test – Icler
- Y Insulation value (optional) – Motionless dummy test – Icle

X indicates that the article of clothing has not been tested

Evaluation Criteria:

Protective clothing against the cold (temperature below -5°C)

Protective clothing designed to protect the body against cold environments – Humidity and wind with temperatures below -5°C

Performance coding in the form of 4 indices:
Y Insulation value – Moving dummy test – Icler
Y Insulation value – Motionless dummy test – Icle
Y Air Permeability Class – AP
Y Water penetration resistance class (optional) – WP
- X indicates that the article of clothing has not been tested

Evaluation Criteria:

Protective clothing against heat and flames

This equipment is designed to protect people working on their knees.

4 Types of protection :

Type 1: Knee protectors that are independent of any clothing and are fixed around the leg.
Type 2: Plastic foam inserted in pockets on the pant legs.
Type 3: Equipment that is not attached to the body but is put in place when the user moves. They can be provided for each knee or for both knees together.
Types 4: Accessories with additional functions, such as a frame to help you stand or kneel.

3 Levels of protection :

Level 0: flat floors – no penetration resistance required.
Level 1: flat floors – penetration resistance of at least 100 N.
Level 3: Severe conditions, penetration resistance of at least 250 N

⚠ The EN 14404 Standard tests a knee pocket/knee pad assembly.
It specifies the performance of this set. The performances indicated on the garment are therefore only valid if the correct knee brace is used.