EN343

EN 343:2003 can be obtained from the website of theBritish Standards Institute(http://bsonline.techindex.co.uk).

Further information about the content of the standard,the performance requirements it describes and the testmethods for rainproof clothing as well as the details ofparticular classes of protective clothing can be providedby test institutes, specialist retailers or manufacturers.

If you have specific questions about choosing suitablerainproof clothing, contact your Personal ProtectiveEquipment Technical Committee.

©2

00

4 W

. L. G

ore

&A

ssoc

iate

sG

mb

H. D

85

1. T

EGT3

26

7L0

2.

W. L. Gore & Associates UK Ltd.Tel.: +44 1506 460123

gore-workwear.com

EN343 norm_en.qxd 02.05.2007 9:24 Uhr Seite 1

DIE EUROPEAN STANDARDEN 343:2003

PROTECTION AGAINST RAIN

©2

00

4 W

. L. G

ore

&A

ssoc

iate

sG

mb

H. D

85

1. T

EGT3

26

7L0

2.

Published by W. L. Gore & AssociatesEditorial support Petra Jakisch,Zentrum für Sicherheitstechnik, Erkrath, Deutschland

>


Suitable protection against inclement weather is one ofthe main functions of protective work clothing – not leastbecause a considerable proportion of employees workpartly or wholly in the open air.

However, in a context of European directives and nationallaws and regulations, employers often do not find it easyto choose suitable protective clothing for their employees.European standard EN 343:2003 “Protection against rain”,which was published at the end of 2003, makes it easierto find one’s way.

This brochure first explains the standard and in part twogives advice on equipping employees with rainproof clo-thing.


3

The EN 343:2003 Standard

A European standard is a technical norm defining uniformstandards for products or materials.

A harmonized European standard, which – like EN343:2003 – has been published in the European Union’sOfficial Journal, can be used to demonstrate compliancewith statutory or regulatory requirements. It is therefore anaid that is often used in practice to assess products ormaterials. Suppliers and users both benefit from it.

1. It is easier for the supplier to apply the CE marking to products or materials and sell them inside the EU if theycomply with the standard.

2.The user can make an objective comparison of productsor materials by referring to the uniform requirements in the standard. In addition to the CE marking, special standardi-zed markings provide information about characteristicsand performance classes.

Part I


>

4

Employee health and safety in the workplace is an impor-tant matter in the EU. The German legislator for examplehas en-acted the Product and Equipment Safety Law(GPSG) and the Occupational Health and Safety Law inthis area, together with the relevant implementing provi-sions. Whilst the GPSG deals with the product require-ments, the Occupational Health and Safety Law and cor-responding regulations focus on the safety of the employ-ee in the workplace.

If an employee is exposed to rain or foul weather forexample, a proper protective clothing (PPE = PersonalProtective Equipment) is required. The requirements thatrainproof clothing must satisfy are set out in the Productand Equipment Safety Law. Similar conditions exist in allEU countries.

TESTING REQUIREMENTSWater proofness and water vapour permeability are themain requirements for rainproof clothing materials. Relevant test methods are therefore a core feature of the EN 343:2003:

Water proofness relates to water coming through theprotective clothing materials from the outside (e. g. dueto rain, fog, snow).

Water vapour permeability (usually called “breathability”)describes the physical capacity of the material to allowwater vapour, sweat etc. to escape from the inside to theoutside.

>

>

>


>

EN 343:2003 also contains requirements concerning thetensile strength, tear strength, seam strength and dimen-sional change resistance of the material:

The mechanical strength requirements, i.e. the tensile,tear and seam strengths, apply in each case to the outerlayer of material used to make the protective garment – forlaminated fabrics, to all layers that are firmly attached tothe outer material.

Each individual layer of material used to make the pro-tective garment is checked for dimensional change, toensure that the clothing does not lose its shape or fit.

TEST METHODSThe protective clothing materials are tested for conformitywith these requirements. To guide the user regarding thedegree of water proofness or water vapour permeability (=breathability) of the materials used to make the rainproofclothing, EN 343:2003 defines three classes for each property.

In addition, the standard stipulates that the user shall beinformed of the respective performance class of the material by means of a marking in the rainproof garment.

5

>

EN 343XX

Klassenangabe zumWasserdurchgangswiderstand(= Wasserdichtheit)

Klassenangabe zum Wasser-dampfdurchgangswiderstand(= Wasserdampfdurchlässigkeit)


Water proofness of the material is tested by assessing thedegree of resistance to water penetration (Wp).Hydrostatic pressure is measured in a column of water (inPascals) until water penetrates the material.

If the non-pretreated material resists at least 8000 Pa, itis a Class 1 material. If it is subjected to certain pretreat-ments be-fore the water proofness test and resists 8000to 13000 Pa, it is a Class 2 or 3 material, depending onthe degree of pressure.

During pretreatment, the material is exposed to certainstresses: washing and/or dry-cleaning, abrasion, flexingand contamination with oil and fuel.

For each pretreatment a new sample material is used.The seams are tested only on non-pretreated samples.

6

>

>

>

WATER PROOFNESS

Wp≥8 000 Pa Wp≥8 000 Pa Wp≥13000 Pa

≥80 cm ≥80 cm

CLAS

S 1

CLAS

S 2

CLAS

S 3

<130 cm

1000 Pa = 10 cm water column = 0,01 bar

with pretreatmentno pretreatment

≥130 cm


<

Water vapour permeability is tested by measuring theresistance to water vapour, expressed as a Ret value. Thelower the Ret, the higher the water vapour permeability(breathability) of the material and thus its physiologicalcharacteristics.

7

0

20

40

Ret(m2 Pa/W)

Major differences between the previous ENV 343:1998and the EN 343:2003

WATER PROOFNESSClasses 2 and 3: Also materials with an outer layer

coating are pretreated by abrasion before the water penetration test.

WATER VAPOUR PERMEABILITYClass 1: Protective clothing made of material with a

water vapour resistance of more than Ret 40 must carry awarning about limited wearing times.

Class 2: The lower threshold for the water vapour resistance of materials in this class has been changedfrom Ret 150 to 40.

>

>

>

CLAS

S 1

CLAS

S 2

CLAS

S 3

WATER VAPOUR PERMEABILITY


8

0

6

4

2

10 15 20 25

10

12

8

Because the water vapour permeability of the material isvery important for the physiological wear properties ofthe garments, the standard includes a summary tablewith recommended maximum wearing times for the indi-vidual performance classes. In this summary table fourdifferent ambient temperatures at a constant physicaleffort are being considered. However, a change in thephysical effort will influence the recommended continuouswearing time of the respective performance class. The standard requires the overview to be reproduced inthe manufacturer’s information leaflet for Class 1 protec-tive wear, so that the user is informed about possiblerestrictions in the use of the garment. In addition themarking in the clothing must contain the restricted wearingtime warning.

EN 343:2003 recommended continuous wearing times

Table valid for medium physical effort (150 W/m2), standard-man, at 50% relative humidity and a wind speed of va=0,5m/s

CLASS 3

Ret ≤ 20

Temperature [°C]

Zeit

[h]

CLASS 2

20 < Ret ≤ 40

CLASS 1

40 < Ret

RECOMMENDED WEARING TIMES


20 25

MAIN REQUIREMENTS OF EN 343:2003 AT A GLANCE

9

ntinuous wearing times

hysical effort (150 W/m2), lative humidity and a s

Temperature [°C]

Scope

Testing range

Protectiveclothing components tested

Waterproofness testclassification

Pretreatment forwaterpenetrationtest

Water vapour permeability testclassification

Wearing time

Marking

Protection against rain

Assessment of materials, not ofmade-up garments

No testing of thermal insulation andno marks for removable thermal linings

Class 1: Material without pretreatment andseams ≥ 8000 Pa

Class 2: Material with pretreatment and seams ≥ 8000 Pa

Class 3: Material with pretreatment and seams ≥ 13000 Paseams are not pretreated

Washing / Dry-cleaning (5 cycles)Abrasion (for all materials) (1000 cycles) Flexing (9000 cycles) Contamination with fuel and oil

New Classification:Class 1: Ret > 40Class 2: 20 < Ret ≤ 40Class 3: Ret ≤ 20

Examples of recommended wearing times – based on the new classification of water vapour permeability

Pictogram indicating the performance class;Additional warning about restricted wearing time for rainproof clothing in water vapour permeability class 1


The following questions and answers are particularly desi-gned for employers and safety officers who are looking forinformation about the EN 343:2003.

1.Who is responsible for European standards?The European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) isresponsible for drafting European Standards (EN). CENmembers are the national standards institutes e.g. in themember states of the EU (BSI in UK). Technical experts representing manufacturers,users and test institutes from various European countrieswork together in the standardisation committees and wor-king groups to produce standards that will unify productrequirements across Europe.

2. Is rainproof clothing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)?Rainproof clothing for the workplace comes within thescope of the EU Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)Directive. The directive is intended to ensure the suitabilityof PPE to protect the wearer from health and accidentrisks. The PPE bears a CE marking, which shows that theproduct meets the basic health and safety requirements.

3.Must the rainproof clothing in current use now bereplaced by protective clothing according to EN 343:2003?

A new standard does not automatically mean that newprotective wear must be acquired.

According to the Use of PPE Regulation, PersonalProtective Equipment that is made available by theemployer must be CE marked. Protective clothing alreadyin use and hitherto considered to comply with the directivecan definitely continue to be used.

However, attention should be paid to the performancecharacteristics when rainproof clothing is to be used. Themarkings on the garments and the manufacturer’s infor-mation leaflet provide details of the testing on which themanufacture of the rainproof clothing was based.

10

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON EQUIPPINGEMPLOYEES WITH RAINPROOF CLOTHING

Part II


4.Must new rainproof clothing meet the EN 343:2003 standard?

Standards are not necessarily the decisive factor regardingthe capabilities of a product but rather the regulations pres-cribed by law, i.e. EU guidelines and the PPE directive.

Nevertheless, European standards are very often used asa guideline to make it easier to compare products und makea final choice.

5. How can I identify the ‘right’ rainproof clothing?The “right” rainproof clothing can only be identified bylooking at the intended application. If the workplace riskassessment shows rainproof clothing to be necessary, theperformance characteristics required must be defined tosuit the working conditions, taking into account factorssuch as the precise activity involved, duration of the worketc. Suitable rainproof clothing can then be chosen onthat basis.

11


Documents

EN343