EN ISO 11611
EN ISO 11611 lays down the requirements for welders' clothing and is therefore designed to give welders the best possible protection during welding and related activities. It covers clothing that can be worn for a whole working day (8 hours) at normal temperatures and provides protection against small splashes of molten metal, UV radiation and accidental flame contact. EN ISO 11611 is the replacement for EN 470-1. The difference lies in a new pictogram with a welding arc, higher requirements for the tear strength of the fabric, also determining the flame spread after the maximum number of washes (usually determined as 50), the requirement that the haberdashery be tested for heat resistance, also setting specific requirements on the model regarding seam strength and flame retardancy on the seams, and finally that the new standard is divided into two classes with a subdivision according to activities.
The new standardisation therefore consists of a number of tests, the most important of which are described in the following standards: ISO 6942, ISO 9150, ISO 15025 and EN 1149-2. If a garment passes all the tests, it falls into class 1. Class 2 applies to garments that achieve class 2 for tests ISO 9150 and ISO 6942.
EN 1149-2 is a test in which electrical passage is measured. This measures whether electrical charge is passed from the outside to the inside.
The test method ISO 15025 focuses limited flame spread and corresponds to EN 531A. To determine this, a cloth sample is flamed for 10 seconds in the test. The after flame time, afterglow time and hole formation must fall within the values set in this standard. There are two ways of performing the afterglow: procedure A involves horizontal afterglow and provides A1 (as in EN 531). With procedure B, it involves a client flame and yields A2.
ISO 9150 defines the behaviour of materials when they are stunned by small splashes of molten material. Droplets of molten metal are splashed onto a vertically suspended cloth. It is then determined on the back of the cloth after how many drops a temperature rise of 40°C occurs. This is certified with class 1 if it happens after 15 drops or more of molten metal. The fabric is labelled with class 2 if the 40°C temperature rise occurs after 25 drops of molten metal or more.
Test method ISO 6942 assesses materials and material combinations when exposed to heat radiation, by exposing a cloth to heat radiation via infrared radiation. On the other side of the cloth, the temperature rise is measured. The key measurement is how long the fabric can be exposed to heat before a temperature rise of 24°C occurs. The test corresponds to EN 531C. For Class 1, the temperature rise occurs after or by 7 seconds and for Class 2 it occurs after/with 16 seconds.
If all tests are passed, the garment is therefore in class 1 of the EN 11611 standard. Further requirements in the standard are as follows: pleats are avoided, the maximum distance between buttons is 15 centimetres, necklines are closed, metal closures on the outside or inside are concealed, outside pockets have a flap with both sides 10 millimetres wider than the pocket itself, and gussets are always provided with Velcro or a flap (even if placed vertically). Pockets on the leg (metre pockets), on the other hand, need not have a flap with both sides 10 millimetres wider than the pocket itself, as they are placed behind the side seam and have an opening of 75 millimetres or less. Vertical pockets below the hips with an angle of 10° or less are also sufficient without a flap. Finally, any garment certified with this standard must also always comply with the conditions set out in the ISO 13688 standard.
The new standardisation therefore consists of a number of tests, the most important of which are described in the following standards: ISO 6942, ISO 9150, ISO 15025 and EN 1149-2. If a garment passes all the tests, it falls into class 1. Class 2 applies to garments that achieve class 2 for tests ISO 9150 and ISO 6942.
EN 1149-2 is a test in which electrical passage is measured. This measures whether electrical charge is passed from the outside to the inside.
The test method ISO 15025 focuses limited flame spread and corresponds to EN 531A. To determine this, a cloth sample is flamed for 10 seconds in the test. The after flame time, afterglow time and hole formation must fall within the values set in this standard. There are two ways of performing the afterglow: procedure A involves horizontal afterglow and provides A1 (as in EN 531). With procedure B, it involves a client flame and yields A2.
ISO 9150 defines the behaviour of materials when they are stunned by small splashes of molten material. Droplets of molten metal are splashed onto a vertically suspended cloth. It is then determined on the back of the cloth after how many drops a temperature rise of 40°C occurs. This is certified with class 1 if it happens after 15 drops or more of molten metal. The fabric is labelled with class 2 if the 40°C temperature rise occurs after 25 drops of molten metal or more.
Test method ISO 6942 assesses materials and material combinations when exposed to heat radiation, by exposing a cloth to heat radiation via infrared radiation. On the other side of the cloth, the temperature rise is measured. The key measurement is how long the fabric can be exposed to heat before a temperature rise of 24°C occurs. The test corresponds to EN 531C. For Class 1, the temperature rise occurs after or by 7 seconds and for Class 2 it occurs after/with 16 seconds.
If all tests are passed, the garment is therefore in class 1 of the EN 11611 standard. Further requirements in the standard are as follows: pleats are avoided, the maximum distance between buttons is 15 centimetres, necklines are closed, metal closures on the outside or inside are concealed, outside pockets have a flap with both sides 10 millimetres wider than the pocket itself, and gussets are always provided with Velcro or a flap (even if placed vertically). Pockets on the leg (metre pockets), on the other hand, need not have a flap with both sides 10 millimetres wider than the pocket itself, as they are placed behind the side seam and have an opening of 75 millimetres or less. Vertical pockets below the hips with an angle of 10° or less are also sufficient without a flap. Finally, any garment certified with this standard must also always comply with the conditions set out in the ISO 13688 standard.