Here’s a complete introduction to EN 533 / EN ISO 14116, including what they cover, suitable products, and testing methods.
πΉ Introduction to EN 533 / EN ISO 14116
- EN 533 was the original standard for limited flame spread protective clothing, which has now been replaced by EN ISO 14116.
- Current Standard:
EN ISO 14116:2015 β Protective clothing β Protection against flame β Limited flame spread materials, material assemblies and clothing.
πΉ Purpose of EN ISO 14116
This standard specifies performance requirements for materials and clothing that provide limited protection against heat and flame, designed to prevent flame spread but not for exposure to high heat or direct flame contact for long periods.
Itβs primarily used where there’s low risk of ignition but some flame resistance is still needed.
πΉ Suitable For
EN ISO 14116 is suitable for:
- Workwear where there is intermittent or brief contact with flames
- Outer garments worn over higher-level flame-resistant clothing
- Industries like:
- Oil and gas (low exposure areas)
- Light welding/grinding
- Automotive industry
- Refineries
- Maintenance tasks in flammable environments
π₯ NOT suitable for firefighting or molten metal exposure (use EN ISO 11612 or EN 469 instead).
πΉ Classification: Flame Spread Indexes
EN ISO 14116 defines three performance levels for flame spread resistance:
Index | Flame Behavior |
---|---|
Index 1 | Flame does not spread; may form holes; must not contact skin |
Index 2 | Flame does not spread; no holes form |
Index 3 | No flame spread; no holes; no flaming debris β can be worn next to skin |
β³οΈ Garments made of Index 1 materials must only be worn over garments with higher protection, like Index 3.
πΉ Labeling Example
If a fabric or garment passes Index 3 testing:
EN ISO 14116:2015 Index 3
You may also see the full protective clothing label with this listed among other standards (e.g., EN 11612, EN 1149).
πΉ Testing Methods
Property | Test Method | Requirement |
---|---|---|
Limited flame spread | ISO 15025 (Procedure A or B) | Assesses how far and fast flame spreads, afterflame time, afterglow, hole formation |
Dimensional stability (shrinkage) | ISO 5077 | Measures shrinkage after washing |
Cleaning cycles durability | As per care instructions | Must be tested after multiple washing cycles (often 5x or more) |
π¬ ISO 15025 Testing (Flame Exposure)
- A fabric sample is exposed to a flame for 10 seconds.
- Evaluates:
- Afterflame time
- Afterglow time
- Hole formation
- Whether it ignites or continues to burn
Below is a clear comparison table of EN ISO 14116 Index 1, 2, and 3 and a simple labeling guide for garments that comply with multiple flame-related standards.
πΉ EN ISO 14116 Performance Index Comparison
Property | Index 1 | Index 2 | Index 3 |
---|---|---|---|
Flame spread | No spread to top or edge | No spread to top or edge | No spread to top or edge |
Afterflame time | β€ 2 seconds | β€ 2 seconds | β€ 2 seconds |
Afterglow time | β€ 2 seconds | β€ 2 seconds | β€ 2 seconds |
Hole formation allowed? | β Yes | β No | β No |
Molten or flaming debris? | β Not allowed | β Not allowed | β Not allowed |
Can be worn next to skin? | β NO β Must be worn over Index 3 fabric | β NO β Should be worn over other layers | β YES β Safe for direct skin contact |
Common use | Outer layer over better FR PPE | Mid-layer or light outer garment | Base layer or full protective garments |
πΉ Comparison to Other Flame Standards
Standard | Application |
---|---|
EN ISO 14116 | Limited flame spread (light protection) |
EN ISO 11612 | General heat & flame protection (higher risk) |
EN 469 | Firefighting PPE |
EN ISO 11611 | Welding protective clothing |