EN 13688 is a European standard titled “Protective clothing – General requirements” that serves as a foundational document for all types of protective clothing. This standard establishes the general performance requirements and test methods that apply across various categories of protective garments, ensuring basic safety and quality benchmarks are met.
The standard was first published to harmonize protective clothing requirements across Europe and has been regularly updated, with the current version being EN 13688:2013. It functions as a horizontal standard that works in conjunction with vertical standards (like EN 1486 for firefighting clothing or EN ISO 20471 for high-visibility clothing) to provide complete specifications for protective garments.
Key aspects covered by EN 13688 include:
- Ergonomic requirements: Ensuring clothing allows for necessary movement and doesn’t restrict the wearer
- Size designation: Standardized sizing systems for proper fit
- Innocuousness: Requirements that materials must not cause harm to the wearer (e.g., through skin irritation)
- Comfort properties: Including breathability and moisture management
- Durability: Resistance to cleaning and maintenance procedures
- Marking and information: Requirements for product labeling and user instructions
Products Applicable to EN 13688
EN 13688 applies to a wide range of protective clothing products across multiple industries, including but not limited to:
- High-Visibility Clothing: Such as garments compliant with EN ISO 20471, including the transformable children’s clothing mentioned in the research featuring softshell materials (95% polyester, 5% elastane) with waterproof and ventilation properties
- Firefighter Protective Clothing: Including specialized garments that may also need to comply with standards like EN 1486
- Industrial Protective Clothing: For sectors like construction, manufacturing, and chemical handling
- Medical Protective Clothing: Such as surgical gowns and isolation garments
- Cold Protective Clothing: For work in low-temperature environments
The standard is particularly referenced in technical specifications for various protective garments, such as the softshell jackets and dungarees mentioned in the transformable warning clothing study, where it governed parameters like waterproofing (8000mm for blue softshell, 6000mm for yellow) and ventilation (3000 MVP for both)
Testing Methods for EN 13688
EN 13688 specifies several test methods to evaluate protective clothing performance:
- Size and Dimensional Testing:
- Verification of size designations according to standardized body measurements
- Assessment of ergonomic properties through movement tests
- Material Safety Testing:
- pH value determination
- Chromium (VI) content testing
- Formaldehyde content analysis
- Assessment of allergenic dye content
- Comfort Property Testing:
- Water vapor resistance testing (EN 31092)
- Air permeability assessment
- Thermal insulation measurement
- Durability Testing:
- Dimensional stability after cleaning (multiple wash cycles)
- Colorfastness to washing, rubbing, and perspiration
- Resistance to abrasion and pilling
- Mechanical Property Testing:
- Tensile strength of materials
- Seam strength evaluation
- Tear resistance assessment
The standard often references other specific test methods from related standards, as seen in the transformable clothing study where EN 13688 was used alongside other standards to evaluate the complete garment system
Important Issues to Note for EN 13688 Compliance
When dealing with EN 13688 compliance, several critical aspects require attention:
- Certification Requirements:
- Products must be CE-marked to demonstrate compliance
- Certification should be obtained from accredited bodies
- The standard is often used in conjunction with product-specific standards
- Manufacturing Considerations:
- All materials must meet the innocuousness requirements
- Size designations must follow standardized systems
- Care labeling must be accurate and comprehensive
- Documentation and Labeling:
- Clear user instructions must be provided
- All required information must be permanently marked on the product
- Labels must include size, care instructions, and standard references
- International Market Access:
- For export to European markets, compliance with EN 13688 is typically required
- Additional national requirements may apply in some countries
- Certification costs and documentation requirements should be factored into product pricing
- Integration with Other Standards:
- EN 13688 requirements must be met in addition to any product-specific standards
- For example, high-visibility clothing must comply with both EN ISO 20471 and EN 13688
- Maintenance and Care:
- Cleaning instructions must maintain protective properties
- Durability claims must be verifiable through testing
- Proper storage conditions should be specified
- Cost Considerations:
- Certification and testing can represent significant costs, especially for small manufacturers
- These costs need to be properly accounted for in product pricing strategies
EN 13688 serves as the fundamental quality and safety baseline for all protective clothing in the European market. Its requirements ensure that protective garments meet minimum standards for safety, ergonomics, and durability, while allowing product-specific standards to address particular hazards. Proper implementation requires understanding both the standard’s general requirements and how they interact with more specialized standards for specific types of protective clothing.
