ISO 18639 discusses PPE ensembles for firefighters undertaking specific rescue activities. ISO 18639‑5 is an international standard on helmets for firefighters to ensure protection during specific rescue activities.
.ISO 18639‑5 is the fifth part of a multi-part series that provides the principles that govern the development of incident type and/or hazard-specific test methods and minimum performance requirements for helmets for firefighters while engaged in specific rescue activities.
ISO 18639‑5 covers general helmet design, the minimum performance level of the materials used and the methods of test for determining this performance level.
Note1: ISO 18639‑5 does not cover special helmets for use in other high-risk situations such as firefighting.
Note2: ISO 18639‑5 does not cover protection for the torso, arms, legs, and feet or protection of the hands against other hazards, e.g., chemical, biological, radiation, and electrical hazards, except for limited, accidental exposure to fire ground chemicals and contaminated blood or body fluids.
ISO 18639‑5 on a helmet for firefighters undertaking specific rescue activities is useful for:
Selection of the appropriate system of personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, is essential and is dependent on carrying out an effective risk assessment that identifies the hazard to be faced, evaluates the likelihood of those hazards, and provides the means of reducing or eliminating these hazards.
The purpose of ISO 18639‑5 is to ensure that minimum performance requirements for the incident type and/or hazard-specific protective helmets are designated.
By adopting the design, testing, marking, inspection, and performance requirements provided by ISO 18639‑5 the user can enhance the performance of protective helmets to ensure protection for firefighters against various hazards.
ISO 18639-5:2018