This International Standard specifies performance requirements for garments made from flexible materials, which are designed to protect the wearer’s body, except the hands, from heat and/or flame. For protection of the wearer’s head and feet, the only items of protective clothing falling within the scope of this International Standard are gaiters, hoods and overboots. However, concerning hoods, requirements for visors and respiratory equipment are not given.

The performance requirements set out in this International Standard are applicable to garments which could be worn for a wide range of end uses, where there is a need for clothing with limited flame spread properties and where the user can be exposed to radiant or convective or contact heat or to molten metal splashes.

This International Standard is not applicable to protective clothing that is specified by other International Standards, such as for firefighting in structures and for use in welding and allied processes.