Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

ISO 13688 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 94, Personal safety - Protective clothing and equipment, Subcommittee SC 13, Protective clothing and by Technical Committee CEN/TC 162, Protective clothing including hand and arm protection and lifejackets in collaboration.

This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 13688:1998), which has been technically revised to include the following changes:

— A statement that this International Standard (and pictogram) is intended to be used in combination with another product standard was added to the Scope.
— Additional definitions on waist to waist over the shoulder length, and torso.
— Notes on level of performance moved to informative Annex A.
— Clause 4 on ergonomics changed to basic health and ergonomic requirements and revised into separate sub-sections: general (4.1), innocuousness (4.2), design (4.3) and comfort (4.4).
— Informative Annex C added on ergonomic features.
— Subclause 5.2 on colour fastness removed.
— Subclause 5.3 on cleaning renamed as washing and dry-cleaning (5.2) now includes reference to standardised processes, including industrial washing.
— Strengthened provisions in 5.3 on dimensional change due to cleaning.
— The size designation system in Clause 6 was simplified with regard to intervals and ranges to allow more freedom to obtain a better individual fit.
— Subclause 7.2 on specific marking amended to include qualification labelling for industrial laundry care.
— Informative Annex B (Flow chart) added on acceptability of materials.
— Informative Annex F added on environmental aspects.

BS EN ISO 13688:2013

Protective clothing. General requirements

Current

Published:

31 Jul 2013