EN ISO 6942 Protective Clothing - Protection against Heat and Fire - Evaluation of Materials and Material Groups when Exposure to a Radiant Heat Source

EUROLAB laboratory provides testing and compliance services within the scope of EN ISO 6942 standard. This draft revision of this European standard specifies two complementary methods (A and B) for determining the behavior of materials used for protective clothing exposed to radiant heat.

Protective clothing against radiant heat is worn in different situations, and accordingly, the radiation intensity (characterized by the heat flux density) acting on the clothing material is spread over a large area.

This European standard defines two test methods that can be applied to all kinds of materials, but the heat flux density must be chosen correctly according to the intended use of the material and the results must be interpreted correctly.

These tests are carried out on representative single or multi-layer textiles or other materials intended for the manufacture of heat-protective clothing. They can also be used for material groups that correspond to the overall composition of a protective clothing suit with or without underwear.

Method A serves to visually assess any change in the material after the action of heat radiation. With the B method, the protective effect of the materials is determined. Materials can be tested by both methods or only one of them.

Tests made according to these two methods serve to classify materials; however, additional criteria need to be considered before an explanation or prediction can be made as to the suitability of a material for protective clothing.

Protective clothing materials should be tested at medium and high heat flux densities. The reaction and times t12 and t24 in method A and the transfer factor measured in method B characterize the material.

Because the tests are performed at room temperature, the results may not necessarily correspond to the behavior of materials at higher ambient temperatures and are therefore only limitedly suitable for predicting the performance of protective clothing made from the materials tested.

EUROLAB assists manufacturers with EN ISO 6942 test compliance. Our test experts, with their professional working mission and principles, provide you, our manufacturers and suppliers, the best service and controlled testing process in our laboratories. Thanks to these services, businesses receive more effective, high-performance and quality testing services and provide safe, fast and uninterrupted service to their customers.