EN342 standard: protective clothing against the cold
The EN342 standard lists the functional requirements for clothing offering protection against the cold. This PPE protects the worker from temperatures below -5°C, down to -40°C. This standard therefore specifies the characteristics of protective clothing against the influence of bad weather, wind and cold. These are three essential characteristics. It should be noted that the standard does not include any specific obligation for the protection of the head, hands and feet. The wearing of additional protections is therefore indicated for these parts, i.e. in addition to the thermal underwear put on the body so that the standard is applicable.
Protective clothing against the cold: jacket, underwear, etc
Two types of clothing correspond to the certification of professional clothing regulated against the cold:
- The article of clothing covering part of the body: parka, jacket or coat
- The clothing set covering the entire body: jumpsuit or overalls with suspenders.
Clothing resistant to cold environments down to -5°C also includes clothing for outdoor use as well as that used in the construction and food industry.
The standard against the cold: EN 342, class 1, 2 and 3
The ice crystal symbolizes the EN342 standard. Next to it are indicated three values that represent thermal resistance Clo, air permeability X and, optionally, water vapor resistance Y. This specific pictogram also determines the other complementary standards of the EN342, such as the EN343 standard and the EN 14058 standard.
The thermal insulation value or RTC is measured on all the layers of fabric and provides insulation. Following a test carried out on a static dummy, the PPE benefits from EN342 certification if and only if the RTC value is greater than 0.25, i.e. a high insulation class.
>Air permeability corresponds to the flow of air that passes through the complex, i.e. the assembly of the different layers that make up the garment under an air pressure of 100 Pa. It consists of 3 classes ranging from 1 to 3, 3 being the most efficient.
The evaporative resistance evaluates the permeability of the garment to water vapor. It is more concretely about its ability to evacuate perspiration. The more effective its resistance to water vapour, the more breathable the material.
A model must meet the conditions set by the EN340 standard in order to meet the requirements set by the EN342 standard. This does not include any specific model requirements. However, the model must go through a test. In addition, clothing for protection against the cold compliant with the EN342 standard must not have any openings likely to to let the cold pass.