ISO 11610:2023

Overview

ISO 11610:2023 - Protective clothing - Vocabulary is an international standard that establishes a harmonized set of terms and definitions used in the standardization of protective clothing and body-worn protective equipment (including protective gloves and lifejackets). Published as the first edition in 2023, it replaces ISO/TR 11610:2004 and is designed as a reference vocabulary to ensure unambiguous terminology across PPE standards and technical work by ISO/TC 94/SC 13 and CEN/TC 162.

Key topics

• Comprehensive vocabulary covering textiles, clothing, ergonomics, components, materials, design, test methods and ageing.
• Hazard‑specific terminology for protection against heat and flame, chemical hazards, foul weather/cold, mechanical risks, infective agents, diving, visibility, electrostatic and electrical arc hazards.
• Structured clause layout: clauses are organized by domain (e.g., Clause 4: textile and clothing; Clause 6: heat and flame) with subclauses X.1–X.5 (general terms, product types, components, risks, test methods) to promote consistency.
• Multilingual support: official ISO texts in English and French, with German text provided for information by DIN (only English/French are ISO authoritative).
• Index and annexes: Annex A provides an index of term numbers with French and German translations; a bibliography and index are also included.
• Governance and copyright: prepared under ISO/TC 94 in collaboration with CEN/TC 162; copyright and use governed by ISO procedures.

Applications

ISO 11610:2023 is a practical tool for anyone involved in PPE standardization, specification, testing or procurement:

• Standards developers and working groups (ISO/TC 94/SC 13, CEN/TC 162) use it as the authoritative reference to avoid inconsistent redefinitions when drafting new standards or revising existing ones.
• Manufacturers and product designers apply consistent terminology in technical specifications, design documentation and conformity files.
• Test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies align test reports and methods with standardized definitions for clarity and comparability.
• Safety managers, specifiers and procurement teams ensure procurement documents and safety policies use unambiguous vocabulary.
• Regulators and certification bodies reference standardized terms when interpreting or enforcing PPE requirements.

Related standards

• Replaces ISO/TR 11610:2004 (technical report) as the authoritative vocabulary document for protective clothing.
• Intended to be used alongside domain standards developed by ISO/TC 94/SC 13 and CEN/TC 162 and in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives for harmonized standardization.

Keywords: ISO 11610, protective clothing vocabulary, PPE standards, protective equipment terminology, ISO/TC 94, CEN/TC 162, SUCAM, protective gloves, lifejackets.