ISO 11611:2024

Overview - ISO 11611:2024 (Protective clothing for use in welding and allied processes)

ISO 11611:2024 specifies minimum safety requirements and test methods for protective clothing (hoods, aprons, sleeves, gaiters and full-body garments) intended for use during welding and allied manual processes. The standard covers protection against common welding hazards such as spatter (molten-metal splash), short contact flame, radiant heat from electric arcs, and harmful artificial optical radiation (UV‑A, UV‑B, UV‑C). It applies to hoods and gaiters for limited head/foot protection, but does not replace standards for dedicated eye, face, hand, or footwear protectors. Laser welding processes are excluded.

Key technical topics and requirements

• Hazard types addressed: spatter (two risk levels), short-term flame contact, radiant/thermal exposure from arcs, and UV radiation in three protection levels.
• Classification: garments are classified (e.g., Class 1 / Class 2) and assigned UV‑protection period classes for representative welding process groups (see Annex B).
• Performance tests and methods:
  • Mechanical tests: tensile strength, tear, burst, seam strength and dimensional stability.
  • Flammability: limited flame spread testing (ISO 15025 procedures A and B referenced).
  • Spatter resistance and heat-transfer (radiation) performance.
  • UV transmission and protective effect test procedures (normative Annexes C–F); methods to calculate effectively transmitted irradiance and maximum safe use times (Annex D).
  • Electrical resistance checks to minimize short-term accidental shock risk at voltages up to approximately 100 V d.c. under normal welding conditions.
• Design & user information: size/fit, closures, pockets, seams, hardware, sampling, pre‑treatment/ageing and manufacturer marking and instructions are specified to ensure consistent protection and care.

Practical applications - who uses ISO 11611:2024

• PPE manufacturers and textile engineers designing welding garments and accessories (hoods, aprons, gaiters).
• Safety managers and procurement teams selecting compliant welding clothing for workshops, shipyards, fabrication and maintenance operations.
• Occupational health professionals assessing risk and specifying PPE ensembles (noting eye, hand and foot protection are additional requirements).
• Test laboratories and conformity assessors implementing the standard’s test methods and classification procedures.

Related standards and guidance

• ISO 15025 (limited flame spread test procedures) - referenced for flame testing.
• ISO/TR 2801 - guidance on selection, use, care and maintenance of protective clothing against heat and flame.
• Annexes in ISO 11611:2024 provide detailed test procedures, spectral data, classification tables and instructions for calculating safe exposure times.

ISO 11611:2024 is essential for ensuring consistent, tested protection of workers exposed to welding hazards and for clear communication between manufacturers, purchasers and safety professionals.