ISO 15384:2018

Overview

ISO 15384:2018 - Protective clothing for firefighters: Laboratory test methods and performance requirements for wildland firefighting clothing - defines minimum performance criteria and laboratory tests for body-worn garments used in wildland firefighting. It covers garment design, material performance levels and test methods for protective clothing (excluding head, hands and feet). This standard is specifically for extended-duration, light‑weight wildland firefighting PPE and is not intended for entrapment, structural firefighting, high infrared environments, or chemical/biological/electrical/radiation hazards.

Key topics and technical requirements

The standard sets out practical, testable requirements and references established test methods. Major technical topics include:

• Clothing design: general construction, collars, sleeves, trousers, pockets, hardware and coveralls.
• Sampling and pre-treatment: specimen selection, cleaning, conditioning and ageing procedures before testing.
• Thermal performance:
  • Flamespread (face and edge ignition tests) - limits on limited flame spread.
  • Heat transfer (radiation) - evaluation against radiant heat exposure.
  • Heat resistance - including resistance of sewing thread and of retroreflective/fluorescent materials.
• Mechanical performance:
  • Tensile strength, tear strength and main seam strength to assess garment durability.
• Ergonomics and comfort:
  • Thermal resistance and water-vapour resistance (breathability) to reduce heat stress during long operations.
• General performance:
  • Dimensional change after cleaning, retroreflective/fluorescent performance and a summary table of performance requirements.
• Marking, labelling and manufacturer information: durability and legibility requirements, compliance marking and user information.

Referenced test standards include ISO 15025 (flame spread), ISO 6942 (radiant heat), ISO 11092 (thermal/water‑vapour resistance), ISO 20471 (high‑visibility materials) and others.

Applications and who uses it

ISO 15384:2018 is used by:

• PPE manufacturers and designers to develop and verify wildland firefighting garments.
• Testing laboratories to perform standardized laboratory evaluations.
• Procurement officers and fleet managers in fire services and land-management agencies to specify compliant clothing.
• Safety officers and risk assessors who perform ISO/TR 21808-style risk assessments to determine appropriate PPE.
• Certification bodies and standards committees for conformity assessment and product labelling.

Practical applications include product development, specification of purchase contracts, conformity testing and training materials that clarify clothing limitations (e.g., not suitable for structural or entrapment scenarios).

Related standards

• ISO 16073 (PPE for head/hands/feet for wildland firefighting)
• ISO 11999-3 / EN 469 (structural firefighting)
• ISO 15538 / EN 1486 (reflective outer surfaces)
• ISO 18639 (rescue clothing)
• ISO/TR 21808 (risk assessment guidance)

Using ISO 15384:2018 helps ensure wildland firefighting clothing meets balanced criteria for thermal protection, durability, and comfort, reducing burn risk while minimizing heat stress during extended operations.