ISO 21942:2019

Overview

ISO 21942:2019 - Station uniform for firefighters - sets minimum performance and design requirements for agency‑issued station uniforms (station wear) intended to be worn under primary protective garments. It defines two protection levels:

• Level 1: materials must exhibit no melting / no dripping to avoid secondary burn hazards (provides no additional thermal protection).
• Level 2: minimum heat and flame performance to give basic protection and can be combined with other layers to contribute to primary protection.

The standard emphasizes comfort, ergonomics and minimizing hindrance and metabolic heat when worn under turnout or other primary protective garments.

Key topics and technical requirements

ISO 21942:2019 references established test methods and specifies performance areas rather than prescriptive designs. Key topics include:

• Protection levels: Level 1 (no melt/no drip) and Level 2 (minimum heat & flame requirements).
• Limited flame spread: Testing in accordance with ISO 15025 (Procedure A).
• Heat resistance: Required heat resistance testing (including a test at ~180 °C and an optional higher‑temperature test).
• Heat transmission: Convective and radiant heat transmission requirements (referencing methods such as ISO 9151, ISO 6942, ISO 17493).
• Physical performance: Tensile strength, tear strength, bursting strength, seam strength and optional abrasion resistance.
• Comfort & ergonomics: Thermal resistance and water‑vapour resistance (ISO 11092) to ensure wearer comfort during duties.
• Material acceptability: Innocuousness and colour fastness, sampling/pre‑treatment and conditioning procedures.
• Optional properties: Electrostatic resistance and other optional tests (e.g., EN 1149 series).
• Marking & manufacturer information: Requirements for labelling and supplied information to users.
• Risk assessment: Guidance to select appropriate level based on operational risk (informative Annex A).

Applications and who uses it

ISO 21942:2019 is used by:

• Fire and rescue services specifying agency station uniforms that will be worn under turnout gear.
• PPE and workwear manufacturers designing firefighter station wear to meet agency procurement requirements.
• Procurement officers, safety managers and standards committees who need to ensure compatibility between station wear and primary protective garments.
• Occupational safety professionals and test laboratories implementing referenced test methods.

Practical benefits include reduced secondary burn risk (no melt/drip), improved wearer comfort and a clear basis for combining station wear with primary protective layers to meet higher protection needs.

Related standards

• ISO 11612 (protection against heat and flame)
• ISO 13688 (general requirements for protective clothing)
• ISO 15025, ISO 9151, ISO 6942, ISO 11092 (test methods)
• ISO/TR 21808 (selection, use, care and maintenance guidance)
• ISO 11999‑3 (integration with turn‑out gear standards)

Keywords: ISO 21942, station uniform for firefighters, firefighter station wear, no melt no drip, Level 1, Level 2, heat and flame requirements, PPE, protective clothing.