ISO 27065:2017

Overview

ISO 27065:2017 specifies minimum performance, classification and marking requirements for protective clothing worn by operators applying liquid pesticides and for re‑entry workers. It covers garments and partial‑body items (shirts, jackets, trousers, coveralls, aprons, sleeves, caps/hoods and accessories used under knapsack/backpack sprayers) intended to protect against aqueous pesticide formulations (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.). The standard excludes respiratory, hand and foot PPE and does not address fumigants or biocidal products.

Key topics and technical requirements

ISO 27065 defines practical test methods and performance criteria for protective clothing materials and finished garments, including:

• Classification into Levels C1, C2 and C3 - graded protection from low (C1) to high (C3) risk scenarios; C3 can be suitable for concentrated formulations.
• Material performance tests:
  • Resistance to penetration (pipette test and garment spray tests)
  • Repellency to liquid pesticide formulations
  • Permeation (cumulative permeation mass; provisions for testing with diluted formulations and concentrates)
  • Mechanical strength tests: tensile, tear and puncture resistance
• Seam performance: seam penetration, permeation and seam tensile strength
• Ergonomic / practical performance tests: wearer exercises and low/high spray exposure tests to assess real‑world performance and comfort
• Pre‑treatment and conditioning procedures for test specimens (cleaning and conditioning)
• Marking and manufacturer information requirements to ensure traceability and correct selection/use
• Informative annexes on test exercises, level‑specific testing, test chemical selection, optional water‑vapour resistance, pictograms and PPE risk assessment guidance

Applications and who uses it

ISO 27065 is intended for:

• Protective clothing and textile manufacturers designing pesticide PPE
• Pesticide product manufacturers carrying out risk assessments and compatibility testing
• Regulatory bodies and procurement teams specifying minimum PPE performance for agricultural, landscaping, roadside and green‑space operations
• Trainers, safety officers and farm managers selecting appropriate PPE for operators and re‑entry workers
• Laboratories performing standardized penetration, permeation and spray tests

Using ISO 27065 helps organizations improve operator safety, ensure consistent product performance, and make informed PPE selection based on documented exposure risks.

Related standards

• ISO 13688 - Protective clothing - General requirements
• ISO 22608 - Protection against liquid chemicals - repellency/penetration tests for pesticide formulations
• ISO 17491‑4, ISO 19918 and other textile/mechanical test standards referenced by ISO 27065

Keywords: ISO 27065, protective clothing, pesticide PPE, permeation, penetration test, repellency, C1 C2 C3, operator safety, re‑entry workers.