ISO/TR 19591:2018

Overview

ISO/TR 19591:2018 - Personal protective equipment for firefighters: Standard terms and definitions - is a technical report published by ISO in 2018 that compiles standardized terminology used in the standardization of firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE). It provides a consolidated list of terms and definitions intended to ensure unambiguous use of language across standards, test methods, manufacturer information, procurement documents, and regulatory or operational guidance related to firefighters’ PPE.

Key topics

• Scope and purpose: Definitions commonly used by ISO/TC 94/SC 14 for firefighter PPE; intended as a reference when drafting or applying related standards.
• Structure: Clause 3 contains the authoritative list of terms and definitions; the document draws on existing ISO, EN, AS/NZS and NFPA terminology where relevant.
• Representative technical terms included:
  • Testing terminology: abrasion cycle / abrasion rub (Martindale tester: 16 rubs; 16 revolutions outer drives, 15 inner), afterflame, afterglow, afterflame time, afterglow time, breakthrough time.
  • Material and assembly terms: chemical protective clothing, chemical protective suit, chemical protection layer, anti-wicking barrier, assemblage.
  • Footwear and electrical properties: antistatic footwear (resistance >100 kΩ and ≤1 000 MΩ).
  • Sizing and fit: bust girth, chest girth, basic plane of the head/headform.
  • Operational concepts: approach firefighting, cleaning and ageing.
• Editorial and normative notes: No normative references; prepared under ISO/IEC Directives and Vienna Agreement guidance for harmonization.

Applications and users

ISO/TR 19591:2018 is primarily a terminology reference for:

• Standards developers drafting firefighter PPE standards and test methods.
• Manufacturers and designers of firefighter clothing, helmets, boots, gloves and chemical suits to align product documentation and labeling.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies applying standardized test methods and reporting results.
• Procurement officers, safety managers and fire service technical staff specifying PPE performance and interpreting standards.
• Regulators and policy makers seeking consistent vocabulary across national and international regulations.

Related standards

• ISO/TR 11610 (terminology cross-references)
• ISO 12947 (Martindale abrasion testing)
• ISO 15025 (flammability/afterflame definitions)
• ISO 20344 / ISO 20345 (footwear and testing)
• ISO 11999-1, EN 469, AS/NZS 2512.1, and relevant NFPA terms where used by ISO/TC 94/SC 14

Using ISO/TR 19591:2018 helps ensure consistent, unambiguous terminology across firefighter PPE standards, technical specifications, and product information - improving communication, conformity assessment, and safety outcomes.