EN ISO 6942:2022 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 6942:2022 - Protective clothing - Protection against heat and fire - Method of test: Evaluation of materials and material assemblies when exposed to a source of radiant heat (ISO 6942:2022) defines standardized laboratory methods for assessing how textile materials and multi‑layer assemblies used in heat‑protective clothing respond to radiant heat. Adopted by CEN as EN ISO 6942:2022, this fourth‑edition standard supersedes the 2002 version and provides two complementary test procedures to classify materials intended for protective clothing.

Key topics and requirements

• Two complementary test methods
  • Method A: Visual assessment to record changes (discoloration, melting, shrinkage, damage) after exposure to a defined radiant heat source.
  • Method B: Quantitative evaluation of the protective effect - measures transmitted heat through a specimen to derive times and transmission factors that characterise thermal performance.
• Scope of materials
  • Single or multi‑layer textiles, coatings and other materials intended for heat protective clothing, including complete assemblies with or without underclothing.
• Apparatus and calibration
  • Requirements for a radiant heat source, specimen holder, calorimeter, temperature recorder and controlled test location.
  • Calibration of the radiant source and verification of heat flux density are mandatory.
• Test conditions & sampling
  • Specimen conditioning (temperature and relative humidity ranges) and testing atmosphere are specified; heat flux density must be chosen relevant to intended end‑use.
• Evaluation & reporting
  • Method A = visual scoring; Method B = numerical outputs (times, transmission factors) used for material classification.
  • Test report requirements and precision information (Annex A covers precision of Method B).
• Limitations
  • Tests are carried out at room temperature and do not necessarily predict behaviour at elevated ambient temperatures; additional criteria and assessments are required to judge suitability for specific protective clothing applications.

Applications and who uses it

• PPE manufacturers - material selection and product development for fire fighter, industrial, and process‑industry garments.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies - standardized procedures for classification, comparative testing and compliance documentation.
• Safety engineers and specifiers - evidence‑based material evaluation for procurement and risk assessment.
• Standards committees and regulators - harmonized testing within Europe and internationally (CEN/ISO).

Related standards

• Normative reference: ISO/TR 11610 (Protective clothing - Vocabulary).
• Used alongside other heat/fire PPE standards (e.g., garment-level tests and full ensemble assessments) when determining overall protective performance.

EN ISO 6942:2022 is essential for anyone evaluating materials for radiant‑heat protection, providing repeatable radiant heat testing, clear classification outputs and a foundation for safer protective clothing design.