ISO 13688:2013/Amd 1:2021 PDF

Overview

ISO 13688:2013/Amd 1:2021 is an important amendment to the international standard ISO 13688:2013, focusing on protective clothing – general requirements. Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), this amendment updates definitions, testing methods, and labeling requirements to ensure enhanced safety, comfort, and compliance for protective garments. Protective clothing adhering to ISO 13688 standards provides fundamental quality benchmarks applicable to various sectors where personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential.

This amendment clarifies measurement methods, updates references to related standards, and refines requirements covering materials, dimensional stability after cleaning, and labeling of protective clothing. It is widely referenced by manufacturers, regulators, and safety professionals to ensure protective clothing meets internationally recognized minimum safety and performance criteria.

Key Topics

• Updated Measurement Definitions The standard refines the method for measuring the "length from waist to waist passing over shoulder," specifying a vertical path via the middle of the shoulder line. This ensures consistent sizing and fit across manufacturers.

• Material Safety Limits

  • The permissible content of chromium VI in leather used for protective clothing is restricted to a maximum of 3 mg/kg, adhering to ISO 17075-1:2017 or ISO 17075-2:2017.
  • Nickel release from metal components (e.g., buttons, fasteners) must remain below 0.5 μg/cm² per week based on EN 1811:2011+A1:2015 to prevent skin sensitization.
  • The pH value of materials must range between 3.5 and 9.5, verified using methods from ISO 4045:2018 for leather and ISO 3071:2020 for textiles.
  • Use of certain carcinogenic azo dyes is prohibited as per ISO 14362-1:2017 and ISO 14362-3:2017 testing methods.

• Cleaning and Dimensional Stability The amendment specifies the use of updated standardized cleaning processes, including methods from ISO 6330, ISO 15797, and ISO 3175 (parts 1 to 6), to evaluate changes in clothes’ dimensions after washing and dry cleaning.

• Labeling and Marking Improvements

  • Labels must be placed visibly and legibly, with text no smaller than 2 mm and pictograms at least 10 mm tall.
  • The labeling must include relevant washing instructions per ISO 3758:2012 and ISO 30023:2010, along with pictograms that conform to specific product standard requirements or, when absent, manufacturer responsibility for hazard designation.
  • Additional symbols such as manufacturing date and expiry date are introduced to improve traceability and user information.

• Size and Dimension Reference Updates The amendment replaces references from ISO 3635 to ISO 8559-1:2017 and ISO 8559-2:2017 for anthropometric measurements and size designations, enhancing consistent sizing for protective clothing items such as jackets, pants, coveralls, and aprons.

Applications

ISO 13688:2013/Amd 1:2021 applies to manufacturers, testing laboratories, and regulatory bodies involved in the design, production, and certification of various types of protective clothing including but not limited to:

• Industrial workwear and uniforms
• Firefighting and emergency responder garments
• Chemical and biological protective suits
• High-visibility and thermal protective outfits
• Specialized apparel for hazardous environments

Implementing these updated general requirements ensures that protective clothing:

• Offers expected safety and protection levels under defined working conditions
• Maintains durability and dimensional stability after regular cleaning cycles
• Provides accurate size fit to enhance wearer comfort and mobility
• Minimizes health risks related to material composition and chemical exposure
• Features clear and standardized labeling for end-user information and compliance verification

Related Standards

ISO 13688:2013/Amd 1:2021 references and aligns with a range of complementary international standards, crucial for comprehensive PPE evaluation:

• ISO 17075-1 & 17075-2: Determination of chromium VI content in leather
• EN 1811: Testing methods for nickel release from metal parts in contact with skin
• ISO 3071:2020: pH determination in textiles
• ISO 3758:2012: Care labeling of textiles with symbols
• ISO 6330, ISO 3175 series: Professional textile care and cleaning procedures
• ISO 8559-1 & 8559-2: Anthropometric measurement methods for clothing sizes
• ISO 14362-1 & 14362-3: Detection of carcinogenic aromatic amines from azo dyes
• ISO 30023: Qualification symbols for industrially washed workwear
• ISO 7000: Graphical symbols applicable on equipment and labels

Adherence to ISO 13688 alongside these interconnected standards offers a robust framework supporting the design, production, assessment, and maintenance of protective clothing globally.

By integrating ISO 13688:2013/Amd 1:2021 amendments, stakeholders can ensure their protective clothing products meet up-to-date international safety and quality requirements, providing enhanced protection and reliability in various demanding occupational settings.