Overview
EN ISO 11612:2015 (ISO 11612:2015) defines minimum performance requirements for protective clothing to protect against heat and flame. It applies to garments made from flexible materials that protect the wearer's body (excluding the hands) against limited flame spread and exposure to radiant, convective, or contact heat and molten metal splashes. Items covering head and feet are included only as gaiters, hoods and overboots; requirements for visors and respiratory equipment are not provided.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Performance categories and code letters for heat hazards:
- Convective heat (Code B)
- Radiant heat (Code C)
- Molten aluminium splash (Code D)
- Molten iron splash (Code E)
- Contact heat (Code F)
- Limited flame spread testing in accordance with ISO 15025 (Procedure A = A1 and Procedure B = A2).
- Heat resistance: mandatory evaluation at (180 ± 5) °C and an optional requirement at (260 ± 5) °C.
- Physical and durability requirements: tensile, tear and seam strength, dimensional change, and burst strength for knits.
- Sampling, pre-treatment and ageing procedures to ensure results reflect real‑life performance (including mechanical and cleaning pre-treatments).
- Optional whole garment test using a thermal manikin (fire exposure) for end-to-end evaluation.
- Marking and manufacturer information requirements to support correct use and selection of PPE.
Applications
EN ISO 11612:2015 is used to specify and evaluate protective clothing where there is a need for limited flame spread and heat protection, for example:
- Welding, metalworking and fabrication
- Foundry operations and molten metal handling
- Petrochemical and process industries with localized heat risks
- Any workplace requiring PPE against radiant, convective or contact heat and molten metal splashes
Who uses this standard
- PPE manufacturers and designers (garment materials, seams, closures)
- Test laboratories and certification bodies performing ISO 15025 and other referenced tests
- Safety managers, procurement specialists and specifiers selecting protective clothing
- Employers conducting risk assessments to match garments to workplace heat/flame hazards
Related standards and conformity
- ISO 15025 (limited flame spread test) is referenced for flame performance.
- The standard supports conformity with EU PPE regulatory requirements (see Annex ZA - relationship to EU Directive 89/686/EEC as included in the EN version).
- Use alongside relevant national regulations and other PPE standards when specifying complete head, hand or respiratory protection.
Keywords: EN ISO 11612:2015, ISO 11612, protective clothing, heat and flame, limited flame spread, molten metal splash, PPE, convective heat, radiant heat, contact heat.