SIST EN ISO 18640-1:2018/A1:2020 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 18640-1:2018/A1:2019 is an amendment to ISO 18640-1:2018 titled "Protective clothing for firefighters - Physiological impact - Part 1: Measurement of coupled heat and moisture transfer with the sweating torso." Prepared by ISO/TC 94 and adopted by CEN, this Amendment A1 (approved July 2019) clarifies test procedural elements and changes the status of key annexes. It refines how heat and moisture transfer are measured using the sweating torso test apparatus for firefighter protective ensembles.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Measurement focus: Coupled heat and moisture transfer using the sweating torso test method to assess physiological impact of firefighter protective clothing.
• Annex status changes: Annex A (technical description of the sweating torso) and Annex B (calibration) have been changed from informative to normative, making their contents mandatory for test conformity.
• Mandatory technical description: Amendment requires that “A technical description shall be given in Annex A,” reinforcing that apparatus details are part of the required method.
• Calibration requirements: The amendment adds explicit statements that calibration requirements shall be given in Annex B, and an additional clause in clause 5.5.1 points readers to Annex B for calibration procedure requirements.
• Specific corrections and clarifications:
  • Terminology correction: references to “lower guard” in A.4 were replaced by “upper guard”; dimensions provided in the amendment include a measurement cylinder diameter of 30.0 ± 0.25 cm and guard length 26.7 ± 0.25 cm, with the upper guard shell made of aluminium to ensure uniform temperature.
  • Measurement setup correction: Figure 4 key corrected to read “M2 reference wind speed measurement at distance l/2 to the outlet of fan system.”
  • Text edits: consistent use of phrasing such as “according to Annex A/B” for normative cross-references.

Applications and users

This amendment-and the underlying Part 1 test-are used by:

• PPE manufacturers and designers to validate thermal-moisture performance of turnout gear and to support product development.
• Independent testing laboratories and certification bodies performing standardized sweating-torso tests.
• Procurement and specifiers (fire services, safety managers) who require objective physiological performance data for selection of protective clothing.
• Standards committees and researchers involved in firefighter thermo-physiological risk assessment and test method development.

Related standards and context

• Part of the ISO 18640 series addressing physiological impact of firefighting clothing and developed by ISO/TC 94 (Personal safety - Personal protective equipment) in cooperation with CEN/TC 162.
• EN adoption required national implementation (withdrawal of conflicting national standards) by April 2020.

Keywords: EN ISO 18640-1:2018/A1:2019, protective clothing for firefighters, sweating torso, heat and moisture transfer, physiological impact, calibration, Annex A normative, Annex B normative, test method.