ASTM F903-17
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing to Penetration by Liquids
Standard Test Method for Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing to Penetration by Liquids
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method is normally used to evaluate the barrier effectiveness against penetration of liquids through materials, seams, closures, or other planar assemblies used in protective clothing and specimens from finished items of protective clothing.
5.1.1 Finished items of protective clothing include gloves, arm protectors, aprons, coveralls, suits, hoods, boots, and similar items.
5.1.2 The phrase “specimens from finished items” is permitted to include continuous regions of protective clothing items as well as seamed or other discontinuous regions of protective clothing.
5.1.3 The types of specimens are limited to those that are relatively flat (planar) that are capable of being sealed in the test cell specified in this test method without peripheral leakage.
5.2 A substitute challenge liquid (for example, water or isopropanol) is appropriate in some cases to generalize material penetration resistance to liquids. However, it is possible that differences in chemical and molecular properties (for example, surface tension) may lead to different results.
5.3 In addition to the failure mode where a liquid finds a pathway for penetration through a void, imperfection, or defect in material or clothing subassembly, some selected chemicals cause degradation of barrier material, film or coating leading to penetration over extended periods of contact.7
5.4 Five different procedures for how the specimen is exposed to the liquid are provided in Table 1. In this test method, all procedures involve liquid exposure that is continuous over the duration of the test. These procedures entail different hydrostatic pressures and durations of liquid exposure.
5.4.1 Procedures A, B, and C apply a set pressure (6.9 or 13.8 kPa [1 or 2 psig]) for a specified period of time (1 or 10 min) over a 15- or 60-min liquid exposure time.
5.4.2 Procedures A and B represent the originally established methods of liquid contact developed by the National Institute for Occupa...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is used to test specimens of protective clothing materials, assemblies such as seams and closures, or interfaces used in the construction of protective clothing. The resistance to visible penetration of the test liquid is determined with the liquid in continuous contact with the normally outside (exterior) surface of the test specimen.
1.2 This test method includes different procedures for maintaining the liquid in contact with the test specimen in terms of the length of exposure and the pressure applied. Suggestions are provided for how to select an appropriate procedure for liquid contact.
1.3 In some cases, significant amounts of hazardous materials will permeate specimens that pass the penetration tests. For more sensitive analyses use either Test Method F739 or F1383 to determine permeation.
1.4 This test method does not address penetration of vapors through protective clothing materials.
1.5 This test method is not applicable to non-planar protective clothing materials, interfaces, or assemblies such as the finger tips or crotch areas of gloves, which are possible failure points.
1.6 This test method does not address the liquid penetration resistance of full protective clothing items or ensembles. Use Test Method F1359 for this purpose.
1.7 The values as stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values in parentheses are for information only.
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazards are given in Section 7.
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Designation: F903 − 17
Standard Test Method for
Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing to
1
Penetration by Liquids
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationF903;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
Workers involved in the production, use, and transportation of liquid chemicals can be exposed to
numerous compounds capable of causing harm upon contact with the human body. The deleterious
effects of these chemicals can range from acute trauma such as skin irritation and burn to chronic
degenerative disease, such as cancer. Since engineering controls may not eliminate all possible
exposures, attention is often placed on reducing the potential for direct skin contact through the use
of protective clothing that resists permeation, penetration, and degradation.
This test method determines resistance of protective clothing materials, seams, and closures to
liquidpenetrationonly.ResistanceofprotectiveclothingmaterialstopermeationisdeterminedbyTest
Method F739 or F1383. While degradation resistance is not directly determined by this test method,
the degradation of a material can be a contributing factor to the observed penetration of a liquid.
Test Method F1359 assesses the liquid penetration of full protective clothing items or ensembles of
clothing and equipment.
1. Scope 1.5 This test method is not applicable to non-planar protec-
tive clothing materials, interfaces, or assemblies such as the
1.1 This test method is used to test specimens of protective
finger tips or crotch areas of gloves, which are possible failure
clothing materials, assemblies such as seams and closures, or
points.
interfaces used in the construction of protective clothing. The
1.6 This test method does not address the liquid penetration
resistance to visible penetration of the test liquid is determined
resistance of full protective clothing items or ensembles. Use
with the liquid in continuous contact with the normally outside
Test Method F1359 for this purpose.
(exterior) surface of the test specimen.
1.7 The values as stated in inch-pound units are to be
1.2 This test method includes different procedures for main-
regarded as the standard. The values in parentheses are for
taining the liquid in contact with the test specimen in terms of
information only.
the length of exposure and the pressure applied. Suggestions
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
are provided for how to select an appropriate procedure for
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
liquid contact.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
1.3 In some cases, significant amounts of hazardous mate- priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bilityofregulatorylimitationspriortouse.Specifichazardsare
rials will permeate specimens that pass the penetration tests.
given in Section 7.
For more sensitive analyses use either Test Method F739 or
F1383 to determine permeation.
2. Referenced Documents
1.4 This test method does not address penetration of vapors 2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
through protective clothing materials.
D1777 Test Method for Thickness of Textile Materials
D3776 Test Methods for Mass Per Unit Area (Weight) of
Fabric
1
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeF23onPersonal
Protective Clothing and Equipment and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
2
F23.30 on Chemicals. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2017. Published March 2017. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as F903 – 10. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/F0903-17. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F903 − 17
E105 Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials chemical into the contact surface of the material, (2) diffusion
F104 Classification System for Nonmetallic Gasket Materi- of the absorbed molecules throughout the material, and (3)
als
desorption of the chemical from the opposite surface of the
F739 Test Method for Permeation of Liquids and Gases material.
throughProtectiveClothingMaterialsunderConditionsof
3.1.3.1 Discussion—Permeation is a distinctly different
Continuous Contact
mechanism from penetration and does not require a void in the
F1359 Test Method for Liquid Penetration Resistance
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F903 − 10 F903 − 17
Standard Test Method for
Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing to
1
Penetration by Liquids
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F903; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
Workers involved in the production, use, and transportation of liquid chemicals can be exposed to
numerous compounds capable of causing harm upon contact with the human body. The deleterious
effects of these chemicals can range from acute trauma such as skin irritation and burn to chronic
degenerative disease, such as cancer. Since engineering controls may not eliminate all possible
exposures, attention is often placed on reducing the potential for direct skin contact through the use
of protective clothing that resists permeation, penetration, and degradation.
This test method determines resistance to of protective clothing materials, seams, and closures to
liquid penetration only. Resistance to permeation and of protective clothing materials to permeation
is determined by Test Method F739 or F1383degradation should be determined by other test methods.
While degradation resistance is not directly determined by this test method, the degradation of a
material can be a contributing factor to the observed penetration of a liquid.
Test Method F1359 assesses the liquid penetration of full protective clothing items or ensembles of
clothing and equipment.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method is used to test specimens of protective clothing and candidate materials and constructions to be used in
materials, assemblies such as seams and closures, or interfaces used in the construction of protective clothing. The resistance to
visible penetration of the test liquid is determined with the liquid in continuous contact with the normally outside (exterior) surface
of the test specimen.
1.2 This test method includes different procedures for maintaining the liquid in contact with the test specimen in terms of the
length of exposure and the pressure applied. Suggestions are provided for how to select an appropriate procedure for liquid contact.
1.3 In some cases, significant amounts of hazardous materials will permeate specimens that pass the penetration tests. For more
sensitive analysisanalyses use either Test Method F739 or F1383 to determine permeation.
1.4 This test method does not address penetration of vapors through protective clothing materials.
1.5 This test method is not applicable to non-planar protective clothing materials, interfaces, or assemblies such as the finger
tips or crotch areas of gloves, which are possible failure points.
1.6 This test method does not address the liquid penetration resistance of full protective clothing items or ensembles. Use Test
Method F1359 for this purpose.
1.7 The values as stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values in parentheses are for information
only.
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. Specific hazards are given in Section 7.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F23 on Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
F23.30 on Chemicals.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2010Feb. 1, 2017. Published February 2010March 2017. Originally approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 20042010 as
F903 - 03F903 – 10.(2004). DOI: 10.1520/F0903-10.10.1520/F0903-17.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F903 − 17
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1777 Test Method for Thickness of Textile Materials
D3776 Test Methods for Mass Per Unit Area (Weight) of Fabric
E105 Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials
F104 Classification System for Nonmetallic Gasket Materials
F739 Test Method for Permeation of Liquids and Gases through Protective Clothing Materials under Conditions of Continuous
Contact
F1359 Test Method for Liquid Penetration Resistance of Protective Cl
...
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