ASTM F739-12

Standard Test Method for Permeation of Liquids and Gases through Protective Clothing Materials under Conditions of Continuous Contact

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method is normally used to evaluate flat specimens from finished items of protective clothing and from materials that are candidates for items of protective clothing.  
5.1.1 Finished items of protective clothing include gloves, arm shields, aprons, suits, hats, boots, respirators, and the like.  
5.1.2 The phrase “specimens from finished items” encompasses seamed or other discontinuous regions as well as the usual continuous regions of protective clothing items.  
5.2 The breakthrough detection time, standardized breakthrough time, permeation rate, and cumulative permeation are key measures of the effectiveness of a clothing material as a barrier to the test chemical. Such information is used in the comparison of clothing materials during the process of selecting clothing for protection from hazardous chemicals. Long breakthrough detection times, long standardized breakthrough detection times, low amounts of cumulative permeation, and low permeation rates are characteristics of better barriers.Note 1—At present, only limited quantitative information exists about acceptable levels of dermal contact with most chemicals. Therefore, the data obtained using this test method cannot be used to infer safe exposure levels.  
5.2.1 The reporting of a standardized breakthrough time greater than a specific time period means that the test chemical has not permeated the specimen at a rate exceeding 0.1 μg/cm2/min in the designated time. Permeation may or may not have occurred at a lower rate during this time interval.  
5.3 The sensitivity of the test method in detecting low permeation rates or amounts of the test chemical that permeate is determined by the combination of the analytical technique and collection system selected, and the ratio of material specimen area to collection medium volume or flow rate.  
5.3.1 The analytical technique employed should be capable of measuring the concentration of the test chemical in the collection medium at, or below, le...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method measures the permeation of liquids and gases through protective clothing materials under the condition of continuous contact.  
1.2 This test method is designed for use when the test chemical is a gas or a liquid, where the liquid is either volatile (that is, having a vapor pressure greater than 1 mm Hg at 25°C) or soluble in water or another liquid that does not interact with the clothing material.  
1.3 Values states in SI units are to be regarded as standard. Values given in parentheses are not exact equivalents and are given for information only.  
1.4 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 precautionary statements are given in Section 7.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Aug-2012
• ICS: 13.340.10 - Protective clothing
• Technical Committee: F23 - Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment
• Drafting Committee: F23.30 - Chemicals

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F739-07 - Standard Test Method for Permeation of Liquids and Gases through Protective Clothing Materials under Conditions of Continuous Contact
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2012
• Referred By: ASTM E1549/E1549M-13(2022) - Standard Specification for ESD Controlled Garments Required in Cleanrooms and Controlled Environments for Spacecraft for Non-Hazardous and Hazardous Operations
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2012
• Referred By: ASTM F1383-20 - Standard Test Method for Permeation of Liquids and Gases Through Protective Clothing Materials Under Conditions of Intermittent Contact
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2012
• Referred By: ASTM F1494-23 - Standard Terminology Relating to Protective Clothing
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2012
• Referred By: ASTM D5886-95(2023) - Standard Guide for Selection of Test Methods to Determine Rate of Fluid Permeation Through Geomembranes for Specific Applications
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2012
• Referred By: ASTM E2312-11(2019) - Standard Practice for Tests of Cleanroom Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2012
• Referred By: ASTM F1359/F1359M-22 - Standard Test Method for Liquid Penetration Resistance of Protective Clothing or Protective Ensembles Under a Shower Spray While on a Manikin
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2012
• Referred By: ASTM F1194-18 - Standard Guide for Documenting the Results of Chemical Permeation Testing of Materials Used in Protective Clothing
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2012
• Referred By: ASTM F3267-22 - Standard Specification for Protective Clothing for Use Against Liquid Chemotherapy and Other Liquid Hazardous Drugs
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2012
• Referred By: ASTM F2704-17a - Standard Specification for Air-Fed Protective Ensembles
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2012
• Referred By: ASTM F903-18 - Standard Test Method for Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing to Penetration by Liquids
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2012
• Referred By: ASTM F1407-12(2017) - Standard Test Method for Resistance of Chemical Protective Clothing Materials to Liquid Permeation—Permeation Cup Method
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2012
• Referred By: ASTM F2669-12(2018) - Standard Performance Specification for Protective Clothing Worn by Operators Applying Pesticides (Withdrawn 2023)
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2012
• Referred By: ASTM F1461-17 - Standard Practice for Chemical Protective Clothing Program
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2012
• Referred By: ASTM F1001-12(2017) - Standard Guide for Selection of Chemicals to Evaluate Protective Clothing Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2012

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: F739 − 12
StandardTest Method for
Permeation of Liquids and Gases through Protective
1
Clothing Materials under Conditions of Continuous Contact
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationF739;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
Workersinvolvedintheproduction,use,andtransportationofliquidandgaseouschemicalscanbe
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
chronicdegenerativediseasesuchascancer.Sinceengineeringcontrolsmaynoteliminateallpossible
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.
Thistestmethodisusedtomeasurethepermeationofliquidsandgasesthroughprotectiveclothing
materials under the conditions of continuous contact of the clothing material by the test chemical.
Resistance to permeation under the condition of intermittent contact with the test chemical should be
determined by Test Method F1383. In certain situations, the permeation of liquids through protective
clothingmaterialscanbemeasuredusingapermeationcupfollowingTestMethodF1407.Penetration
of liquids should be determined by Test Method F903. An undesirable change in the physical
properties of protective clothing materials is called degradation. Procedures for measuring the
degradation of rubbers, plastics, and coated fabrics are found in Test Method D471, Test Method
D543, and Test Method D751, respectively.Astarting point for selecting the chemicals to be used in
assessing the chemical resistance of clothing materials is Guide F1001.
1. Scope bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precau-
tionary statements are given in Section 7.
1.1 Thistestmethodmeasuresthepermeationofliquidsand
gasesthroughprotectiveclothingmaterialsunderthecondition
2. Referenced Documents
of continuous contact.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2 This test method is designed for use when the test
D471Test Method for Rubber Property—Effect of Liquids
chemical is a gas or a liquid, where the liquid is either volatile
D543Practices for Evaluating the Resistance of Plastics to
(thatis,havingavaporpressuregreaterthan1mmHgat25°C)
Chemical Reagents
or soluble in water or another liquid that does not interact with
D751Test Methods for Coated Fabrics
the clothing material.
D1777Test Method for Thickness of Textile Materials
1.3 Values states in SI units are to be regarded as standard. E105Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials
Values given in parentheses are not exact equivalents and are
E171Practice for Conditioning and Testing Flexible Barrier
given for information only.
Packaging
E177Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
ASTM Test Methods
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
E691Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
F903Test Method for Resistance of Materials Used in
Protective Clothing to Penetration by Liquids
1
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeF23onPersonal
ProtectiveClothingandEquipmentandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommittee
2
F23.30 on Chemicals. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2012. Published October 2012. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1981. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as F739–07. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/F0739-12. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F739 − 12
FIG. 1 ASTM Permeation Test Cell
F1001Guide for Selection of Chemicals to Evaluate Protec- 3.1.2 breakthroughdetectiontime,n—theelapsedtimemea-
tive Clothing Materials sured from the initial exposure to the test chemical to the
F1194Guide for Documenting the Results of Chemical sampling time that immediately precedes the sampling time at
PermeationTestingofMaterialsUsedinProtectiveCloth- which the test chemical is first detected.
ing
3.1.2.1 Discussion—(See Fig. 6.) The breakthrough detec-
F1383Test Method for Permeation of Liquids and Gases ti
...

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: F739 − 07 F739 − 12
Standard Test Method for
Permeation of Liquids and Gases through Protective
1
Clothing Materials under Conditions of Continuous Contact
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F739; 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 and gaseous 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 is used to measure the permeation of liquids and gases through protective clothing
materials under the conditions of continuous contact of the clothing material by the challengetest
chemical. Resistance to permeation under the condition of intermittent contact with the challengetest
chemical should be determined by Test Method F1383. In certain situations, the permeation of liquids
through protective clothing materials can be measured using a permeation cup following Test Method
F1407. Penetration of liquids should be determined by Test Method F903. An undesirable change in
the physical properties of protective clothing materials is called degradation. Procedures for measuring
the degradation of rubbers, plastics, and coated fabrics are found in Test Method D471, Test Method
D543, and Test Method D751, respectively. A starting point for selecting the chemicals to be used in
assessing the chemical resistance of clothing materials is Guide F1001.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method measures the permeation of liquids and gases through protective clothing materials under the condition of
continuous contact.
1.2 This test method is designed for use when the challengetest chemical is a gas or a liquid, where the liquid is either volatile
(that is, having a vapor pressure greater than 1 mm Hg at 25°C) or soluble in water or another liquid that does not interact with
the clothing material.
1.3 Values states in SI units are to be regarded as standard. Values given in parentheses are not exact equivalents and are given
for information only.
1.4 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 precautionary statements are given in Section 7.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D471 Test Method for Rubber Property—Effect of Liquids
D543 Practices for Evaluating the Resistance of Plastics to Chemical Reagents
D751 Test Methods for Coated Fabrics
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 July 1, 2007Sept. 1, 2012. Published October 2007October 2012. Originally approved in 1981. Last previous edition approved in 19992007 as
F739 – 99a.F739 – 07. DOI: 10.1520/F0739-07.10.1520/F0739-12.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F739 − 12
FIG. 1 ASTM Permeation Test Cell
D1777 Test Method for Thickness of Textile Materials
E105 Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials
E171 Practice for Conditioning and Testing Flexible Barrier Packaging
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
F903 Test Method for Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing to Penetration b
...