ISO 16073-2:2019

Wildland firefighting personal protective equipment - Requirements and test methods - Part 2: Compatibility

This document specifies the minimum performance requirements and test methods for assessing compatibility of wildland firefighters' personal protective equipment (PPE). This document does not cover PPE for structural firefighting (see ISO 11999 series), for use against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards, or for use where a reflective outer surface is required (see ISO 15538). Activities in support of wildland firefighting, such as the cutting of trees and the use of a chainsaw can require additional compatibility testing to that provided in this document. Users are directed to those relevant standards for the requirements associated with such protection.

Équipement de protection individuelle pour la lutte contre les feux d'espaces naturels — Exigences et méthodes d'essai — Partie 2: Compatibilité

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Nov-2019
• ICS: 13.220.10 - Fire-fighting
• ICS: 13.340.10 - Protective clothing
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 94/SC 14 - Firefighters' personal equipment
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 94/SC 14/WG 3 - Wildland firefighting
• Current Stage: 9060 - Close of review
• Completion Date: 04-Jun-2030

Relations

• Revises: ISO 16073:2011 - Wildland firefighting personal protective equipment - Requirements and test methods
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2017

Overview

ISO 16073-2:2019 defines minimum performance requirements and test methods for assessing compatibility of wildland firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE). It ensures that items worn together as an ensemble - clothing, helmets, gloves, footwear, face/eye protection, hearing protection and firehoods - fit and function without impairing protection or mobility during extended wildland firefighting operations. The standard excludes structural firefighting PPE, CBRN protection and garments requiring reflective outer surfaces.

Key topics and requirements

• Compatibility definition: Addresses interference between different PPE items that could reduce protection or restrict use.
• Performance baseline: Compatible items must meet the relevant requirements of ISO/TS 11999-2 (practical performance/compatibility tests).
• Fit and function testing: Practical performance tests (as referenced from ISO/TS 11999-2) that demonstrate fit, interface and functional interaction of PPE components.
• Test subjects:
  • Minimum of three trained test subjects (at least one male and one female) for basic testing.
  • For statistical testing a minimum of six subjects; to evaluate gender aspects, 12 subjects (6 male, 6 female) are recommended.
  • PPE must be appropriate size and correctly fitted for each subject.
• Test conditions: Tests must reflect realistic use environments; at least one test in dry ambient conditions is required.
• Reporting: Test reports shall document ensembles tested and note any points of incompatibility.
• User guidance: Emphasizes manufacturer marking and instructions (see ISO 16073-1) and the need for firefighter training and risk assessment.

Practical applications

• Manufacturers: validate that helmets, firehoods, clothing, gloves, footwear, eye/face and hearing protection work together without degrading safety or mobility.
• Procurement/specifiers: use compatibility data to select PPE ensembles suitable for wildland operations.
• Testing labs and conformity assessors: perform required practical fit and function tests and prepare formal reports.
• Fire services and trainers: understand limitations of equipment ensembles, conduct risk assessments, and train users in selection, care and maintenance.

Related standards

• ISO 16073-1 - General requirements, marking and instructions
• ISO/TS 11999-2 - Test methods/requirements for compatibility (referenced)
• ISO 16073-3 to ISO 16073-9 - Parts covering clothing, gloves, helmets, footwear, face/eye, hearing and firehoods
• ISO 15538 - Reflective outer surface PPE (excluded from ISO 16073-2 scope)

ISO 16073-2:2019 is essential for ensuring wildland firefighting PPE compatibility, supporting safer, more effective ensembles that minimize heat stress and operational impairment.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 16073-2
First edition
2019-11
Wildland firefighting personal
protective equipment —
Requirements and test methods —
Part 2:
Compatibility
Équipement de protection individuelle pour la lutte contre les feux
d'espaces naturels — Exigences et méthodes d'essai —
Partie 2: Compatibilité
Reference number
©
ISO 2019
© ISO 2019
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Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Compatibility . 1
4.1 General . 1
4.2 Minimum requirements of compatibility . 2
4.3 Fit and function tests demonstrating compatibility . 2
4.4 Test subjects . 2
4.5 Test conditions . 2
4.6 Test reports . 2
Bibliography . 3
Foreword
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bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
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ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
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iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 94, Personal safety — Protective
equipment, Subcommittee SC 14, Firefighters personal equipment.
This first edition of ISO 16073-2, together with ISO 16073-1 and ISO 16073-3 to ISO 16073-8, cancels
and replaces (ISO 16073:2011). The main changes are as follows:
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— the content has been reviewed and separated into several parts;
— the respiratory protection has been deleted from the document.
A list of all parts in the ISO 16073 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/ members .html.
iv © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Wildland firefighting involves work carried out mostly in summer temperatures and for many hours,
during which the firefighter can develop high levels of metabolic heat. As a consequence, the personal
protective equipment (PPE) is required to be light, flexible and commensurate with the risks to which the
firefighter can be exposed in order to be effective without introducing excess
...