ISO 16073:2011

Wildland firefighting personal protective equipment - Requirements and test methods

ISO 16073:2011 specifies the minimum performance requirements and methods of test for personal protective equipment (PPE) covering the torso, neck, arms, hands, legs, feet, head, eyes and hearing for wildland firefighting. It covers the general design of the PPE, the minimum levels of performance for the materials employed and the methods of test used. This PPE is not intended to provide protection during fire entrapment. ISO 16073:2011 does not cover PPE for structural firefighting, for use against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards, or for use where a reflective outer surface is required. Activities in support of wildland firefighting, such as the cutting of trees and the use of a chainsaw can require additional protection to that provided in ISO 16073:2011.

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

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 06-Feb-2011
• Withdrawal Date: 06-Feb-2011
• 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 - Firefighters' personal equipment
• Current Stage: 9599 - Withdrawal of International Standard
• Start Date: 17-Oct-2019
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Relations

• Revised: ISO 16073-7:2019 - Wildland firefighting personal protective equipment - Requirements and test methods - Part 7: Face and eye protection
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2017
• Revised: ISO 16073-4:2019 - Wildland firefighting personal protective equipment - Requirements and test methods - Part 4: Gloves
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2017
• Revised: ISO 16073-5:2019 - Wildland firefighting personal protective equipment - Requirements and test methods - Part 5: Helmets
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2017
• Revised: ISO 16073-1:2019 - Wildland firefighting personal protective equipment - Requirements and test methods - Part 1: General
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2017
• Revised: ISO 16073-2:2019 - Wildland firefighting personal protective equipment - Requirements and test methods - Part 2: Compatibility
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2017
• Revised: ISO 16073-6:2021 - Wildland firefighting personal protective equipment - Requirements and test methods - Part 6: Footwear
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2017
• Revised: ISO 16073-8:2019 - Wildland firefighting personal protective equipment - Requirements and test methods - Part 8: Hearing
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2017
• Revised: ISO 16073-3:2019 - Wildland firefighting personal protective equipment - Requirements and test methods - Part 3: Clothing
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2017

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 16073
First edition
2011-02-15
Wildland firefighting personal protective
equipment — Requirements and test
methods
Équipement de protection individuelle pour la lutte contre les feux
d'espaces naturels — Exigences et méthodes d'essai

Reference number
©
ISO 2011
PDF disclaimer
This PDF file may contain embedded typefaces. In accordance with Adobe's licensing policy, this file may be printed or viewed but
shall not be edited unless the typefaces which are embedded are licensed to and installed on the computer performing the editing. In
downloading this file, parties accept therein the responsibility of not infringing Adobe's licensing policy. The ISO Central Secretariat
accepts no liability in this area.
Adobe is a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Details of the software products used to create this PDF file can be found in the General Info relative to the file; the PDF-creation
parameters were optimized for printing. Every care has been taken to ensure that the file is suitable for use by ISO member bodies. In
the unlikely event that a problem relating to it is found, please inform the Central Secretariat at the address given below.

©  ISO 2011
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either ISO at the address below or
ISO's member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail [e-mail]
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction.vi
1 Scope.1
2 Normative references.1
3 Terms and definitions .3
4 Clothing .11
4.1 General information .11
4.2 Sampling .12
4.3 Pretreatment .12
4.4 Exposure surface .12
4.5 Thermal requirements.12
4.6 Mechanical requirements .14
4.7 Ergonomic and comfort requirements.15
4.8 Dimensional change after washing and/or dry cleaning.15
4.9 Retroreflective/fluorescent performance.15
4.10 Optional clothing testing .15
5 Gloves.16
5.1 Design requirements.16
5.2 Sampling .18
5.3 Pretreatments .18
5.4 Preconditioning .19
5.5 Performance requirements.19
5.6 Mechanical requirements .21
5.7 Ergonomic requirements.22
6 Footwear.22
7 Helmets.23
7.1 Function and dimensions.23
7.2 Performance requirements.24
7.3 Test requirements .25
7.4 Headforms.26
7.5 Shock absorption test.26
7.6 Penetration test .27
7.7 Flammability test .27
7.8 Electrical insulation test .28
7.9 Lateral rigidity test .28
8 Eye protectors .29
8.1 General .29
8.2 Design and manufacturing requirements .29
8.3 Basic, particular and optional requirements for non-mesh eye protectors.29
8.4 Mesh eye and face protectors.35
8.5 Allocation of requirements, test schedules and application .37
9 Hearing protectors .41
9.1 General .41
9.2 Earmuff requirements .41
9.3 Performance.42
9.4 Earplug requirements .44
10 Fire hood .46
10.1 General requirements. 46
10.2 Pretreatment. 46
10.3 Performance requirements . 47
11 Respiratory protection . 48
12 Compatibility . 48
12.1 General. 48
12.2 Sizing . 48
12.3 Compatibility for helmet, fire hood, clothing and eyewear interface . 49
12.4 Compatibility for glove and clothing interface . 49
12.5 Compatibility for coat and trouser interface. 49
12.6 Compatibility for footwear and trouser interface . 50
13 Marking and labelling . 50
13.1 General marking requirements. 50
13.2 Label durability and legibility . 50
13.3 Compliance marking requirements. 50
13.4 Additional marking requirements . 51
14 Manufacturer's information . 55
14.1 General. 55
14.2 Manikin testing information. 56
Annex A (informative) Compatibility . 58
Annex B (informative) Guidelines for personal protective equipment design. 59
Annex C (normative) Grip test — Gloves. 61
Annex D (normative) Thermal stability of helmets and eyewear at elevated temperatures. 63
Annex E (informative) Recommended method of construction of wooden headforms . 65
Annex F (informative) Recommendations for the materials and construction of helmets. 68
Annex G (normative) Ease of donning and doffing test. 69
Bibliography. 71

iv © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 16073 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 94, Personal safety — Protective clothing and
equipment, Subcommittee SC 14, Fire-fighters' personal equipment.

Introduction
This International Standard provides minimum performance requirements for wildland firefighters' personal
protective equipment (PPE) designed for use for extended periods during wildland firefighting.
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 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 excessive heat stress to the wearer.
It is very important to train firefighters in the selection, use, care and maintenance of the PPE covered by this
International Standard, including an understanding of its limitations.
Nothing in this International Standard is intended to restrict any jurisdiction, purchaser or manufacturer from
exceeding these acceptable performance requirements.
A number of Member bodies have raised issues regarding harmonization of test methods for different items of
PPE, e.g. radiant heat tests on footwear and apparel. This has been extensively discussed, but requires
considerable testing and validation before it can be addressed in this International Standard. Technical
Committee ISO/TC 94/SC 14 has agreed that this will be a priority for the next revision. Similarly, the issue of
testing of complete assemblies of PPE has been only slightly addressed and will be further explored in the
next revision.
It is intended that a risk assessment be undertaken to determine if the PPE covered by this International
Standard is suitable for its intended use and the expected exposure. It is intended that the risk assessment be
used to determine what types of PPE are necessary for head, face, hands, body and feet.

vi © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 16073:2011(E)

Wildland firefighting personal protective equipment —
Requirements and test methods
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies the minimum performance requirements and methods of test for
personal protective equipment (PPE) covering the torso, neck, arms, hands, legs, feet, head, eyes and
hearing for wildland firefighting.
This International Standard covers the general design of the PPE, the minimum levels of performance for the
materials employed and the methods of test used. This PPE is not intended to provide protection during fire
entrapment.
This International Standard does not cover PPE for structural firefighting (see ISO 11613), 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 protection to that provided in this International Standard. Users are directed to those relevant
standards for the requirements associated with such protection.
NOTE Performance requirements for respiratory protective devices (RPD) for wildland firefighting are not available at
the time of publication. An International Standard for RPD is under development.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 139, Textiles — Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
ISO 3071, Textiles — Determination of pH of aqueous extract
ISO 3146, Plastics — Determination of melting behaviour (melting temperature or melting range) of
semi-crystalline polymers by capillary tube and polarizing-microscope methods
ISO 3175-1, Textiles — Professional care, drycleaning and wetcleaning of fabrics and garments — Part 1:
Assessment of performance after cleaning and finishing
ISO 4045, Leather — Chemical tests — Determination of pH
ISO 4674-1, Rubber- or plastics-coated fabrics — Determination of tear resistance — Part 1: Constant rate of
tear methods
ISO 5077, Textiles — Determination of dimensional change in washing and drying
ISO 6330, Textiles — Domestic washing and drying procedures for textile testing
ISO 6942, Protective clothing — Protection against heat and fire — Method of test: Evaluation of materials
and material assemblies when exposed to a source of radiant heat
ISO 9151, Protective clothing against heat and flame — Determination of heat transmission on exposure to
flame
ISO 11092, Textiles — Physiological effects — Measurement of thermal and water-vapour resistance under
steady-state conditions (sweating guarded-hotplate test)
ISO 12127-1, Clothing for protection against heat and flame — Determination of contact heat transmission
through protective clothing or constituent materials — Part 1: Test method using contact heat produced by
heating cylinder
ISO 12947-2, Textiles — Determination of abrasion resistance of fabrics by the Martindale method — Part 2:
Determination of specimen breakdown
ISO 13506, Protective clothing against heat and flame — Test method for complete garments — Prediction of
burn injury using an instrumented manikin
ISO 13688, Protective clothing — General requirements
ISO 13934-1, Textiles — Tensile properties of fabrics — Part 1: Determination of maximum force and
elongation at maximum force using the strip method
ISO 13935-2, Textiles — Seam tensile properties of fabrics and made-up textile articles — Part 2:
Determination of maximum force to seam rupture using the grab method
ISO 13938-2, Textiles — Bursting properties of fabrics — Part 2: Pneumatic method for determination of
bursting strength and bursting distension
ISO 13996, Protective clothing — Mechanical properties — Determination of resistance to puncture
ISO 13997, Protective clothing — Mechanical properties — Determination of resistance to cutting by sharp
objects
ISO 15025:2000, Protective clothing — Protection against heat and flame — Method of test for limited flame
spread
ISO 17075, Leather — Chemical tests — Determination of chromium(VI) content
ISO 17493, Clothing and equipment for protection against heat — Test method for convective heat resistance
using a hot air circulating oven
EN 167:2001, Personal eye-protection — Optical test methods
EN 168:2001, Personal eye-protection — Non-optical test methods
EN 170, Personal eye-protection — Ultraviolet filters — Transmittance requirements and recommended use
EN 172, Personal eye protection — Sunglare filters for industrial use
EN 388:2003, Protective gloves against mechanical risks
EN 420:2003 + A1:2009, Protective gloves — General requirements and test methods
EN 471:2003 + A1:2007, High-visibility warning clothing for professional use — Test methods and
requirements
EN 13087-1:2000 + A1:2001, Protective helmets — Test methods — Part 1: Conditions and conditioning
2 © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

EN 13819-1:2002, Hearing protectors — Testing — Part 1: Physical test methods
EN 13819-2:2002, Hearing protectors — Testing — Part 2: Acoustic test methods
EN 15090, Footwear for firefighters
ASTM F 1868-02, Standard Test Method for Thermal and Evaporative Resistance of Clothing Materials Using
a Sweating Hot Plate
CIE 54.2, Retroreflexion — Definition and measurement
NFPA 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting
3 Terms and definitions
For the purpose of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
behind-the-head headband earplug
earplug designed to be worn with the headband passing behind the head
3.2
behind-the-head earmuff
earmuff designed to be worn with the headband passing behind the head
3.3
brim
〈helmet〉 ridge protruding outwards from the basic shape of the shell, forming the lower edge of the shell and
including its associated fairings and radiusing
3.4
char
brittle residue that results when material is exposed to thermal energy
3.5
cleaning cycle
washing and drying cycle or a dry cleaning cycle
3.6
closure system
method of fastening the openings in the garment including combinations of more than one method of
achieving a secure closure
NOTE This term does not cover seams.
3.7
clothing assembly
garments designed to always be worn together
NOTE If several garments are used to achieve the performance levels, they are clearly labelled to this effect.
3.8
component assembly
combination of all materials of a multilayer item presented exactly as the finished item's construction
3.9
coverall
overall
one-piece garment that completely covers the wearer's torso, arms and legs
3.10
cuff
〈garment〉 finished edge of the sleeve opening
3.11
cuff
〈glove〉 circular, flared or otherwise expanded part of the glove that extends beyond the opening of the glove
body to cover the wrist area
3.12
cup
hollow component that is mounted on the headband of a hearing protector and to which a cushion and a liner
are usually fitted
3.13
cushion
deformable component, usually containing a foam plastic or fluid filling, fitted to the rim of the cup to improve
the comfort and fit of the earmuffs on the head
3.14
drip, verb
to run or fall in drops or blobs
3.15
dripping, noun
softening with material movement and consequent detachment
3.16
ear flap
part or accessory of the helmet which protects at least the ears of the wearer
3.17
earmuff
hearing protector consisting of a cup that is pressed against each pinna or of a circumaural cup that is
pressed against the head around each pinna
NOTE The cups can be pressed against the head with a headband or by means of a device attached to a helmet or
other equipment.
3.18
earplug
hearing protector worn within each of the external ear canals (aural) or in the concha, against the entrance to
each of the external ear canals (semi-aural)
3.19
facial opening
opening in the front of the fire hood interfacing with the eye protectors/respiratory protective device facemask
3.20
firefighter's protective clothing
specific garments providing protection for the firefighter's torso, neck, arms and legs, but excluding the head,
hands and feet
4 © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

3.21
firefighter's protective glove
specific gloves for protection of the firefighter's hands and wrists
3.22
fire hood
item worn directly in contact with the head to protect exposed parts of the head and neck not covered by other
PPE
3.23
fluorescence
process by which radiant flux of certain wavelengths is absorbed and reradiated non-thermally in other,
usually longer, wavelengths
3.24
garment
single item of clothing which may consist of single or multiple layers
3.25
glove body
part of the glove that extends from the tip of the fingers to 25 mm beyond the wrist crease
3.26
hardware
non-fabric items used in protective clothing, including those made of metal or plastics
EXAMPLE Fasteners, rank markings, buttons and zippers.
3.27
harness
complete assembly by means of which the helmet is maintained in position on the head, and which may
provide a means of absorbing energy
3.28
headband
〈helmet〉 part of the harness surrounding the head
3.29
headband
〈earmuffs〉 band, usually of metal or plastics, designed to enable the earmuffs to fit securely around the ears
by exerting force against the cups and pressure through the cushions
3.30
headband
〈earplugs〉 band, usually of metal or plastics, designed to enable the earplug (disposable or re-usable) to be
held within (aural) or against (semi-aural) the entrance to the external ear canals by exerting force against the
earplug elements
3.31
headband
〈eye protection〉 part of the eye protector that is fitted around a head to hold the eye protector in position
3.32
headform
shape replacing the head for testing
NOTE 1 The headform used for testing helmets is designed according to EN 960.
NOTE 2 The headform used for testing eye protection is designed according to EN 168.
NOTE 3 The headform used for testing hearing protection is designed according to EN 13819 (all parts).
3.33
headstrap
〈earmuffs〉 flexible strap fitted to each cup or to the headband close to the cup
NOTE The headstrap is designed to support behind-the-head and under-the-chin earmuffs by passing over, and
resting on top of, the head.
3.34
helmet accessory
additional device approved by the manufacturer, which may be attached to the helmet and which is intended
to be removable by the user, but which provides no protection to the wearer
EXAMPLE Lamp bracket and cable clip.
3.35
helmet for wildland firefighting
headgear intended to ensure protection of the wearer's head (and optionally the wearer's neck) against
hazards that might occur during operations of wildland firefighting
NOTE Hereinafter, the helmet for wildland firefighting is referred to as “helmet”.
3.36
helmet shell
component in hard material with smooth finish, which gives the helmet its general shape and on which may be
fixed various accessories
3.37
high visibility material
trim
retroreflective, fluorescent or combination retroreflective and fluorescent material attached to the outer
material for visibility enhancement
NOTE Retroreflective materials enhance night-time visibility and fluorescent materials improve daytime visibility.
3.38
horizontal clearance
horizontal distance between the headband and the inside of the shell or any protruding part of the inside of the
shell
3.39
innermost lining
lining on the innermost face of a component assembly of a garment closest to the wearer's skin
NOTE Where the innermost lining forms part of a material combination, the material combination is regarded as the
innermost lining.
3.40
insertion loss
mean algebraic difference in decibels between the one-third octave band sound pressure level, measured by
the microphone of the acoustic test fixture in a specified sound field under specified conditions, with the
hearing protector absent, and the sound pressure level with the hearing protector on, with other conditions
identical
3.41
interface area
area where items of PPE meet or overlap
EXAMPLE The protective coat/helmet/eyewear/respiratory protective device face piece area, the protective
coat/glove area and the protective trouser/footwear area.
6 © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

3.42
interface component
item(s) designed to provide limited protection to interface areas
EXAMPLE Fire hood and protective wristlets.
3.43
interlining
layer between the outermost layer and the innermost lining in a multilayer garment
3.44
liner
acoustically absorptive material contained within the cup, intended to increase the attenuation of the earmuffs
at certain frequencies
3.45
lining
innermost layer of a component assembly
3.46
main seam
seam that is necessary to maintain the integrity of the item
3.47
material combination
material produced from a series of separate layers, intimately combined prior to the item's manufacturing
stage
EXAMPLE A quilted material.
3.48
means of fixing
means by which the ocular of the visor is supported and interfaced with the designated helmet(s)
NOTE This means can be an integral part of the helmet, fixed permanently or temporarily to it, or worn separately,
but at the same time as the helmet.
3.49
melt, verb
to liquefy a material, usually by exposure to heat resulting in a non-reversible change
NOTE For the purposes of this International Standard, melting is observed as the response to heat as evidenced by
flowing or dripping.
3.50
mesh
woven or perforated, metal mesh; moulded, woven or perforated plastic mesh
3.51
mesh face screen
mesh-type eye protector with mesh face protection that can be worn with a support, directly on the head or in
conjunction with a helmet
See Clause 8.
3.52
mesh face screen with additional or alternative ocular(s)
mesh face screen incorporating one or two additional or alternative protective oculars
3.53
mesh goggle
eye protector with mesh ocular(s), which tightly encloses the orbital area and sits on the face
NOTE Mesh goggles are usually held in position by a headband.
3.54
mesh spectacle
eye protector with mesh oculars mounted in a spectacle-type frame with or without side shield
NOTE Mesh spectacles are usually held in place by temples.
3.55
mesh-type eye protector
mesh spectacles, mesh goggles, mesh face screens or mesh face screens with one or two oculars
3.56
mesh-type eye protector resistant to high-speed particles
mesh-type eye protector that is able to withstand the impact of high-speed particles
NOTE Such a mesh-type eye protector can be used in applications where there exists a risk of impact by high-speed
particles together with the need for good ventilation.
3.57
mesh visor
part of a mesh face screen covering the eye area and all or parts of the face, which can be removed from the
frame or housing and be replaced
3.58
ocular area
part of a mesh-type eye protector other than the frame, which permits vision
3.59
ocular
generic term for the light-transmitting part of an eye-protector (made of mesh, mineral or organic material)
permitting vision
EXAMPLE Lens, visor and screen.
3.60
ocular additional
ocular used in front of or behind the mesh ocular area to provide supplementary protection
3.61
ocular alternative
ocular replacing the mesh ocular area to provide specific protection
3.62
outer material
outermost material of which the protective clothing is made
3.63
over-the-head earmuff
earmuff designed to be worn with the headband passing over the top of the head
3.64
over-the-head headband earplug
earplug designed to be worn with the headband passing over the top of the head
8 © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

3.65
peak
permanent extension of the shell of a helmet above the eyes
3.66
protective coverall
protective garment designed and configured to provide protection to the neck, torso, arms and legs, excluding
the head, hands and feet
3.67
protective garment
single item of clothing consisting of single or multiple layers
EXAMPLE Protective coat, protective trousers or protective coverall.
3.68
protective hood
interface component that provides limited protection to the head
See 3.34 and Clause 10.
3.69
protective trousers
trousers that provide protection to the lower torso and legs, excluding the feet
3.70
protective wristlet
interface component that provides limited protection to the protective garment/glove interface area
3.71
retention system
assembly responsible for securing the helmet in position on the head, including items which enable
adjustment or improved comfort
3.72
retroreflection
reflection of light in which the reflected rays are preferentially returned in the direction close to the opposite of
the direction of the incident rays, with this property being maintained over wide variations of the direction of
the incident rays
3.73
seam
any method of permanent joining of two or more pieces of textile material
3.74
shell
helmet shell component in hard material with smooth finish, which gives the helmet its general shape and on
which may be fixed various accessories
See 3.36.
3.75
sound attenuation
for a given test signal, the mean difference in decibels between the threshold of hearing, with and without the
hearing protector in place, for a panel of test subjects
3.76
suit
upper and lower garment worn together that completely cover the wearer's torso, arms and legs
3.77
turn-up
turned-up finished edge at the end of the trouser leg
3.78
under-the-chin headband earplug
earplug designed to be worn with the headband passing under the chin
3.79
under-the-chin earmuff
earmuff designed to be worn with the headband passing under the chin
3.80
universal headband earplug
earplug designed to be worn as an over-the-head, a behind-the-head and an under-the-chin earplug
3.81
universal earmuff
earmuff designed to be worn as an over-the-head, a behind-the-head and an under-the-chin earmuff
3.82
ventilation holes
holes provided in the shell to permit circulation of air inside the helmet
3.83
vertical clearance
vertical distance between the top of the headform and the inside of the shell
3.84
visual centre
point on the ocular corresponding to the intersection of the horizontal and vertical planes through the pupil of
the appropriate headform
3.85
wearing height
vertical distance from the Iower edge of the headband to the highest point of the head or headform
3.86
wildland firefighting
suppressive action involving a fire in vegetative fuels, such as forest, crops, plantations, grass or farmland
3.87
wristlet
circular, close-fitting part of the glove or coat, usually made of knitted material, which extends beyond the
opening of the glove body or coat sleeves
NOTE This can be contained within a cuff.
3.88
yoke
area of the fire hood interfacing with the coat
10 © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

4 Clothing
4.1 General information
4.1.1 Basic requirements
Firefighters' protective clothing shall consist of
⎯ a coverall,
⎯ a two-piece suit provided with an interface area, or
⎯ a clothing assembly.
If several garments of a clothing assembly are used to achieve a particular performance level, these shall be
clearly labelled to this effect.
Sizing is important to the wearer, as garments should be loose fitting, and manufacturers should consult
ISO 13688 or national sizing standards for sizing for further information. Additional work is being undertaken
by Technical Committee ISO/TC 94/SC 14 to further define the concept “loose fitting” (see Annex B) and
sizing.
4.1.2 Collar
Any collar shall be able to remain in the vertical position when it is set upright. All protective clothing which
encircles the neck shall have a closure system at the level of the line of the collar.
4.1.3 Cuff overlap
The coverall or suit shall not have turn-ups or cuffs that can catch debris or burning embers.
4.1.4 Pockets
Pockets with external openings shall be constructed entirely from the outer material and the external opening
shall be provided with a closure system or covered with a protective flap. The flap shall be designed such that
it cannot be tucked into the pocket.
4.1.5 Hardware
Hardware penetrating the outer material shall not be exposed on the innermost surface of the component
assembly.
4.1.6 Sleeves
The ends of sleeves shall be designed to protect the wrist and shall have a closure system that allows the end
of the sleeve to interface with gloves that may be used for wildland firefighting. The sleeve shall extend past
the wrist crease. See 5.1.2 and Figure 1 for the location of the wrist crease.
4.1.7 Retroreflective/fluorescent materials
The use of retroreflective or retroreflective/fluorescent materials is an option in this International Standard. If
used, the design pattern and minimum area are for local determination. It shall provide visibility of 360°, be
attached to the outermost surface of the protective clothing, and be used to mark the limbs and torso.
4.2 Sampling
4.2.1 Samples
Samples shall be taken so as to be representative of the material and the garment construction employed.
4.2.2 Number and size of specimen
The number and the size of the specimens for the different tests shall be in accordance with the respective
International Standards.
4.3 Pretreatment
4.3.1 Pretreatment before thermal tests
Carry out washing in accordance with procedure 2A of ISO 6330 at (60 ± 3) °C and drying in accordance with
procedure E (tumble drying) or carry out the dry cleaning in accordance with ISO 3175-1, unless otherwise
specified in the care labelling.
For fabrics with flame retardant treatment, carry out the flame spread test (see 4.5.1) after 50 cleaning cycles.
For the other materials, carry out five cleaning and drying cycles before testing to the thermal requirements
(see 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.5.3 and 4.5.4). Materials labelled as dry cleanable only, shall be dry cleaned five times.
4.3.2 Preconditioning
After having performed the pretreatment specified in 4.3.1, precondition the specimens in accordance with
ISO 139 with the following modification: relative humidity (65 ± 5) %. Test the specimens within 5 min of their
removal from the conditioning atmosphere.
4.4 Exposure surface
In all surface tests, the outer surface shall be tested.
4.5 Thermal requirements
4.5.1 Flame spread
4.5.1.1 General
Each component assembly in the garment, excluding hardware, shall be tested separately in accordance with
4.5.1.2 and, optionally, 4.5.1.3, following the appropriate cleaning specified in 4.3.
All retroreflective and fluorescent materials shall be tested in combination with the outer layer to ensure that
samples have the dimensions indicated in procedure A of ISO 15025. The flame should impinge on the
retroreflective material.
Testing of retroreflective and fluorescent materials to 4.5.1.3 is optional. Where such materials are tested,
testing shall be in combination with the outer layer to ensure that samples have the dimensions indicated in
procedure B of ISO 15025.
12 © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

4.5.1.2 Face ignition
The flame spread test shall be carried out in accordance with procedure A of ISO 15025 for face ignition after
the pretreatment specified in 4.3, using the surface application procedure and a flame application time of 10 s.
The following requirements shall be satisfied:
a) no specimen shall form holes;
b) no specimen shall produce molten or flaming debris;
c) the mean value of the afterflame time shall be u 2 s;
d) any afterglow shall not spread from the carbonized area to the undamaged area after the cessation of
flaming.
4.5.1.3 Edge ignition — Optional
If required, the flame spread test shall also be carried out in accordance with procedure B of ISO 15025 for
edge ignition on a hemmed fabric specimen after the pretreatment specified in 4.3, using the edge application
procedure and a flame application time of 10 s. The following requirements shall be satisfied:
a) no specimen shall produce molten or flaming debris;
b) the mean value of the afterflame time shall be u 2 s;
c) any afterglow shall not spread from the carbonized area to the undamaged area after the cessation of
flaming;
d) the mean char length shall be u 100 mm, when measured as specified in Annex C of ISO 15025:2000.
The hemmed fabric specimen shall be prepared in the same manner as used in the construction of the
clothing.
Retroreflective and fluorescent materials shall be fixed to the fabric specimen with the bottom edge unstitched.
4.5.1.4 Flame behaviour test of the main seams
Main seam sewing threads as supplied in the constructed state, tested in accordance with procedure A of
ISO 15025 after the pretreatment specified in 4.3, using the surface application procedure and a flame
application time of 10 s, shall not open, melt, drip or ignite.
Specimens shall be oriented with the seam running up the centreline of the test specimen, such that the
burner flame impinges directly upon it.
4.5.2 Heat transfer — Radiant exposure
The single layer, the component assembly or the multilayer clothing assembly, excluding any retroreflective or
fluorescent materials, shall be tested. Tests shall be carried out after five cleaning cycles as specified in 4.3.1.
When tested in accordance with method B of ISO 6942, with a heat flux density of 20 kW/m , the single layer,
the component assembly or the multilayer clothing assembly shall have the following minimum level:
RHTI W 8
4.5.3 Heat transfer — Flame exposure
The garment, when tested in accordance with ISO 9151, shall give the following minimum performance:
HTI W 3,5
4.5.4 Heat resistance
4.5.4.1 Materials' thermal stability
All yarns, fibres and sewing threads utilized in the construction of the protective fabrics and garments, when
tested in accordance with ISO 3146 at a temperature of (260 ± 5) °C, shall not melt.
4.5.4.2 Materials' thermal shrinkage
When tested in accordance with ISO 17493 at a temperature of (180 ± 5) °C, no material shall melt, drip,
ignite or shrink by more than 5 % in length or width.
4.5.4.3 Hardware
Hardware and closure systems, not in contact with the skin and protected on the outside, shall be tested in
accordance with ISO 17493 at a temperature of (180 ± 5) °C and shall not melt, drip or ignite, and shall remain
functional.
4.5.4.4 Retroreflective/fluorescent materials
Retroreflective and/or fluorescent materials shall be tested in accordance with ISO 17493 after five cleaning
cycles, as specified in 4.3.1.
The retroreflective and/or fluorescent materials, after exposure to (260 ± 5) °C for 5 min ± 15 s, shall not melt,
drip, ignite or shrink by more than 5 %.
The retroreflective an
...