ISO 16073-3:2019

Wildland firefighting personal protective equipment - Requirements and test methods - Part 3: Clothing

This document specifies test methods and minimum performance requirements for personal protective clothing, designed to protect the wearer's body, except for the head, hands, and feet, that is worn during wildland firefighting and associated activities. This clothing is not intended to provide protection during fire entrapment. This document covers the general design of the garment, the minimum level of performance for the materials employed and the methods of test to determine these levels. This document is not applicable to clothing for use in situations encountered in structural firefighting (ISO 11999‑3), rescue (ISO 18639‑3) or where a high level of infrared radiation is expected (ISO 15538), nor does this document cover clothing to protect against chemical, biological, electrical or radiation hazards. This document does not provide protection against high mechanical risks such as for protection when using chain saws. NOTE For information on test methods, minimum performance requirements and general design refer to ISO 15384.

Équipement de protection individuelle pour la lutte contre les feux d'espaces naturels — Exigences et méthodes d'essai — Partie 3: Vêtements

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 28-Oct-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 16073-3:2019 is an international standard that specifies requirements and test methods for wildland firefighting personal protective clothing. This standard focuses on protective garments that cover the body-excluding head, hands, and feet-worn during wildland firefighting and related activities. It aims to ensure that the clothing provides essential protection while maintaining comfort and flexibility under the demanding conditions of wildland firefighting.

This part of ISO 16073 addresses the design principles, minimum material performance levels, and testing procedures to verify effectiveness. It explicitly excludes clothing intended for fire entrapment, structural firefighting, rescue operations, or hazardous environments involving chemical, biological, electrical, or radiation risks.

Key Topics

• Performance Requirements
  ISO 16073-3 sets minimum standards for materials used in the manufacture of wildland firefighting clothing to protect wearers from heat and flame exposure, while considering the metabolic heat stress experienced by firefighters during extended use.

• Design Considerations
  The clothing should be lightweight, flexible, and loose-fitting to reduce heat stress and allow freedom of movement. Tight garments increase risk of burns and reduce operational performance, which the standard aims to prevent.

• Test Methods
  Effective testing is vital to ensuring protective quality. This standard references ISO 15384 for laboratory test methods and procedures to evaluate fabric performance, including flame resistance, thermal protection, durability, and breathability.

• Compatibility with Other PPE
  ISO 16073-3 acknowledges the need for integration with other personal protective equipment (PPE) such as helmets, gloves, and boots. Compliance with ISO 16073-2 ensures that different PPE components work seamlessly together for total protection.

• Scope Limitations
  The standard does not cover clothing for:

  • Structural firefighting (covered by ISO 11999-3)
  • Rescue operations (ISO 18639-3)
  • High-level infrared radiation exposure (ISO 15538)
  • Protection against chemical, biological, electrical, radiation hazards
  • High mechanical risks, e.g., chainsaw use

Applications

The standard applies primarily to agencies and manufacturers involved in wildland firefighting operations. It helps in:

• Selection and procurement of reliable, tested protective clothing suitable for diverse wildfire conditions.
• Design and development of wildland firefighting garments that balance protection, safety, and comfort.
• Safety training programs by defining the limitations and correct use of protective clothing.
• Regulatory compliance for organizations aiming to meet international best practices in firefighter safety.

Wildland firefighters and associated workforce benefit from garments meeting ISO 16073-3 by reducing risks of burn injuries while minimizing the likelihood of heat stress during long and intense wildfire engagements.

Related Standards

• ISO 15384 – Laboratory test methods and performance requirements for wildland firefighting clothing
• ISO 16073-2 – Compatibility requirements and test methods for wildland firefighting protective equipment
• ISO 11999-3 – Protective clothing for structural firefighting applications
• ISO 18639-3 – PPE for rescue operations
• ISO 15538 – Firefighting protective clothing for high infrared radiation environments
• ISO 21808 – Risk assessment for protective clothing suitability and use
• ISO/TR 19591 – Standard terms and definitions for firefighter PPE

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Ensuring wildland firefighter safety requires appropriate, standardized protective clothing that meets stringent international criteria. ISO 16073-3:2019 provides manufacturers and users with clear performance benchmarks and testing protocols vital for durable and effective wildfire PPE solutions.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 16073-3
First edition
2019-10
Wildland firefighting personal
protective equipment —
Requirements and test methods —
Part 3:
Clothing
Équipement de protection individuelle pour la lutte contre les feux
d'espaces naturels — Exigences et méthodes d'essai —
Partie 3: Vêtements
Reference number
©
ISO 2019
© ISO 2019
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
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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 Clothing . 1
Foreword
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ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
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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
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Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
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expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see www .iso .org/
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 16073-3, together with ISO 16073-1, ISO 16073-2 and ISO 16073-4 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
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