SIST EN 863:1996

Protective clothing - Mechanical properties - Test method: Puncture resistance

This European Standard specifies a test method for measuring the puncture resistance of protective clothing or materials used for these products.   The puncture resistance is expressed as the maximum force required to push a spike with a specified speed through the test specimens.

Schutzkleidung - Mechanische Eigenschaften - Prüfverfahren: Widerstand gegen Durchstoßen

Diese Europäische Norm legt ein Prüfverfahren fest, das für die Bestimmung der Durchstoßfestigkeit von Schutzkleidung oder der entsprechenden Materialien anwendbar ist. Die Durchstoßfestigkeit wird bestimmt durch die maximale Kraft, die notwendig ist, um eine Nadel mit einer bestimmten Geschwindigkeit durch die Prüflinge zu stoßen.

Vetements de protection - Propriétés mécaniques - Méthode d'essai: Résistance a la perforation

Cette norme européenne spécifie une méthode d'essai pour la mesure de la résistance à la perforation des vêtements de protection ou des matériaux utilisés pour ces produits. La résistance à la perforation est exprimée par la force maximale nécessaire pour perforer l'éprouvette par un poinçon a une vitesse spécifiée.

Varovalna obleka - Mehanske lastnosti - Preskusna metoda: odpornost proti prebadanju

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Nov-1996
• ICS: 13.340.10 - Protective clothing
• Technical Committee: OVP - Personal protecting equipment
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 01-Dec-1996
• Due Date: 01-Dec-1996
• Completion Date: 01-Dec-1996
• Directive: 2016/425 - Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on personal protective equipment and repealing Council Directive 89/686/EEC
• Directive: 89/686/EEC - Council Directive 89/686/EEC of 21 December 1989 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to personal protective equipment
• Mandate: M/BC/CEN/90/2 - Order for standardization concerning Personal Protective Equipment (P.P.E.)
• Ref Project: EN 863:1995 - Protective clothing - Mechanical properties - Test method: Puncture resistance

Overview

EN 863:1995 is a CEN (European Committee for Standardization) test method that defines how to measure the puncture resistance of protective clothing and the materials used to make these garments. The standard expresses puncture resistance as the maximum force required to push a prescribed spike through a test specimen at a specified speed. EN 863 provides a repeatable laboratory procedure to assess mechanical resistance to puncture and to support material selection, quality control, and regulatory compliance for personal protective equipment (PPE).

Key topics and requirements

• Scope: Applies to protective clothing and constituent materials intended to resist puncture.
• Measurement parameter: Puncture resistance reported as the maximum force (peak load) to penetrate the specimen.
• Test principle: A defined spike is driven through the specimen at a specified speed under controlled conditions; force vs. displacement is recorded.
• Specimen types: Can be applied to finished garments or material samples cut from protective clothing.
• Repeatability and comparability: Standardized apparatus, test speed and procedures ensure results are comparable between laboratories and manufacturers.
• Documentation: Test reports should state specimen preparation, test conditions and the measured maximum force.

(EN 863:1995 text provides the general method; consult the full standard for detailed apparatus, sample dimensions and procedural steps.)

Practical applications

Who uses EN 863 and why:

• PPE manufacturers: To evaluate materials and garment designs for puncture resistance during product development and production control.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies: For standardized testing to support CE marking and product conformity assessments.
• Safety engineers and procurement teams: To compare materials and specify minimum puncture-resistance requirements for workplace PPE.
• Regulators and occupational health professionals: To inform guidance on protective clothing performance for medical, industrial, forestry, law enforcement and similar hazards.

Benefits:

• Enables objective comparison of fabrics, laminates and assemblies.
• Supports risk-based selection of protective clothing.
• Helps detect manufacturing defects or material degradation affecting puncture performance.

Related standards

• Other EN standards addressing protective clothing mechanical properties (abrasion, tearing and burst resistance).
• Standards covering protective gloves (e.g., mechanical resistance testing) and broader PPE conformity standards.

Keywords: EN 863, puncture resistance test, protective clothing, CEN standard, PPE testing, mechanical properties, puncture test, protective materials.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-1996
Varovalna obleka - Mehanske lastnosti - Preskusna metoda: odpornost proti
prebadanju
Protective clothing - Mechanical properties - Test method: Puncture resistance
Schutzkleidung - Mechanische Eigenschaften - Prüfverfahren: Widerstand gegen
Durchstoßen
Vetements de protection - Propriétés
...