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PPE - Chemical Protective Clothing – Whole Suit Testing
Chemical protective clothing is designed to minimise exposure to hazardous substances under defined conditions of use.
Importance of Whole Suit Testing
Whole suit testing evaluates the integrated performance of a complete garment, including seams, closures, and interfaces, under realistic conditions of use. This ensures that performance is assessed at the level of the finished ensemble, rather than individual materials alone.
Our laboratory specialises in whole suit performance testing, applying recognised international methods to assess the effectiveness of complete garments under representative exposure conditions. We determine garment performance against key hazard mechanisms, including:
| Protection Type | Services Provided – Whole Suit Tests | Test Method | Test Method Standard | Performance Requirements |
| Type 3 Liquid Tight (Jet) |
Determination of resistance to penetration by a jet of liquid | Jet Test | BS EN ISO 17491-3: 2008 | BS EN 14605: 2005+A1:2009 |
| Type 4 Liquid Tight (Spray) |
Determination of resistance to penetration by a spray of liquid (spray test) | High-Level Spray | BS EN ISO 17491-4: 2008 +A1:2016 – Method B – Heavy Spray (Withdrawn) | BS EN 14605: 2005+A1:2009 |
| Type 5 Particle Tight (Solid) |
Determination of inward leakage of aerosols of fine particles into suits | Total Inward Leakage (TIL) | BS EN ISO 13982-2: 2004 | BS EN ISO 13982-1: 2004+A1:2010 |
| Type 6 Limited Performance against Liquid Chemicals |
Determination of resistance to penetration by a spray of liquid (spray test) | Low-Level Spray/Mist | BS EN ISO 17491-4: 2008 +A1:2016 – Method A – Light Spray (Withdrawn) | BS EN 13034: 2005+A1:2009 |
| BS EN 1073-2:2002 Protective clothing against radioactive contamination |
Requirements and test methods for non-ventilated protective clothing against particulate radioactive contaminationClause 5.3 – Determination of a nominal protection factor (NPF) | Total Inward Leakage (TIL) Provision of NPF and classification |
BS EN ISO 13982-2: 2004 | BS EN 1073-2:2002 |
(Please note: Following a recent laboratory relocation, whole suit testing services are currently temporarily halted while final construction and commissioning activities are completed.
As part of this transition, UKAS accreditation is currently suspended pending reassessment, with an audit scheduled upon completion of the new facility.
Testing activities will be brought back online (in-line with latest standards) as individual services are reinstated and accreditation is regained.)
Our evaluations contribute data to support classification, selection, and certification activities.
Assessment of protective clothing requires the integration of the performance of:
- Whole garment under simulated exposure
- Materials and construction
- Integrated features, seams and interfaces
- Ergonomics and practical performance
Our testing provides quantitative and qualitative results that support:
- Product certification and regulatory compliance
- Design validation and development
- Material and component selection
- Quality assurance and conformity assessment
Technical Capability and Support
Protective suits against hazardous materials is required in many professional and non-professional activities of everyday life. Effective and adequate protection is needed when managing the following hazards:
- Households e.g. cleaning agents, peroxides, acids and bases, paints
- Agricultural e.g. fuel, pesticides
- Medical settings e.g. pharmaceuticals and active ingredients
- Industrial production e.g. petro-chemicals, chemicals, paints, adhesive and coatings
- Manufacturing of products e.g. light bulbs, cars, semi-conductors
- Emergency activities e.g. boat, rail or road accidents as well as fire-fighting in an urban and industrial setting
- Military operations or response to incidents of terrorism.
We work with manufacturers of chemical protective suits to provide testing capabilities; our quantitative and qualitative data reporting provides vital insight in product development, material or component research, part of a QC or QA regime and informs part of the CE Marking process.
Our service provides specialist advice on standards, specifications and specialist liaison throughout the process of testing and reporting.
We work closely with manufacturers, notified bodies, and end users to deliver:
- Guidance on appropriate test selection based on hazard and intended use
- Visual inspection and assessment of submitted samples
- Observations, feedback from users and analysis of garment behaviours during testing
- Test data aligned with governing standards
- Interpretation of results against recognised performance requirements
- Technical support throughout the evaluation and certification process
Protective clothing represents a final layer of defence within the hierarchy of risk control and should be used alongside, not as a substitute for, higher-level control measures such as elimination, substitution, and engineering controls, as well as COSHH risk assessments.
To evaluate whether exposures are effectively controlled at source and managed in accordance with the hierarchy of control, please refer to our workplace protection services.
Contact
For technical enquiries or testing support:
Josh Smith
+44 131 449 8090