Standards and Marking

Any high visibility garment is certified according to the chart quoted here below following the minimum areas of fluorescent materials which grant more visibility during the day. The band on the back retroreflects the artficial light ( car lights) allowing more visibility during the night.

X: class of base and retroreflective material area  

(see table 1, class 1 to 3)

MINIMUM REQUIRED AREAS OF VISIBILE MATERIAL

Class 3 garments

Class 2 garments

Class 1 garments

Fluorescent base material (m²)

0,80 m²

0,50 m²

0,14 m²

Retroreflective material (m²)

0,20 m²

0,13 m²

0,10 m²

To get a superior class the standard provides to match two high visibility garments in this way a higher level of protection is granted. HERE SOME EXAMPLES:

JACKET ACARIGUA
Base material 0,68 m²
Retroreflective material 0,18 m²
CLASS 2

WAISTCOAT SEKI
Base material 0,52 m²
Retroreflective material 0,13 m²
CLASS 2

T-SHIRT RADAR
Base material 0,66 m²
Retroreflective material 0,10 m²
CLASS 1

TROUSERS GUATIRE
Base material 0,53 m²
Retroreflective material 0,14 m²
CLASS 2

Base material 1,21 m²
Retroreflective material 0,32 m²
TOTAL CLASS 3

Base material 1,05 m²
Retroreflective material 0,27 m²
TOTAL CLASS 3

Base material 1,19 m²
Retroreflective material 0,24 m²
TOTAL CLASS 3

- Minimum value UPF 40+
- Sun exposure causes skin damage
- Only covered areas are protected
- The protection offered by this item may be reduced with use or if stretched or wet
- Provides UVA + UVB protection fron the sun

This European Standard specifies the requirements for marking of clothing which are designed to offer the wearer protection against solar ultraviolet radiation exposure.

This European Standard specifies requirements and test methods for the performance of clothing ensembles (i.e. g two piece suits or coveralls) for protection against the effects of cold environments equal to or below −5°C (see Annex C). These effects comprise not only low air temperatures but also humidity and air velocity. Specific linings and special technical devices allow the garment to breathe and at the same time to keep the user warm.

Y(B): I_cler (m²K/W) Thermal insulation measured on moving manikin with undergarments B
AP: Air permeability (class 1 to 3)
WP: Water penetration resistance (optional, X indicates that the garment has not been submitted to one of the two optional tests)

This European Standard specifies requirements and test methods for the performance of single garments for protection against cooling of the body in cool environment.

Y: Thermal Resistance (R_ct)
Y: Air permeability (optional)
Y: Water penetration resistance (optional)
Y: Thermal insulation measured on moving manikin Icler (m² K/W) (optional)
Y: Thermal insulation measured on stationary manikin Icler (m² K/W) (optional)

X indicates that the garment has not been submitted to one of the two optional tests.

Cool environment: environment characterized in general as a possible combination of humidity and wind at temperature of -5 °C and above.

At moderate low temperature garments against local body cooling are not only used for outdoor activities e.g. in construction industry but can be used for indoor activities.

Y: Thermal resistance class
Y: Air permeability
Y: I_cler in m² K/W of the garment with standard ensemble R is mandatory for R_ct according to class 4.
If it is mandatory for class 4, it is optional for classes 1 to 3.
WP: water penetration (optional)

X indicates that the garment has not been submitted to one of the two optional tests. 

ISO 15797 specifies test procedures and equipment which can be used in the evaluation of cotton, polyester/cotton and reverse blend workwear intended to be industrially laundered.

X: resistance to water penetration
(class 1 to 4)

Y: water vapour resistance
(class 1 to 4)

This European Standard specifies requirements and test methods applicable to material and seams of protective clothing against the influence of precipitation (e.g. rain, snowflakes) fog and ground humidity.
Garments shall be designed and manufactured paying particularly attention to water penetration and using waterproof and breathable materials in order to ensure absolute waterproofness to EN 343:2003 the garment as well as outstanding comfort level.

X: resistance to water penetration
(class 1 to 3)

Y: water vapour resistance
(class 1 to 3)

This standard specifies the requirements for performance of clothing designed to protect all parts of body against heat and flames, specifies the requirements of overalls and two-piece suits, by the use of specific materials and defined requirements of design, to guarantee a performance level in compliance with standard and regulated by different values of resistance to heat. The clothing can be in compliance with standard even without any reference values from B to W.

A: flame spread
B: convective heat (class 1-3)
C: radiant heat (class 1-4)
D: spatter of molten aluminium (class 1-3)
E: spatter of molten iron (class 1-3)
F: contact heat (class 1-3)
W: resistance to water penetration (class 1-3)

This standard specifies performance and minimum protective requirements of clothes designed to protect all parts of body against sparks, splashes of molten metal and droplets, produced during weldings and allied processes.

Test voltage 400 V a.c.
500 ms arc duration

Class 1: the garment guarantees the minimum level of protection against thermal risks of an electric arc. Test current 4 KA
Class 2: the garment guarantees the highest level of protection against thermal risks of an electric arc. Test current 7 KA

This standard specifies the performance requirements of the garments devised to protect the whole body against thermal risks of an electric arc due to an accidental and unexpected short circuit in electrical systems.
Method 1-2: room test with constrained electric arc: the test is carried out according to 2 Classes on the basis of the current of the predicted short-circuit.

The standard specifies the requirements of both materials and construction of garments for electrostatic dissipation, to be used as a part of a whole system of ground wire in order to avoid electric discharge which may cause fire.

Protective clothing against electrostatic charges

CLASS 1: 20 m/s

CLASS 2: 24 m/s

CLASS 3: 28 m/s

This European Standard defines design and specifies the requirements for leg protectors which offers protection against cutting from a hand-held chainsaw.

CLASS 0: 16 m/s

CLASS 1: 20 m/s

CLASS 2: 24 m/s

CLASS 3: 28 m/s

This standard specifies performance and minimum protective requirements of clothes designed to provide a limited protection against liquid chemicals. A1: Resistance to penetration

The standard specifies the minimum requirements for the garment protecting against chemicals resistant to penetration of airborne solid particulates (Type 5).

Clothing providing protection of body in environments where the risk evaluation shows the presence and possibility for the skin to get in touch with hazardous biological agents, like viruses, bacteria, fungi and so on.

The standard specifies requirements and tests methods for non-ventilated protective clothing against particulate radioactive contamination. The nominal protection factor (100/TIL_A) is observed: TIL_A is the total inward leakage, that is to say the relationship, provided in percentage, between the concentration of the particulates inside the garment and the one inside the test chamber. According to the value, the overall is classified as indicated in the chart.

Class

Medium value of the total inward leakage in the garment into 3 positions and during all activities (TIL_A)

Nominal protection factor 100/ TIL_A

3

0,2

500

2

2

50

1

20

5

The EU Directive 1999/92/CE (Atex Directive) indicates the requirements for safety and health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres. COFRA’s garments comply with all requirements about the materials and the manufacturing indicated by the standard UNI EN 1149-5 (antistatic garments): they avoid that electrostatic discharges cause fires, thus making the garment suitable to be used in ATEX environments.

Technical regulation on the safety of Personal Protective Equipment distributed in the territory of the Eurasian Customs Union.

New product conformity marking, used for most of the products placed on the Great Britain market (England, Wales and Scotland) now covered by regulations and directives for EC marking.

In order to safeguard the consumers’ health, the European Union issued the REACH regulation (come into force on 1st June 2007) which forbids the use of certain chemicals. COFRA guarantees the compliance of all its garments with the REACH regulation; they do not contain forbidden or limited substances (Aromatic amines and 4-aminobenzoic acid deriving from azo dyes, heavy metals, phthalates, and so on) and, to guarantee it, all garments and accessories used during production are subjected to controls.

OEKO-TEX^® is a voluntary certification of product through which the certified company commits itself to keep in time the safeness of its own products. The OEKO-TEX^® 100 mark guarantees that the textiles (or accessories of the textiles, metallic ones included) do not contain or release harmful substances for the consumer (pesticides, heavy metals, formaldehyde, aromatic amines, allergy-inducing dyestuffs and so on). The garments certified by OEKO-TEX^® comply with the requirements demanded by the standard EN ISO 13688 and they abide by the requirements of the attachment XVII of REACH (regulation 552:2009) having the textile product as area of pertinence.