BS EN ISO 18640-1:2018+A1:2019 Protective Clothing for Firefighters

In the demanding and hazardous world of firefighting, the safety and well-being of firefighters are of paramount importance. The BS EN ISO 18640-1:2018+A1:2019 standard is a crucial document that addresses the physiological impact of protective clothing for firefighters. This standard provides a comprehensive framework for measuring the coupled heat and moisture transfer with the sweating torso, ensuring that the protective gear not only shields firefighters from external dangers but also maintains their comfort and physiological stability.

Key Features of the Standard

• Standard Number: BS EN ISO 18640-1:2018+A1:2019
• Pages: 48
• Released: November 13, 2019
• ISBN: 978 0 539 02889 8
• Status: Standard

Understanding the Importance of Physiological Impact

Firefighting is an occupation that exposes individuals to extreme conditions, including high temperatures, humidity, and physical exertion. The physiological impact of these conditions can be significant, affecting a firefighter's performance and safety. The BS EN ISO 18640-1:2018+A1:2019 standard focuses on the measurement of heat and moisture transfer, which are critical factors in maintaining a firefighter's thermal balance and preventing heat stress.

Measurement of Coupled Heat and Moisture Transfer

The standard outlines a method for assessing how protective clothing interacts with the body's natural processes of heat and moisture regulation. By simulating the sweating torso, the standard provides a realistic evaluation of how well the clothing can manage the heat and moisture generated by the body during intense firefighting activities. This measurement is essential for designing clothing that not only protects but also supports the physiological needs of firefighters.

Benefits of Compliance with the Standard

Adhering to the BS EN ISO 18640-1:2018+A1:2019 standard offers several benefits for manufacturers, firefighters, and safety organizations:

• Enhanced Safety: By ensuring that protective clothing meets the physiological needs of firefighters, the risk of heat-related illnesses and injuries is significantly reduced.
• Improved Comfort: Clothing that effectively manages heat and moisture transfer enhances comfort, allowing firefighters to perform their duties more effectively and for longer periods.
• Increased Trust: Compliance with recognized standards builds trust among firefighters and safety organizations, knowing that the gear they rely on meets rigorous safety and performance criteria.

Who Should Use This Standard?

The BS EN ISO 18640-1:2018+A1:2019 standard is an invaluable resource for a wide range of stakeholders in the firefighting and safety equipment industries, including:

• Manufacturers: Companies that design and produce protective clothing for firefighters can use this standard to guide the development of products that meet the highest safety and performance standards.
• Safety Organizations: Organizations responsible for setting safety guidelines and regulations can incorporate this standard into their criteria for evaluating protective gear.
• Fire Departments: Fire departments can use this standard to assess the suitability of protective clothing for their personnel, ensuring that their teams are equipped with the best possible gear.

Conclusion

The BS EN ISO 18640-1:2018+A1:2019 standard is a vital tool in the ongoing effort to protect firefighters from the physiological challenges posed by their work environment. By focusing on the measurement of coupled heat and moisture transfer, this standard ensures that protective clothing not only shields firefighters from external hazards but also supports their internal physiological needs. Compliance with this standard is a testament to a commitment to safety, performance, and the well-being of those who risk their lives to protect others.

BS EN ISO 18640-1:2018+A1:2019

This standard BS EN ISO 18640-1:2018+A1:2019 Protective clothing for firefighters. Physiological impact is classified in these ICS categories:

• 13.340.10 Protective clothing

This document provides a test method for evaluating the physiological impact of protective fabric ensembles and potentially protective clothing ensembles in a series of simulated activities (phases) under defined ambient conditions. This standard test method characterizes the essential properties of fabric assemblies of a representative garment or clothing ensemble for thermo-physiological assessment:

• dry thermal insulation;

• cooling properties during average metabolic activity and moisture management (dry and wet heat transfer);

• drying behaviour.

Default measurements are done on fabric samples representing the garment or protective clothing combination. Optionally and in addition to the standard test method, the same testing protocol can be applied to characterise more complex protective clothing ensembles including underwear, air layer and certain design features¹. In addition, measurements on readymade garments are possible.

This test method is intended to be used to measure and describe the behaviour of fabric assemblies of a garment or clothing ensemble in response to a simulated series of activities under controlled laboratory conditions, with the results used to optimize garment combinations and material selection. Furthermore, this document together ISO 18640‑2, is intended to be used to describe the thermo-physiological impact of protective clothing but not the risk for heat stress under actual fire conditions. The results of this test can be used as elements of a risk assessment with respect to thermo-physiological load.

¹ A study conducted by Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Switzerland) showed good correlation between results of standard torso tests (without underwear and air layers on fabrics) to tests on fabrics with underwear, tests on fabrics with underwear and air layers and test on readymade garments (with underwear and with or without air layers) of the same material composition. Due to the added thermal insulation values of the additional layers direct comparison of results between different measurement configurations is not possible, however.