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EN ISO 11611

EN ISO 11611 - Protective clothing

Protective clothing for welding and allied processes

The EN ISO 11611 standard protects workers involved in welding and allied processes. It specifies the requirements for protective clothing designed to protect welders from the potential hazards that can occur during welding and related activities. This standard ensures that the workwear provides the necessary protection to minimise injuries and health risks while ensuring working comfort. In this article, we will take a closer look at the importance of the EN 11611 standard, its requirements and how it helps to ensure the safety of workers in these demanding work environments. Click here to go directly to welding protective clothing.

Questions and answers about EN ISO 11611*

What is EN ISO 11611?

Protective clothing in accordance with EN ISO 11611 is designed to provide protection against occasional, small and minor welding spatter (small splashes of molten metal), brief contact with flames and radiant heat from the arc. The garment provides limited electrical insulation under normal welding conditions against electrical conductors under DC voltage up to approximately 100V.

For the selection of welding protective clothing for different welding activities, Annex A of EN ISO 11611:2015 "Guidance for the selection of the type of welding protective clothing. Class 1 and 2" shall be used or referred to.

What are the classes of ISO 11611?

This international standard establishes two classes with specific performance requirements, class 1 being the lower class and class 2 being the higher class.

Impact of weld spatter:

class 1 (lower class) class 2 (higher class)
≥ 15 drops - protection against less hazardous welding work and situations with few weld spatters and low radiant heat. ≥ 25 drops - protection against more hazardous welding work and situations with more welding spatter and stronger radiant heat.

Flame spread:
A1 = Surface flaming
A2 = Edge flaming

A man wears a dark-coloured welding jacket and holds a hard hat in his hand.

What are the selection criteria within EN 11611?

Among other things, the standard EN ISO 11611, Annex A, provides selection criteria for the type of protective clothing. It shows, for example, for which welding processes clothing of performance class 1 is suitable.

Manual welding techniques with low formation of weld spatter and metal droplets, e.g.:

Gas fusion welding
TIG welding
MIG welding (with low current)
Microplasma welding
Hard soldering
Spot welding
MMA welding (with a rutile coated electrode)

Among other things, the standard EN ISO 11611, Annex A, provides selection criteria for the type of protective clothing. It indicates, for example, for which welding procedures clothing of performance class 2 is suitable.

Manual welding techniques with significant formation of weld spatter and metal droplets, e.g.:

MMA welding (with basic or cellulose coated electrode).
MAG welding (with CO2 or mixed gases)
MIG welding (with high current)
Self-shielding flux-cored arc welding
Plasma cutting
Gouging
Oxygen cutting
Thermal spray welding

Welder in protective clothing welding iron.

What are the risks of welding?

Wearers must be protected from the following risks during welding and related processes:

Welding spatter (small splashes of molten metal)
Brief contact with flames
radiant heat from an electric arc used for welding and related processes
UV radiation on the skin

UV radiation during welding

The hazards of welding include exposure of the skin to UV radiation, such as that produced by all electric arc welding processes. This UV radiation includes UVA, UVB and UVC radiation of high intensity.

If the user experiences sunburn-like symptoms after welding, they should use additional more resistant fabric layers or leather trim in the future. Users exposed to UV radiation should regularly check the garments for protection and themselves for sunburn-like symptoms and replace the garments if necessary .

Welder in protective clothing welding on iron.

What are the areas of application of EN ISO 11611?

Metalworking companies in which welding, cutting and related processes are used.

Supply engineering companies

Infrastructure maintenance

Repair shops

Automotive industry

Craft businesses

Steelworks

Machine and plant construction

Repair, assembly and construction

* As these are abridged summaries of binding occupational health and safety standards, this article does not claim to fully reflect the requirements defined in the standards. Although this article is regularly revised by our experts, we cannot guarantee that the information is up-to-date and correct.

Important tips for welders

What do I need to consider when using protective welding clothing?

All areas of skin not covered by the protective clothing must be protected by additional equipment such as protective bonnet, gloves, hose scarf, etc.

Depending on the work task and welding position, it may also be necessary to wear additional leather aprons, leather gaiters.

Protective clothing for welders must not be contaminated by oil, grease, oxygen, etc. When cleaning, care must be taken to ensure that the manufacturer's instructions are followed. This is the only way to ensure the effectiveness of the equipment.

For the selection of protective clothing for welders for different welding activities, Annex A of EN ISO 11611:2015 "Guidance for the selection of the type of protective clothing for welders, Class 1 and 2" shall be used or referred to.

Design requirements for protective welding clothing:

All pockets must be covered with flaps so that no metal splashes can fall into the pockets.
Pocket flaps must be 2 cm wider than the opening width so that they cannot be pushed into pockets.
Fasteners must not form folds where metal splashes can remain.
The width adjustment on the cuffs must be on the underside of the sleeve.
The angle of the trouser pockets must not exceed 10°.
The jacket collar must be able to be fastened up to the top. No continuous metal parts (e.g. press studs) are permitted so that no thermal bridges are created.

View welding clothing

Welder clothing according to EN ISO 11611

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More PPE standards

EN ISO 11612

EN ISO 20471

EN 14404

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EN 14058

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A team of five people wear HiVis clothing on railway tracks.

class 1 (lower class)	class 2 (higher class)
≥ 15 drops - protection against less hazardous welding work and situations with few weld spatters and low radiant heat.	≥ 25 drops - protection against more hazardous welding work and situations with more welding spatter and stronger radiant heat.