EN ISO 13688: 2022
Protective clothing - general requirements
Anyone who wears protective clothing for work must be able to rely on its safety, functionality and comfort. The EN ISO 13688 standard defines the general requirements for protective clothing - it is therefore the basis for many other specific standards, such as for high-visibility protection, weather protection or flame protection. In this article, you will find out what the standard requires in detail, what to look out for when labelling and how BP implements these standards in its products.
Questions and Answers about EN ISO 13688*
What is EN ISO 13688:2022?
The EN ISO 13688: 2022 standard is a reference standard that is referred to in other standards. It specifies general performance requirements for ergonomics, harmlessness, sizing, ageing, compatibility and labelling of protective clothing, as well as the information that the manufacturer must provide with the protective clothing.
EN ISO 13688 does not define any specific protective functions (e.g. against chemicals, heat, or cold), but is applied in combination with other standards that contain requirements for specific protective performance.
Detailed Performance Requirements of EN ISO 13688
To ensure a high level of safety and wearing comfort, EN ISO 13688 defines a set of basic performance requirements that protective clothing must meet regardless of its area of use.
- Ergonomics and Comfort: The protective clothing must be designed so that it does not restrict or shift during typical movements (bending, stretching, squatting, etc.). Good fit, sufficient freedom of movement, and compatibility with other PPE (e.g. knee pads, gloves, helmets, harnesses) are essential.
- Innocuousness of Materials Used: Materials must not cause skin irritation, allergies, or harmful health reactions. Fabrics used must be free from hazardous substances such as banned dyes or heavy metals. Sweat resistance and skin-friendly pH levels are also tested.
- Size Marking and Fit: Standardized size indications enable clear assignment (e.g. chest circumference, body height). The clothing must be designed for different body shapes and may include adjustable elements.
- Resistance to Ageing: The performance of the clothing and the legibility of its markings must not be impaired by dimensional changes caused by cleaning.
- Care Labelling: The protective clothing must include clear care instructions (e.g. washing, drying, ironing). These ensure that the protective function is maintained even after repeated care cycles.
*As these are shortened summaries of binding occupational safety standards, this text does not claim to fully reproduce the requirements defined in the standards. Although this content is regularly reviewed by our experts, we do not guarantee the timeliness or accuracy of the information.
Labelling Requirements according to EN ISO 13688
Every certified garment must include a permanently legible label. To illustrate this, we explain the label of the BP® Lightweight High-Visibility Multinorm Jacket APC1 . The sewn-in label of the BP® Multinorm Jacket contains the following information:
- Manufacturer Identification: Bierbaum-Proenen GmbH & Co. KG
- Product Name/Type: BP Multi Protect Plus KG 045
- Material Composition: 48.5% Modacrylic, 34% Cotton, etc.
- Washing Symbols and PRO Label: Information on washing temperature, ironing, drying, etc.
- CE Marking with the number of the supervising Notified Body
- Standard Markings/Pictograms:
- EN ISO 20471
- EN ISO 11611
- EN ISO 11612
- EN 1149-5
- EN 61482-2
- EN 13034-6
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