hazmat suits Its use is common in many areas of activity and application. These personal protective equipment are mostly used in the medical sector, laboratories, agriculture, sanitation, industrial refrigeration, asbestos removal, decontamination, emergency services, chemical accidents and especially during work and interventions in toxic areas.
Choosing the right chemical protection clothing
Choosing the right protective clothing can seem like a complicated task considering the potential risks involved. First of all, it is necessary to evaluate the exact content of the chemical risks in question: gases or aerosols, chemical, biological or bacteriological substances, liquid or solid particles.
In Europe, chemical clothing is classified from 1 to 6 according to different European standards. In the United States, they are classified A through D depending on their performance and characteristics.
Different types of hazmat suits:
Type 1 (EN 943 standard): Hazmat suits are gas-tight chemical protection suits that protect against liquid chemicals, gases and aerosols, as well as very fine particles. It is equipped with a breathable air supply via an air supply system inside (type 1a) or outside (type 1b) the garment. Type
2 (EN 943 standard): Non-gas-tight clothing, protection against chemical products, liquids and aerosols
Type 3 (EN 14605 standard): Chemical suit resistant to liquids in continuous jets
Type 4 (EN 14605 standard): Impermeable overalls against fog and liquid sprays
Type 5 (EN 13982-1 standard): Protection against airborne solid particles
Type 6 (EN 13034 standard): Limited-time protection against liquid chemical splashes
Types 1 and 2 are specifically adapted for sites classified as high chemical risk areas. Type 1a or “wetsuit” is the most protective with the SCBA worn inside the suit. Types 3 and 4 (intermediate protection) are mostly used in the petrochemical and chemical industries. Type 5 clothing protects against airborne solid particulate products (toxic dust) and can therefore be used during asbestos removal or dusting operations in an agricultural environment.
Limited use or reusable hazmat suits?
reusable dangerous item clothes They are the heavier, bulkiest and most expensive, sometimes weighing up to 300g/m2 because they are more protective. They require very careful decontamination in approved care centres, which can lead to significant costs and delays.
Limited use hazmat suits, They provide better comfort and targeted protection depending on the nature of the risks encountered, but must be systematically discarded if they are dirty or have a mechanical defect (tear, puncture, scratch).
disposable clothes It is intended for a single use only and must be systematically disposed of after use. They are generally excellent value and do not need to be returned to an authorized service centre.
Permeability and resistance of Hazmat suits
The permeation time of a hazmat suit describes the time required for a chemical to penetrate the material of the equipment. In Europe, permeation time tests are mostly FINABEL 0.7.C It is published according to the standard. Different materials that make up a chemical suit have different permeation times. This feature should be taken into account in equipment selection for each application.
In certain application areas, flame resistance of a chemical garment may be required. for such work when working in ATEX zones and/or in the presence of flammable gases and liquids. Hazmat antistatic clothing It is mandatory to wear.
As a guarantee of outstanding know-how and quality, leading manufacturers of chemical clothing such as Dräger and RSG offer everything from asbestos and silica protection (type 5) to CBRN clothing tested for chemical warfare (type 1a) and type 3 clothing, which is very popular in the chemical and cold industries. offers a wide range of overalls.
Maintenance and annual check-up of Hazmat suits
Reusable or limited use chemical protection suits are class 3 personal protective equipment. Therefore, like all class 3 PPE They are subject to annual periodic control. This periodic check involves checking the tightness of the suit and valves on a test bench. For reusable versions, this full check must be performed annually for 10 years.
