EN 469
Protective clothing for fire fighting
The members of CEN have approved the new EN 469 on the 22nd July 2005, in order to replace the 10 year old EN 469:1995.
The new norm gives more importance to ergonomics, to wearer comfort and to the prevention of heat stress.
One of the basic ideas of the new EN 469:2005 is that 3 different letters (X-Y-Z) indicate the level of performance (a lower level 1 or a higher level 2):
Xf1 or Xf2
The performance in the heat test: flame
X1 or X2
The performance in the heat test: radiation
Y1 or Y2
The performance in the waterproofness tests
Z1 or Z2
The resistance against water vapour
This standard typically relates to professional fire-fighting PPE worn during structural fire fighting to protect mainly against heat and flame.
The performance requirements for clothing conforming to this standard include:
• Flame spread (tested to ISO 15025)
• Convective heat (tested to EN 367)
• Radiant heat (tested to ISO 6942)
• Heat resistance (tested to ISO 17493:2000)
• Water repellence, dimensional stability, resistance to chemicals
Photometric requirements for retroreflective materials are according to EN471 Table 5 (Level 2, separate performance materials, 330 table) or Table 7 (combined performance materials, 65 table). The minimum amount of separate performance retroreflective material is 0,13 m2, whereas the minimum amount of the fluorescent or combined performance material is 0,20 m2. Retroreflective materials must also pass the flame spread test and heat resistance test.
The products must have a minimum value of retroreflection after the latter test.
| Structural Fire Fighter Suit EN 469 ( New Edition ) Standard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Testing Sample And Garment Part | Testing Item | Requirement | Test Method |
| Garment ensemble | Heat transfer (flame) | After 5 cycles washing, HTI 24 ≥ 13 HTI 24 – HTI 12 ≥ 4 | EN 367 |
| Garment ensemble | Heat transfer (radiation) | At 40 KW/m², After 5 cycles washing, t2 > 2 sec. t2-t1 > 6 sec. Transfer factor < 60% | EN 366 Method B |
| Garment ensemble | comfortable | EN 20811 water resistance EN 31092 Ret | |
| Outer shell, moisture barrier, thermal barrier, collar liner, winter liner | Flame spread resistance | 5 cycles washing Mean afterflame ≤ 2 sec. Mean afterglow ≤ 2 sec. No hole, No melt | EN 532 |
| Outer shell, moisture barrier, thermal barrier, collar liner, winter liner | Heat resistance | 180°C 5 mins Max. shrinkage < 5% | EN 469 Annex A |
| Moisture barrier, Steam material | Thermal resistance | 180°C 5 mins No melt, No drip, No flaming | EN 469 Annex A |
| Outer shell | Residual strength | Tensile strength of outer material ≥ 450 N | ISO 5081 EN 366 Method A |
| Outer shell | Tear strength | ≥ 25 N | ISO 4674 Method A2 |
| Outer shell | Surface wetting | > 4 | EN 24920 |
| Outer shell | Dimensional change | After 5 cycles washing ≤ shrinkage < 3% | ISO 5077 |
| Fabrics composite | Penetrational by liquid chemicals | > 80% run off No penetration to innermost surface | EN 368 1. 40% NaOH 20°C 2. 36% HCI 20°C 3. 30% H2SO4 20°C 4. White spirit |
| Moisture barrier | Water proof | EN 20811 | |
| Whole set testing | Normal: 8hrs, 40°C 1 KW/m² Danger: 5 in 250°C 1.75 KW/m² Emergency: 10 sec. 800°C 40 KW/m² | EN 469 |