ISO 18639-3:2018

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 18639-3
First edition
2018-01
PPE ensembles for firefighters
undertaking specific rescue
activities —
Part 3:
Clothing
Équipements de protection personnelle pour pompiers entreprenant
des activités de sauvetage particulières —
Partie 3: Vêtements
Reference number
©
ISO 2018
© ISO 2018, Published in Switzerland
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ii © ISO 2018 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Design requirements . 5
4.1 General . 5
4.2 Size designation . 5
4.3 Type of clothing . 5
4.4 Outer two piece suit . 5
4.5 External Pockets . 5
4.6 Padding . 5
4.7 Closures . 6
4.8 Hardware . 6
4.9 Collar . 6
4.10 Integrated personal protective equipment . 6
4.11 Visibility and Conspicuity . 6
5 Sampling and pre-treatment . 6
5.1 Sampling . 6
5.2 Pre-treatment . 7
5.2.1 Cleaning . 7
5.2.2 Conditioning . 7
6 Performance requirements . 7
6.1 General classification . 7
6.2 Summary requirements and classification . 7
6.2.1 Road Traffic Crash (RTC) . 7
6.2.2 Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) . 7
6.3 Thermal/arc requirements . 8
6.3.1 Flame resistance . 8
6.3.2 Radiant heat transfer .10
6.3.3 Contact heat .10
6.4 Mechanical protection requirements .10
6.4.1 Tensile strength .10
6.4.2 Tear strength .10
6.4.3 Abrasion resistance .10
6.4.4 Dimensional change .10
6.5 Environmental Protection requirements .11
6.5.1 Surface wetting . .11
6.5.2 Electrostatic resistance .11
6.5.3 Water vapour resistance .11
6.6 Visibility requirements .11
6.7 Biological and chemical requirements .11
6.7.1 Viral requirements .11
7 Marking .12
8 Information supplied by the manufacturer .12
Annex A (normative) Water absorption resistance .13
Bibliography .15
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
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on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
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URL: www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
ISO 18639-3 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 94, Personal Safety — Protective Clothing
and equipment, Subcommittee SC 14, Firefighters Personal Equipment.
A list of all the parts in the ISO 18639 series can be found on the ISO website.
iv © ISO 2018 – All rights reserved

Introduction
ISO 18639 is a standard for personal protective equipment (PPE) for firefighters when engaged in
specific rescue activities. It is not possible to provide a standard for PPE to cover all of the diverse range
of rescue scenarios that firefighters are likely to encounter so it is important that risk assessments
be undertaken to determine if the PPE covered by ISO 18639 is suitable for its intended use and the
expected exposure to hazards. For complete protection against exposures, the risk assessment should
include protection of the whole body including the torso, arms and legs, head, face, hands and feet.
For certain rescue activities, safety ropes and harnesses can be required. For certain rescue situations,
special PPE for use in and on water may be required. In some cases, appropriate respiratory protection
may also be identified as being necessary.
The performance requirements in this document take account of accidental exposure to heat and flame,
but do not cover PPE for Firefighting. While this standard takes account of accidental exposure to some
common chemicals, it is not intended that PPE to this standard should be considered as providing
chemical protection as a primary function. It does not cover PPE to protect against biological, electrical
or radiation hazards. The risk assessment should determine whether PPE complying to this standard or
to the requirements of any other relevant standard is more suitable.
Firefighters should be trained in the use, care and maintenance of the PPE covered by this document,
including an understanding of its limitations.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 18639-3:2018(E)
PPE ensembles for firefighters undertaking specific rescue
activities —
Part 3:
Clothing
1 Scope
This document specifies test methods and minimum performance requirements for protective clothing
for firefighters while engaged in rescue activities.
Clothing related to specific rescue activities are documented in individual subclauses, see 6.2.1 or 6.2.2.
NOTE For further guidance see ISO 18639-1.
Subclauses of this document cover general clothing design, the minimum performance level of the
materials used and the methods of test for determining this per
...