EN 1073 Protective Clothing Against Solid Airborne Particles Including Radioactive Contamination

The European standard “EN 1073 Protective clothing against solid airborne particles including radioactive contamination” consists of subsections published under the same title. Namely,

• The standard “EN 1073-1 Part 1: Requirements and test methods for protective clothing with compressed air line ventilation for body and respiratory tract protection” describes the requirements and test methods for protective clothing that is ventilated by an independent air supply from an uncontaminated source and protects the wearer’s body and respiratory tract against solid airborne particles, including radioactive contamination. Such protective clothing may be provided with emergency breathing installations. However, this standard does not apply to protection against ionizing radiation or to the protection of patients against contamination with radioactive substances by diagnostic and therapeutic measures. If additional protection against chemicals is required, the relevant standard and/or “CEN/TR 15419 Protective clothing - Guides for the selection, use, maintenance and repair of chemical protective clothing” should be consulted.

For the purposes of this standard, in addition to the terms and definitions given for protective clothing in EN 134, EN 132 and CEN ISO/TR 11610, the following definitions apply:

• Protective clothing against solid airborne particles, including radioactive contamination, refers to protective clothing intended to protect the skin and, if necessary, the respiratory tract against radioactive contamination and solid airborne particles.
• Compressed air line ventilated protective clothing is a protective clothing that is continuously supplied from a compressed breathable air source, providing internal ventilation and overpressure.
• Percent inward leakage is the ratio of the contaminant concentration in the ambient atmosphere to the contaminant concentration in the garment. The concentrations considered are average concentrations recorded during a standard test.
• The nominal protection factor is the ratio of the contaminant concentration in the ambient atmosphere to the contaminant concentration in the garment. The concentrations considered are average concentrations recorded during a standard test.
• Particulate radioactive contamination is radioactive material on surfaces or in finely divided solids whose presence is undesirable or unintended.
• An escape device, emergency breathing facility, is a system designed to be used integrated with the garment or simultaneously with the garment, providing respiratory protection to the user in the event of a cut off of the primary air supply to the garment, and used when the user escapes from a contaminated environment.
• Minimum airflow rate is the minimum airflow rate when the device is operating at the manufacturer's minimum pressure and any user control valves are operating at minimum.
• Maximum airflow rate is the maximum airflow rate when the device is operating at the manufacturer's maximum pressure and any user's control valve is operating at maximum.

In this standard, the design requirements are specified as follows:

• Protective clothing with compressed air line ventilation must comply with the relevant general requirements set out in the EN ISO 13688 standard.
• Protective clothing must be supplied with breathable air in accordance with standard EN 12021. The manufacturer must clearly state this in the instructions for use.
• The design of protective clothing should be such that it is easy to put on and take off, and to minimise the risk of contamination. Clothing should be tested in accordance with practical performance testing. In the instructions, the manufacturer should describe the specific method of removing the clothing to minimise cross-contamination.
• Clothing must be designated as disposable or reusable.
• Fully ventilated protective clothing must cover the entire body and respiratory tract. Ventilated protective clothing may consist of one or several ventilated items to be worn together. Garments shall be tested in accordance with the practical performance test. Where relevant, the performance of the garment shall also be tested with accessories fitted in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and the information provided by the manufacturer shall clearly state this. In this case, each accessory shall meet the requirements of the specific relevant standard and the compatibility between the garment and each accessory shall be checked.
• Protective clothing may be equipped with an escape device or emergency breathing facilities.

Materials used in protective clothing against solid airborne particles, including radioactive contamination, shall meet the requirements in the table given in the standard after being pretreated and conditioned in accordance with this standard.

• The standard “EN 1073-2 Part 2: Requirements and test methods for non-ventilated protective clothing against particulate radioactive contamination” describes the requirements and test methods for non-ventilated protective clothing protecting the wearer against particulate radioactive contamination. Such clothing is designed to protect only the wearer’s body, arms and legs, but may be used with accessories that provide protection to additional areas of the wearer (e.g. boots, gloves, respiratory protective equipment). Protection for these other areas is specified in other standards. This standard does not apply to protection against ionizing radiation and to the protection of patients against contamination with radioactive substances in diagnostic and therapeutic measures.

For the purposes of this standard, in addition to the terms and definitions given for protective clothing in the CEN ISO/TR 11610 standard, the following definitions apply:

• Protective clothing against radioactive contamination refers to protective clothing that aims to protect the skin and, if necessary, the respiratory tract against radioactive contamination.
• Non-ventilated protective clothing (against particulate radioactive contamination) is clothing intended to protect only the body (not the respiratory tract, face, head, hands or feet) from particulate radioactive contamination and is not supplied with fresh air to ensure internal ventilation and positive pressure.
• The total inward leakage rate is the ratio between the test particle concentrations inside the garment and inside the test chamber. The challenge concentration corresponds to 100 percent.
• The nominal protection factor is the ratio of the concentration of test particles in the ambient atmosphere to the concentration of test particles inside the garment.
• Particulate radioactive contamination is the presence of radioactive materials as solid particles in or on a material or in a location where it may be undesirable or harmful.

The design and material of non-ventilated protective clothing against particulate radioactive contamination must meet all the essential requirements of this standard. In the case of classification, at least class 1 must be achieved.

In this standard, the design requirements are specified as follows:

• Non-ventilated protective clothing against radioactive contamination must comply with the general requirements set out in the EN 340 standard.
• The design of protective clothing should be such that it is easy to put on and take off the protective clothing, minimising the risk of contamination and minimising physiological stress. Clothing should be tested according to practical performance testing.
• The garment can be designed to be disposable or reusable.
• Garments may consist of one or more garments designed to be worn together and may include permanently attached accessories (e.g. hood, gloves, boot tops, respiratory protection), may be intended to be added to or used in conjunction with such accessories, or may be intended to be worn without accessories. Where relevant, the performance of the garment shall also be tested with accessories fitted in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and the information provided by the manufacturer shall clearly indicate this. The user shall assess, in agreement with the manufacturer, which parts of the body require protection for their application and, if applicable, which accessories are required to provide the required level of protection.

The materials used in non-ventilated protective clothing against particulate radioactive contamination must meet the requirements in the table given in the standard after being pretreated and conditioned in accordance with this standard. If protection against hazardous chemicals is required, testing must be carried out in accordance with the relevant standard for chemical protective clothing.

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