EN 16523 Determination of Material Resistance to Chemical Penetration

The European standard “EN 16523 Determination of material resistance to permeation by chemicals” consists of the following subsections published under the same title:

• The standard “EN 16523-1 Part 1: Permeation by liquid chemicals under continuous contact” describes a test method for determining the resistance of protective clothing, gloves and footwear materials to permeation by potentially hazardous liquid chemicals under continuous contact. This test method is only applicable to the assessment of protection against liquid chemicals that can be collected by liquid or gaseous collection media. This test method is not adapted for the assessment of chemical mixtures, except aqueous solutions. This standard is used in conjunction with the characteristics given in product standards (e.g. EN 374-1 for gloves) where the following information is defined:
  • Any preconditioning
  • Precise sampling (location, size, number)
  • Associated performance levels

The resistance of protective clothing, gloves and footwear materials to permeation by a liquid chemical is characterized by measuring the normalized permeation time. In the permeation tester, the protective clothing, gloves or footwear material separates the challenging chemical from the collecting medium. The collecting medium, which can be a gas or liquid, is quantitatively analyzed for the concentration of the chemical as a function of time.

For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions apply:

• An analytical technique is a method of determining and measuring the amount of permeated chemical in the collection medium. Such methods are often specific to individual chemical and collection medium combinations. Applicable analytical techniques may include ultraviolet (UV) or infrared (IR) spectrophotometry, mass spectrometry, pH measurement, ion chromatography, conductometry, colorimetry, atmospheric analytical detector tubes, and radionuclide labeling/detection counting. Although liquid or gas chromatography are separation techniques rather than detection methods, they can be used with appropriate detectors to measure the amount of permeated chemical in the collection medium.
• Liquid challenge chemical is the liquid chemical used to challenge a sample of protective clothing, gloves and footwear material.
• The collection medium is the liquid or gas on the inner clean side of the test sample from which any permeating chemicals are collected.
• Response time is the time between the actual arrival of the challenge chemical on the collection side of the sample and the time the analytical instrumentation responds to it.
• The quantification limit is the minimum amount of a substance that can be measured.
• Closed loop is the value at which the measurement uncertainty equals 502 percent of the specified value.
• Open loop, closed circuit systems are not commonly used in gaseous collection media. They are systems in which the collection media passes through the sampling chamber of the test cell without recirculation. Open loop systems can be used in liquid or gaseous collection media.
• The minimum detectable permeability is the lowest permeability that can be measured with a full permeability test system. This value may not be the inherent detection limit for the analytical instrument. This value is typically based on three times the average background noise.

The resistance of a personal protective equipment (PPE) material to permeation by a gaseous chemical is determined by measuring the normalized permeation time. In a permeation tester, the personal protective equipment (PPE) material separates the challenging chemical from the collecting medium. The collecting medium, which can be a gas or a liquid, is quantitatively analyzed for the concentration of the chemical and hence the amount of the chemical that crosses the barrier as a function of time after initial contact with the personal protective equipment (PPE) material.

For the purposes of this standard, the minimum detectable transmittance rate refers to the lowest transmittance rate that can be measured with a full transmittance test system. This value may not be the intrinsic detection limit for the analytical instrument. The minimum detectable transmittance rate is generally based on 3 times the average background noise.

Our organization, which has been trying to support businesses from every sector with its testing, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies carried out in a wide range for years, has a strong staff that closely follows the developments in the world in the field of science and technology and constantly improves itself. In this context, testing services are also provided to businesses in accordance with the "EN 16523 Determination of material resistance to chemical penetration" standard.