ISO 13688 Protective Clothing - General Requirements

The “ISO 13688 Protective Clothing – General Requirements” standard, developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), describes general performance requirements for protective clothing regarding ergonomics, safety, sizing, aging, compatibility, and labeling, as well as the information to be provided by the manufacturer with the protective clothing. This standard is designed to be used only in conjunction with other standards that contain specific protective performance requirements and cannot be used alone.

This standard is a reference standard to be referred to when required by other standards. It is not intended for use alone, but only in conjunction with another standard that contains requirements relating to the specific performance of the product providing the protection.

Protective clothing should not adversely affect the health or hygiene of the user. The materials should not release substances that are generally known to be toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, allergenic, reproductively toxic, or otherwise harmful under foreseeable conditions of normal use.

Guidance on how to assess the acceptability of materials in protective clothing is provided in the flowchart included in the annex to the standard.

This document list is for informational purposes only and is an example of documents to be reviewed:

• The information provided by the manufacturer may include evidence-based information confirming that the product does not contain any substances at levels known or suspected to negatively affect user hygiene or health.
• Material properties.
• Safety data sheets for materials.
• Information on the suitability of materials for use in food, medical devices, or other related applications.
• Information regarding toxicological, allergenic, carcinogenic, reproductive toxic, or mutagenic studies performed on the materials.
• Information on ecotoxicological and other environmental studies conducted on the materials.

Materials should be selected to minimize the environmental impact of the production and disposal of protective clothing.

The review determines whether the claim that the materials are suitable for use in protective clothing or protective equipment is justified. Particular attention is paid to the presence of plasticizers, unreacted components, heavy metals, impurities, and the chemical composition of pigments and dyes.

Each layer of material in the protective garment must meet the following requirements:

• The chromium VI content in leather garments should not exceed 3 mg/kg according to the ISO 17075 standard.
• All metallic materials that may come into prolonged contact with the skin (e.g., snaps, fasteners) must have a nickel emission of less than 0,5 µg/cm2 per week. The test method should be according to the EN 1811 standard.
• The pH value of protective clothing materials should be greater than 3,5 and less than 9,5. The test method for skin should be according to ISO 4045 standard, and for textile materials according to ISO 3071 standard.
• Azo dyes, which release carcinogenic amines listed in the EN 14362-1 standard, cannot be detected by the methods specified in this standard.

In short, the ISO 13688 standard defines the basic, initial requirements applicable to almost all types of protective clothing (personal protective equipment within the clothing category). It does not specify protection against a particular hazard (e.g., heat, chemicals, mechanical risks, high visibility requirements). Instead, it acts as a horizontal (general) standard that should be used in conjunction with specific vertical standards addressing targeted risks.

The ISO 13688 standard specifies minimum general performance requirements in the following areas:

• Ergonomics: Clothing should be designed to allow freedom of movement, fit properly during use, and not restrict or cause discomfort to the user during normal working activities.
• Harmlessness (safety of materials): Materials and components must not adversely affect the health or hygiene of the user (e.g., they must not contain harmful substances in amounts that could cause skin irritation, allergies, or other adverse effects under foreseeable conditions of use).
• Sizing: Standardized sizing based on body measurements (referencing EN 13402), with sizes clearly marked on the garment.
• Aging: Resistance to predictable deterioration over time due to storage, washing, cleaning, disinfection, or normal use (performance should not fall below acceptable levels after simulated aging).
• Compatibility: The protective garment must be compatible with other personal protective equipment items that the user may wear simultaneously (e.g., there should be no interaction between the jacket and respirator mask, gloves, helmet, etc.).
• Labeling: Clear and durable labels should include: manufacturer's name or ID, type/model designation, dimensions, pictograms indicating specific protection standards met, care instructions (such as washing and drying), and any relevant warnings or usage restrictions.
• Information provided by the manufacturer: Detailed instructions for use, storage, maintenance, inspection, and disposal, as well as warnings about storage limitations.

In Europe, compliance with the ISO 13688 standard is mandatory for almost all protective clothing placed on the market under the EU Regulation 2016/425 on personal protective equipment. Manufacturers, importers and notified bodies consistently refer to this standard when testing, certifying and labeling personal protective equipment.

This standard ensures a consistent minimum level of quality, comfort, durability, and user knowledge across all categories of protective clothing, from high-visibility vests and chemical coveralls to heat-resistant suits and arc flash suits.

For organizations that design, manufacture, purchase, or certify protective clothing, the ISO 13688 standard provides a fundamental foundation upon which all other specialized protection standards are built.

This standard is necessary because protective clothing serves as critical personal protective equipment in hazardous work environments, and without a unified set of essential requirements, the safety, availability, and reliability of such clothing can vary widely among manufacturers, countries, and product types, potentially putting workers at risk or creating barriers to fair international trade.

This standard is considered important for the following reasons:

• It establishes a consistent minimum quality base for all protective clothing.
• It acts as a general standard that complements (specific) standards.
• It supports compliance with legal regulations and market access.
• It protects workers by promoting practical, usable personal protective equipment.

For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced staff, has been understanding the needs of its clients, providing the advanced testing services they require, and assisting them in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. Within this framework, we also provide testing services compliant with the ISO 13688 standard.