DIN EN 16523-2:2015-04

Users involved in the production, use, transportation, and emergency response with liquid chemicals can be exposed to numerous compounds capable of causing harm upon contact with the human body. The harmful effects of these chemicals can range from acute trauma such as skin irritation and burn to chronic degenerative disease, such as cancer. Since engineering controls may not eliminate all possible exposures, attention is often placed on reducing the potential for direct skin contact through the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) that resists permeation, penetration and degradation. The test method described in this part of EN 16523 is intended to be used to evaluate the barrier effectiveness of materials used for protective clothing, gloves and footwear materials against permeation by liquid chemicals. This test method provides various opportunities for expression of test results in the form of breakthrough time, permeation rate and cumulative permeation, so that the resistance of protective clothing against permeation can be compared. These parameters are key measures of the effectiveness of a material to act as a barrier to the challenge chemical. Such information is used in the comparison of the performances of PPE materials during the process of selecting PPE for protection from hazardous chemicals. Long breakthrough times, low permeation rates and a low cumulative mass designate high-quality materials for barriers. This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU Directive(s). This document (EN 16523-2:2015+A1:2018) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 162 "Protective clothing including hand and arm protection and lifejackets", the secretariat of which is held by DIN. The responsible German standardization committee is Working Committee NA 075-05-13 AA "Testverfahren für Permeation von Chemikalien durch Materialien für Schuhe, Handschuhe und Kleidung" ("Test methods for permeation of chemicals through materials for protective footwear, gloves and clothing") at DIN Standards Committee Personal Protective Equipment (NPS).