PURPOSE
General protective clothing requirements for ergonomics, sizing, marking and manufacturer information.
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SERNEM · Protective clothing
EN ISO 13688Protective clothing general requirements
General protective clothing requirements for ergonomics, sizing, marking and manufacturer information.
Illustrative image; verify real product conformity from markings and certificates.
TYPICAL USE
General framework used together with a specific protective-clothing standard.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Not a hazard-specific protection claim on its own; check the accompanying performance standard.
TECHNICAL CLASSES AND SELECTION
Technical distinctions within this standard
Do not select PPE by code alone. Verify the following distinctions using actual product markings and manufacturer documentation.
General requirements
Foundational requirements include ergonomics, sizing, innocuousness and marking.
Hazard-specific standard
Protection performance must be established through a relevant hazard-specific standard.
Code and marking decoder
EN ISO 13688Relevant product standard; confirm applicable edition.
Class / TypeRead product-specific declared performance.
ManufacturerModel, serial, maintenance and traceability.
Where are product markings found?
Garment care/product label and manufacturer information.
Not a hazard-specific protection claim on its own; check the accompanying performance standard.
COMPARE STANDARDS
Not interchangeable
EN ISO 13688 alone does not claim chemical, flame or electric-arc protection.
WRONG SELECTION
Field mistake
Choosing clothing solely labelled EN ISO 13688 for chemical exposure.
BETTER APPROACH
Risk-based choice
Verify an appropriate hazard-specific standard such as EN 13034, EN 14605 or EN ISO 11612.
Typical applications
01 · Protective workwear
02 · Garment sizing
03 · Marking and care review
1Verify product and standard marking.
2Check protection performance for task hazards.
3Check interfaces between clothing, gloves, boots and respirator.
4Inspect seams, closures, tape and contamination or damage.
5Match chemical/particulate exposure with declared protection type.
6Check damage, service life, inspection and manufacturer instructions.