What is BS EN 16689-Requirements for protective clothing for technical rescue about?
BS EN 16689 discusses protective clothing for firefighters. BS EN 16689 is a European standard that provides performance requirements for protective clothing for technical rescue to ensure protection to firefighters from fire hazards.
BS EN 16689 specifies the minimum requirements for technical rescue clothing. Technical rescues involve work associated with the environments, and conditions associated with operational scenarios such as but not limited to those found during road traffic collisions and when working in and around collapsed structures often for extended periods after natural disasters (earthquake, landslides, etc.) where protection against mechanical risks, limited heat and flame, and conspicuity is needed.
BS EN 16689 covers the general clothing design, the minimum performance levels of the material used, the methods of test to be used to determine these performance levels, and marking and information supplied by the manufacturer.
Note1: BS EN 16689 does not cover protection for the head, hands, and feet or protection against other hazards e.g., chemical, radiological, and electrical hazards. These aspects are covered in other European Standards.
Note2: Unless combined with other specialized PPE and tested accordingly BS EN 16689 does not apply to the clothing used to protect against risks encountered in fighting fires, wildland fires or rescue from fire, dealing with hazardous chemicals, working with chainsaws, and water and rope rescue.
Who is BS EN 16689-Requirements for protective clothing for technical rescue for?
BS EN 16689 on requirements for protective clothing for technical rescue is useful for:
- Protective clothing manufacturers
- Protective clothing designers
- Protective clothing test personnel
- Occupational health and safety departments
- Risk assessment departments
Why should you use BS EN 16689-Requirements for protective clothing for technical rescue?
Protective clothing for technical rescue is designed to protect the torso, neck, arms to the wrists, and legs to the ankles during search and rescue activities in non-fire conditions. However, a certain level of fire protection is needed against sudden ignition of fires.
BS EN 16689 provides you with size designation, type of clothing, sampling and pre-treatment, thermal requirements, mechanical and other requirements, resistance to penetration by bloodborne pathogens, the uncertainty of measurements, and much more.
The requirements and test methods provided by BS EN 16689 assist in improving the performance and quality of protective clothing and ensure protection to the firefighters from health and safety risks at work.
By adopting BS EN 16689 you can improve the efficacy of protective clothing and help manufacture a high-quality product.
