What is BS EN 943-2 about?
BS EN 943 is a European standard on protective clothing that standardizes process to ensure of optimal performance.
BS EN 943-2 is the second part of the multi-series that specifies the minimum requirements, test methods, marking, and information supplied by the manufacturer, for ventilated and non-ventilated gas-tight chemical protective suits for use by emergency teams (ET).
Adopting these requirements for the manufacture for protective clothing can be an effective means to mitigate hazards and risks.
Who is BS EN 943-2 for?
BS EN 943-2 on chemical protective suits is beneficial for:
- Manufactures or suppliers of protective clothing for chemical factory workers
- Manufactures or suppliers of the seams, joins and assemblages attaching the accessories
- Chemical laboratories
- Professional technicians, engineers and workers who are involved in nuclear tests
- Professionals working with highly explosive materials and chemicals
Why should you use BS EN 943-2?
Harmonized European standards for personal protective equipment (PPE) have been developed as the preferred means of demonstrating equipment conformity with the basic health and safety requirements (BHSRs) of the EC Personal Protective Equipment Directive (89/686/EEC).
BS EN 943-2 specifies the minimum requirements for compliance for full-body personal protective ensembles, which need to be worn to avoid hazards in the event of contact with solid, liquid, and gaseous chemicals, including liquid and solid aerosols.
As a result, BS EN 943-2 is vital for European compliance if you are a manufacturer chemical protective suits. This standard helps to ensure trust in the reliability of these protective suits by demonstrating their safety and effectiveness, and ultimately the protection of the emergency teams who use them.
Chemicals, such as violently air sensitive reagents, unstable explosives, and cryogenic liquids have not been considered as they are beyond the scope of BS EN 943-2.
BS EN 943-2 does not establish minimum criteria for protection against non-chemical hazards, e.g., radiological, fire, heat and explosive hazards and infective agents. This type of equipment is not intended for total immersion in liquids.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 943-2:2019 supersedes EN 943-2:2002, which is withdrawn. Significant technical changes between EN 943-2:2002 and BS EN 943-2:2019:
- Scope is rewritten
- Adoption of new definitions
- Updates in some of the clauses
- Specific description of test requirements
- Addition of identification code for chemicals
