What is ISO 16073‑1-General requirements and test methods for wildland firefighting PPE about?
ISO 16073 discusses wildland firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE). ISO 16073-1 is an international standard on requirements and test methods for wildland firefighting PPE to prevent wildland firefighters from fire hazards.
ISO 16073-1 is the first part of a multi-part series that specifies the minimum performance requirements and methods of test for personal protective equipment (PPE) covering the torso, neck, arms, hands, legs, feet, head, eyes, and hearing that is used for wildland firefighting.
ISO 16073-1 covers the general design of the PPE, the minimum levels of performance for the materials employed, and the methods of test used. The PPE is not intended to protect fire entrapment.
Note 1: ISO 16073-1 does not cover PPE for structural firefighting, for use against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear hazards, or for use where a reflective outer surface is required.
Note 2: Activities in support of wildland firefighting, such as the cutting of trees and the use of a chainsaw can require additional protection to that provided under ISO 16073-1.
Who is ISO 16073‑1- General requirements and test methods for wildland firefighting PPE for?
ISO 16073‑1 on general requirements and test methods for wildland firefighting PPE is relevant to:
- Wildland firefighting PPE manufacturers
- Wildland firefighting PPE testers and developers
- Wildland firefighting PPE designers
- Risk assessment departments
- People involved in the selection, use, care, and maintenance of the PPE
- Health and safety departments
Why should you use ISO 16073‑1- General requirements and test methods for wildland firefighting PPE?
Wildland firefighting involves work carried out mostly in summer temperatures and for many hours, during which the firefighter can develop prominent levels of metabolic heat. Therefore, the personal protective equipment (PPE) is required to be light, flexible, and commensurate with the risks to which the firefighter can be exposed to be effective without introducing excessive heat stress to the wearer.
ISO 16073‑1 provides you with design, performance requirements, test methods, marking, manufacturer’s instructions, user information for wildland firefighting PPE.
The requirements and test methods provided by ISO 16073‑1 assist you to perform a risk assessment to determine if the PPE is suitable for the intended use and to enhance the performance of wildland firefighting PPE.
ISO 16073‑1 assist you to train firefighters in the selection, use, care, and maintenance of the PPE, including an understanding of its limitations.
Adopting ISO 16073‑1 enables you to enhance the efficiency of the wildland firefighting PPE and assist in producing wildland firefighting PPE of higher standard and quality.
What is changed since the last update?
BS ISO 16073‑1:2019 supersedes ISO 16073:2011. BS ISO 16073‑1:2019 has made some technical changes compared to the previous edition ISO 16073:2011. These include:
- The content has been reviewed and separated into several parts
- The respiratory protection has been deleted from the document
