Protective Clothing

1. Design Considerations
   • Clothing Configuration
   • Components and options
   • Sizes
   • Ease of donning and doffing
   • Clothing construction
   • Accommodation of other selected ensemble equipment
   • Comfort
   • Restriction of mobility

1. Permeation is the process by which a chemical dissolves in or moves through a material on a molecular basis. In most cases, there will be no visible evidence of chemicals permeating a material.
    
2. Degradation involves physical changes in a material as the result of a chemical exposure, use, or ambient conditions (e.g. sunlight). The most common observations of material degradation are discoloration, swelling, loss of physical strength, or deterioration.
    
3. Penetration is the movement of chemicals through zippers, seams, or imperfections in a protective clothing material.

1. As with chemical resistance, manufacturer materials offer wide ranges of physical qualities in terms of strength, resistance to physical hazards, and operation in extreme environmental conditions. Comprehensive manufacturing standards such as the NFPA Standards set specific limits on these material properties, but only for limited applications, i.e. emergency response.
    
2. End users in other applications may assess material physical properties by posing the following questions:  
   
   
   • Does the material have sufficient strength to withstand the physical strength of the tasks at hand?
   • Will the material resist tears, punctures, cuts, and abrasions?
   • Will the material withstand repeated use after contamination and decontamination?
   • Is the material flexible or pliable enough to allow end users to perform needed tasks?
   • Will the material maintain its protective integrity and flexibility under hot and cold extremes?
   • Is the material flame-resistant or self-extinguishing (if these hazards are present)?
   • Are garment seams in the clothing constructed so they provide the same physical integrity as the garment material?

D. Ease of Decontamination - The degree of difficulty in decontaminating protective clothing may dictate whether disposable or reusable clothing is used, or a combination of both.

E. Cost - Protective clothing end users must endeavor to obtain the broadest protective equipment they can buy with available resources to meet their specific application.

F. Chemical Protective Clothing Standards - Protective clothing buyers may wish to specify clothing that meets specific standards, such as 1910.120 or the NFPA standards. The NFPA Standards do not apply to all forms of protective clothing and applications.

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Continue Reading

- Arc-, Flame- and Heat-Resistant Clothing Guide
- Cut and Abrasion Resistant Clothing Guide
- Disposable Clothing Guide
- General Workwear Guide
- Hi-Viz Clothing Guide
- Rainwear Guide
- Cold Weather Protective Clothing Guide
- Foot Protection Guide