For chemical protective clothing offering limited protective performance against liquid chemicals (Type 6 and Type PB [6] equipment). This standard specifies the minimum requirements for limited use and re-useable limited performance chemical protective clothing.

Limited performance chemical protective clothing is intended for use in cases of a potential exposure to a light spray, liquid aerosols or low pressure, low volume splashes, against  which a complete liquid permeation barrier (at a molecular level) is not required.

Type 6 Requirements

Type 6 Chemical Protective suits must cover and protect at least the trunk and the limbs.

Example: One piece coveralls or two piece suits (with or without hood), boot-socks, or boot covers.

Type PB [6] Requirements

Type PB [6] Partial body protection covers and protects only specific parts of the body.

Example: coats, aprons, sleeves.

This standard specifies requirements and test methods for re-usable and limited use protective clothing providing protection against infective agents. Protective Clothing against infective agents; bacterial, viral and other micro-organisms has two main functions:

• To prevent infective agents from reaching the (possibly injured) skin
• To prevent the spreading of infective agents to other people and other situations, e.g. eating or drinking, when the person has taken their protective clothing off

This test identifies the pressurisation at which the infected synthetic blood penetrates the material. The higher the class the greater the protection of the fabric.

This test uses a liquid (instead of synthetic blood) contaminated with a bacteriophage or virus in order to identify the pressurisation at which the liquid penetrates through the material.

This test superimposes a bacterial contaminated donor material on the test material and subjects it to mechanical rubbing. The results are recorded in accordance with breakthrough times ie: the point at which the bacteria penetrates the barrier material measured in minutes as highlighted in the table below. The longer the breakthrough time, the higher the class and therefore the greater the protection of the fabric.

This test is used to assess the barrier's effect against biologically contaminated aerosols. A bacterium solution is suspended in an aerosol and sprayed on to both an unprotected cellulose nitrate membrane, and one covered with the test material. Both membranes are analysed to establish the bacterial load and the results are classified by the penetration ratio. The higher the class the greater the protection of the fabric.

A pre sterilised material is fixed in a testing apparatus and administrated with contaminated talcum power (Bacillus Subtilis). An agar plate is placed underneath the material while it is be shaken. The particles, which penetrate the material, are analysed after incubation of the agar plate and the results are measured in penetration log units as highlighted in the table below: The higher the class the greater the protection of the fabric.

EN 13034 specifies the performance requirements for disposable and re-usable limited performance chemical protective clothing (Type 6 and (Type PB [6]) garments. Limited performance chemical protective clothing (disposable and re-usable) is intended for use in cases of a potential exposure to a light spray, liquid aerosols, low volume splashes and in circumstances where a complete barrier to chemical exposure is not required.

The standard covers both chemical protective suits (Type 6) and partial body protection (Type PB [6])

Chemical Protective Suits (Type 6) cover and protect at least the trunk and the limbs, e.g. one piece coveralls or two piece suits with or without hood, boot-socks, or boot covers.

Partial Body Protection of similar limited performance Type PB [6] covers and protects only specific parts of the body, e.g. coats, aprons, sleeves, etc.

In order to ensure that a chemical protective suit meets Type 6 protection, it is tested using a mist or fine spray of water. The water is dosed with a mild detergent to produce a specified surface tension and injected with a dye to aid the assessment of leakage. The test subject wears an absorbent suit underneath the one to be tested, which absorbs any leaks and is stained by the dye. Success or failure is determined by measuring the total area of any stains on three suits and comparing this with the requirement. Leaks will typically occur at closures and interface areas, but the liquid can also seep through the material itself.

Type PB [6] testing is conducted in a similar way to the Type 6 suit test but only on partial body garments such as sleeves, aprons, coats, etc.