This research project aims to support the development of relevant validated test methods and specifications, under the scope of Directive 89/686/EEC for personal protective equipment (PPE). The main objective is to adapt existing test methods for different kinds of protective clothing to footwear and to re-specify the requirements which correspond to the protection level needed by a worker either using chemicals or in contact with micro-organisms.
The major results of the project are:
- Definition of a list of the most important chemicals that need to be tested and a list of the most frequent materials used for the PPE market.
- Development of knowledge on the testing of footwear in a chemical environment.
- Proposal of a set of standards (including test method, requirement, user information) to CEN TC 161 that will improve the current document of this Committee, prEN 13832 Footwear protecting against chemicals and microorganisms:
-Part 1: Terminology and test methods.
-Part 2: Footwear protecting against chemicals spraying - requirements.
-Part 3: Footwear highly protective against chemicals - requirements.
-Part 4: Footwear protecting against microorganisms - requirements.