EN 14126
EN 14126 is the European standard for protective clothing against biological agents. It defines no garment types of its own but extends Types 1 to 6 known from EN 13034 and related standards with the letter B for biological hazards.
Test methods and corresponding exposure types:
- ISO 16603 and ISO 16604: resistance to blood and body fluids and to blood-borne pathogens
- EN ISO 22610: resistance to wet bacterial penetration under mechanical stress
- EN ISO 22611: resistance to contaminated liquid aerosols
- EN ISO 22612: resistance to dry microbial penetration
Each method yields its own class rating, which must be declared in the marking.
Application: protective clothing to EN 14126 is PPE Category III and is always applied in conjunction with EN ISO 13688. Typical uses are infectious disease wards, laboratories and animal disease control.
Frequently asked questions
What does the suffix B on protective suits mean?
B stands for biological hazards under EN 14126. A Type 4-B is a spray-tight suit that additionally meets the barrier requirements against infective agents. Without B, only chemical protection has been demonstrated.
Which test methods belong to EN 14126?
ISO 16603 and ISO 16604 for blood and blood-borne pathogens, EN ISO 22610 for wet bacterial penetration, EN ISO 22611 for contaminated aerosols and EN ISO 22612 for dry microbial penetration.
Which PPE category applies to EN 14126 clothing?
Category III. Infective agents count among the risks with potentially irreversible health damage, so a Notified Body and ongoing quality surveillance are required.