ISO 13688
EN ISO 13688 plays the same role for protective clothing as EN ISO 21420 does for protective gloves: it is the horizontal base standard without which no product-specific clothing standard is fully applicable.
Areas covered:
- Innocuousness: materials must not harm the wearer; limits for pH value and chromium content, among others
- Ergonomics and fit: freedom of movement, compatibility with other PPE
- Size designation: uniform pictogram with body measurements
- Ageing and care: behaviour after the cleaning cycles specified by the manufacturer
- Marking and user information: mandatory data, pictograms, instructions for use
Application: always in combination, for instance with EN 14126 against infective agents, EN 13034 against liquid chemicals or EN 1149 for electrostatic properties. Protective clothing to EN ISO 13688 is PPE and requires CE marking under Regulation (EU) 2016/425.
Frequently asked questions
Is EN ISO 13688 alone sufficient for CE marking?
No. EN ISO 13688 contains no protective performance and alone confers no presumption of conformity for a protective function. It must always be combined with a product-specific standard such as EN 14126 or EN 13034.
What is the glove equivalent of EN ISO 13688?
EN ISO 21420 (protective gloves, general requirements). Both are horizontal base standards: EN ISO 21420 for gloves, EN ISO 13688 for protective clothing.