ISO 13998:2003

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 13998
First edition
2003-01-15
Protective clothing — Aprons, trousers
and vests protecting against cuts and
stabs by hand knives
Vêtements de protection — Tabliers, pantalons et vestes de protection
contre les coupures et les coups de couteaux à main

Reference number
©
ISO 2003
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©  ISO 2003
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Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 13998 was prepared by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) in collaboration with ISO
Technical Committee TC 94, Personal safety — Protective clothing and equipment, Subcommittee SC 13,
Protective clothing, in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN
(Vienna Agreement).
Throughout the text of this standard, read ".this European Standard." to mean ".this International
Standard.".
Annex ZZ provides a list of corresponding International and European Standards for which equivalents are not
given in the text.
For the purposes of this International Standard, the CEN annex regarding fulfilment of European Council
Directives has been removed.
Contents
Foreword.vi
Introduction .1
1 Scope.1
2 Normative references .1
3 Terms and definitions.1
4 Performance level classification .5
5 Requirements .5
5.1 Innocuousness.5
5.2 Sizing.5
5.3 Minimum dimensions of zones of protection .5
5.4 Support and restraint of aprons, divided aprons and protective trousers.7
5.5 Ergonomic requirements.8
5.6 Mass .8
5.7 Penetration resistance.9
5.8 Cut resistance of performance level 1 garments.9
5.9 Tensile strength of metal rings.9
5.10 Water permeability (optional) .9
6 Test apparatus.9
6.1 Accuracy of test instruments .9
6.2 Gauges for interstices .9
6.3 Knife impact penetration testing apparatus.10
6.4 Tensile strength testing apparatus .15
6.5 Cut resistance apparatus .15
6.6 Water permeability.15
7 Test procedures .16
7.1 General.16
7.2 Test specimens .16
7.3 Innocuousness.16
7.4 Sizing.16
7.5 Measurement of the dimensions of zones of protection .16
7.6 Support and restraint testing of aprons and protective vests .17
7.7 Ergonomic testing.18
7.8 Determination of mass .19
7.9 Penetration testing.19
7.10 Cut resistance testing.19
7.11 Tensile strength testing.20
7.12 Water permeability measurement .20
8 Marking .20
9 Information supplied by the manufacturer.21
10 Pictograms.22
Annex A (informative) Advice on risk assessment, and the selection and fitting of different sizes of
apron and other garments .23
A.1 Scope.23
A.2 Content.23
A.3 Risk assessment.23
A.4 Knife profiles .25
A.5 PPE performance levels and garment types.26
A.6 Apron sizing and fit.26
A.6.1 General.26
A.6.2 Minimum body coverage by aprons.26
A.6.3 Straps for aprons .27
iv © ISO 2003 – All rights reserved

A.6.4 Performance Level 2 garments with extended areas of protection.27
Annex B (informative) Testing for imperfect welds .28
B.1 Scope .28
B.2 Content .28
B.3 Background of the test.28
B.4 Principle of the test.28
B.5 Types of tensile strength testing devices .28
Annex ZZ Corresponding International and European Standards for which equivalents are not given
in the text .30
Bibliography .31
Foreword
This document (EN ISO 13998:2002) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 162, "Protective
clothing including hand and arm protection and lifejackets”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN, in collaboration
with Technical Committee ISO/TC 94/SC 13 “Personal safety — Protective clothing and equipment”.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text or
by endorsement, at the latest by June 2003, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by
June 2003.
This document supersedes EN 412:1993
This European Standard has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the
European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU Directive(s).
The annexes A and B are informative.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard : Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
vi © ISO 2003 – All rights reserved
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