EN 1149: Protection against electrostatic properties
Anti static work clothing is worn in the chemical industry, chemical processing industry, transport sector, oil and 
gas extraction companies and utilities. In these type of companies it is not unthinkable that people will have to deal with dangers caused by electrostatic charging that produces sparks. These sparks can cause fire or in the worst case, explosions. These risks are limited by wearing anti static work clothing.
EN 1149-5 is an umbrella standard
This standard is part of a series of standards related to various applications and materials.
The EN 1149 standard consists of the following levels:
EN1149-1: Test methods for measuring surface resistance.
EN1149-2: Test methods for the measurement of electrical resistance through a material (vertical resistance).
EN1149-3: Test methods for the measurement of charge decay.
EN1149-4: Test method for the garment (standard under development).
EN1149-5: Performance requirements.
What does standard EN 1149-5 mean?
The standard is represented as a lightning bolt with the name EN 1149-5. The standard describes what requirements electrically conductive work clothing must meet. Please note: the work clothing is part of a completely grounded system which, among other things, is combined with conductive footwear.
The anti static effect of the clothing prevents sparks that could cause fire and explosions and is therefore worn in areas where there is a real risk of an explosion or fire. The standard is only considered valid if the work clothing with this standard is combined with flame-retardant clothing with the EN 531 or EN ISO 11612 standard. This work clothing may not be used or worn in oxygen-enriched environments and is also not suitable for protection against mains voltage.
Work clothing that complies with the EN1149-5 standard is often used by companies that must comply with the ATEX directive. ATEX is not a clothing standard, but a guideline; The ATEX directive has been drawn up for companies where there may be a risk of explosion.
What requirements must EN 1149 standardized clothing meet?
Our range of anti static work clothing is very extensive. We offer you, among other things, anti static work trousers, anti static work jackets and anti static overalls. View the links below for all anti static work clothing. Work clothing must meet a number of requirements before it can be certified according to the EN 1149 standard:
- Materials that can become statically charged - such as metal buttons - should be concealed on the outside of the clothing.
- It is only permitted to use non-conductive elements on clothing, such as emblems or reflective strips if these are permanently attached.
- To be sufficiently protected against static electricity, conductive footwear must also be worn in addition to the EN 1149-5 standardized work clothing.
- The model must meet the conditions set in the EN 13688 (general requirements for protective clothing) standard.
- If work clothing meets the EN 1149-5 standard, it must also meet the EN 14116 (flame retardant) standard.
Wearing EN 1149-5 anti-static clothing
The person wearing the clothing must be grounded. This can be done by wearing conductive footwear. Anti static clothing must not be opened or removed in a potentially explosive atmosphere. Anti static clothing should not be used in an oxygen-enriched environment without consulting the safety officer. Anti static clothing must cover non-anti static clothing and materials during all possible working conditions. The anti static effect can be reduced by wear and cleaning of anti static clothing and materials. If in doubt the clothing should be replaced.
A person can become electrically charged because the human body can behave like an electrical conductor. This can be caused by friction. Examples of this are: when walking around on an insulated floor or when there is contact with a charged electronic component or material, friction occurs. It can also be caused by induction effects of clothing charging. The electrical charge can be so high that sparks can even occur. This could cause a fire or explosion in a potentially explosive environment.
EN 1149-5 and ATEX Zones
The majority of flame retardant clothing is EN 1149-5 certified. ATEX environments are divided into different zones with different risk levels. Anti static clothing marked EN 1149-5 is intended to be worn in ATEX zones 1, 2, 20, 21 and 22.
In oxygen enriched environments or in zone 0 Anti static clothing should not be used without first being approved by the responsible safety engineer as wear and tear may affect the protective performance of the garment and it is crucial that it is properly used in this environment. manner is worn. Anti static garments are equipped with Anti static fibers that are incorporated into the cloth. Metal parts are covered in accordance with EN design requirements.
| ATEX zone classifications for gas, mist and vapours | |
|---|---|
| Zone 0 | Area where a mixture of air and flammable gas, mist or vapor occurs frequently and persists for long periods of time. |
| Zone 1 | Area where a mixture of air and flammable gas, mist or vapor is likely to occur under normal conditions. |
| Zone 2 | Area where a mixture of air and flammable gas, mist or vapor occurs under normal conditions but rapidly dilutes. |
| ATEX zone classifications for dust | |
|---|---|
| Zone 20 | Environment where explosive dust clouds can occur frequently and for longer periods. |
| Zone 21 | Area where explosive dust clouds occur may occur under normal circumstances. |
| Zone 22 | Area where explosive dust clouds are unlikely to occur and, if they do, will dissipate quickly. |
This means that it is important to take into account in ATEX zones that the clothing has been antistatically tested and is suitable for the environment. EN 1149-5 often also occurs in combination with EN ISO 11612 or EN ISO 14116 (Flame retardant clothing)
You can find more information about ATEX on our ATEX page
Clothing that complies with EN 1149-5
Most multinorm clothing complies with EN 1149-5 and can be found below