Overview
EN ISO 13688:2013 - Protective clothing - General requirements (ISO 13688:2013) defines the basic, non‑performance-specific requirements for protective clothing. It sets out ergonomics, innocuousness, size designation, ageing, compatibility, marking and the information to be supplied by the manufacturer. This standard is a reference document intended to be used in combination with product‑specific standards (it is not a stand‑alone performance standard).
Keywords: EN ISO 13688:2013, protective clothing, general requirements, PPE, ergonomics, marking.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Ergonomics and comfort: requirements for design and fit to ensure mobility and reduce user fatigue; includes guidance and practical checks (informative Annex C).
- Innocuousness: limits and tests related to harmful substances, surface condition and materials in contact with skin (references to ISO/EN chemical and nickel tests).
- Size designation: standardized sizing system and examples to improve consistent fit and sizing information across garments.
- Ageing and care: requirements for dimensional change and performance after washing, dry‑cleaning and other ageing processes (references to ISO 3071, ISO 5077, ISO 3175).
- Compatibility: guidance on how protective clothing interacts with other PPE items to maintain overall protection.
- Marking and labelling: mandatory marking, pictograms (Annex E), and qualification symbols for industrial laundry care (ISO 30023), plus the information the manufacturer must supply (Clause 8).
- Documentation and manufacturer information: content and format of instructions, care labels, sizing data, performance levels (informative Annex A) and any restrictions of use.
Practical applications and users
EN ISO 13688:2013 is used by:
- Manufacturers and designers of protective clothing to ensure garments meet basic health, ergonomic and labelling requirements before adding hazard‑specific features.
- Test laboratories and conformity assessors as a reference for general checks and for integrating with product‑specific tests.
- Procurement teams and safety managers who need to verify that supplied PPE includes correct marking, sizing and manufacturer information.
- Regulatory and compliance professionals aligning PPE with EU Directive requirements (see Annex ZA on Directive 89/686/EEC).
Practical value: improves user comfort and safety, ensures consistent sizing and labeling, supports compliance and interoperability of PPE ensembles.
Related standards
EN ISO 13688:2013 is intended to be called up by specific protective clothing standards and references normative documents such as ISO 3071, ISO 5077, ISO 3758, ISO 30023 and relevant EN tests (e.g., EN 1811, EN 14362-1). Use EN ISO 13688 alongside hazard‑specific standards for a complete conformity assessment.
