Overview
EN ISO 9151:2016 (ISO 9151:2016, corrected 2017) specifies a laboratory method to determine heat transmission through materials and assemblies used in protective clothing exposed to flame. The test produces a heat transfer index that ranks materials by relative heat transmission under defined test conditions. The standard is published by CEN/ISO and supersedes EN 367:1992.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and purpose: Measures heat transmission through clothing materials/assemblies; provides comparative ranking, not an in‑use protection time.
- Apparatus and fixtures: Includes a controlled gas burner, a copper disc calorimeter (with mounting block), specimen support frame, location plate and recorder. The standard gives construction and mass requirements for the calorimeter.
- Specimen preparation: Defines specimen dimensions, number of specimens and mounting without an air gap to improve reproducibility.
- Fuel and burner control: Specifies combustible gas quality and methods to regulate incident heat flux.
- Calibration and instrumentation: Requires thermocouple calibration, procedures to check thermocouple linearity, and calibration/stabilization steps for reliable heat flux regulation.
- Environmental control: Conditioning and testing atmospheres are specified (temperature and relative humidity ranges), and control of air movement during tests is required.
- Test procedure and reporting: Detailed steps for exposure, data recording and an example test report form (Annex C). Informative annexes explain test significance and material availability (Annex A and B).
Practical applications and users
- PPE manufacturers use EN ISO 9151:2016 to evaluate and compare textiles, laminates and multi‑layer assemblies for garments intended to resist heat and flame.
- Test laboratories and certification bodies apply the method when performing standardized heat transmission testing for product development, quality control and conformity assessment.
- Safety engineers and procurement specialists use the heat transfer index to select materials and to benchmark performance when designing protective clothing systems.
- Regulatory compliance: The European foreword indicates the standard supports essential requirements of EU Directive 89/686/EEC (informative Annex ZA), providing a voluntary means of demonstrating conformity within its scope.
Related standards
- EN ISO 9151:2016 supersedes EN 367:1992. (Consult national and product standards for complete certification requirements; this method addresses lab heat transmission only.)
Keywords: EN ISO 9151:2016, ISO 9151:2016, protective clothing, heat and flame, heat transmission, heat transfer index, copper disc calorimeter, gas burner, PPE testing, CEN.
