Overview
EN ISO 12127-1:2015 - adopted by CEN as EN ISO 12127-1 - defines a standardized laboratory test method for determining contact heat transmission through protective clothing and constituent materials. The method assesses heat transfer when a heated cylinder contacts a garment or material, and is intended for protective clothing (including hand protectors) designed to guard against high contact temperatures. The procedure is applicable for contact temperatures between 100 °C and 500 °C.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Test principle: a metal heating cylinder is maintained at a set contact temperature and brought into contact with a specimen mounted on a calorimeter; the time until a defined calorimeter temperature rise (threshold time) is recorded.
- Threshold definition: the threshold time is the interval from the start of timing until the calorimeter temperature rises 10 °C above its starting value.
- Specimen and sampling: typically three circular specimens (80 mm diameter) are taken for each contact temperature; additional sets are taken if specimens fail.
- Conditioning: textile specimens must be conditioned before test (textile conditioning period specified in the standard).
- Apparatus: a heating cylinder with a central bore for temperature sensing, a calibrated calorimeter disc, supporting assembly to ensure parallel faces, shielding to avoid radiative heating, and electronic control/recording devices for temperature and timing.
- Control and accuracy: the heating cylinder temperature must be stabilized at the chosen contact temperature and the calorimeter temperature must be measured with high precision; threshold time is reported to 0.1 s.
- Reporting: test reports must reference the standard and include supplier/product identification, contact temperature(s), and threshold time(s), among other details.
Applications and users
- PPE manufacturers use this method to quantify how well garments or glove materials resist heat transfer from hot surfaces.
- Independent testing laboratories and certification bodies apply the standard to support product certification and compliance claims.
- Occupational safety professionals, procurement managers, and designers rely on the measured performance (threshold times at given temperatures) to select materials and garments for high-contact-heat environments (e.g., foundries, glassworks, hot-process manufacturing, firefighting adjuncts).
- The standard supports conformity assessment under relevant EU PPE directives when referenced in product standards.
Related standards
- ISO 12127 series: this document is Part 1 (heating cylinder method). Part 2 covers a different contact heat method (dropping small cylinders).
- EN adoption: the standard is published as EN ISO 12127-1:2015 and endorsed by CEN for national implementation.
Keywords: EN ISO 12127-1:2015, contact heat transmission test, heating cylinder, calorimeter, protective clothing testing, PPE, contact temperatures 100–500 °C.
