Overview
EN ISO 19918:2017/A1:2021 is an official amendment to the international test method for protective clothing that measures cumulative permeation of chemicals with low vapour pressure through materials. Published by CEN in March 2021 (ISO 19918:2017/Amd 1:2021 adopted as EN ISO 19918:2017/A1:2021), this amendment adds requirements for extraction and chemical analysis of the collector medium used in permeation testing.
This document is intended for laboratories, manufacturers and conformity assessment bodies involved in PPE testing, ensuring reliable measurement of chemical permeation for substances that have low vapor pressure.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope update: Focuses on procedures for extraction of the test substance from the collector disc and its subsequent chemical analysis.
- Limit of quantification (LOQ) change: The LOQ requirement is revised from “0,1 µg/cm or lower” to “0,05 µg/mL or lower”, reflecting the analytical sensitivity required for low-vapour-pressure chemicals.
- Extraction procedure requirement: Amendment adds a new clause specifying that an extraction or other suitable procedure shall be used to recover the test substance from the collector disc. The procedure must demonstrate an extraction efficiency as specified in clause 6.2 of the standard.
- Test method integrity: By mandating defined LOQ and documented extraction efficiency, the amendment strengthens data quality for cumulative permeation results and comparability between testing laboratories.
Practical applications and users
This amendment is directly applicable to:
- PPE manufacturers developing or validating chemical-protective garments, gloves and barriers for low-vapour-pressure hazards.
- Test laboratories performing permeation testing to ISO/CEN protocols who need to demonstrate analytical sensitivity and extraction performance.
- Certification and regulatory bodies assessing compliance of protective clothing against chemical exposures.
- Procurement and safety professionals who rely on validated permeation data for selecting appropriate protective clothing.
- R&D teams and material scientists optimizing barrier materials and coatings for low-vapour-pressure chemicals.
Related standards
- EN ISO 19918:2017 - base standard for cumulative permeation measurement.
- ISO 19918:2017/Amd 1:2021 - original international amendment text adopted by CEN.
- Developed by ISO/TC 94 (Personal protective equipment) in collaboration with CEN/TC 162 (Protective clothing).
Keywords: protective clothing, chemical permeation, low vapour pressure, cumulative permeation, extraction, chemical analysis, limit of quantification (LOQ), EN ISO 19918, PPE testing, permeation testing standard.
