Overview
EN ISO 24232:2025 (ISO 24232:2024) - "Protective clothing - Protection against rain" specifies performance requirements and test methods for materials and readymade garments designed to protect wearers from precipitation (rain, snowflakes), fog and ground humidity. The standard covers testing and classification of outer shell materials, linings and seams for waterproofness and water‑vapour resistance, plus mechanical properties that affect durability and fit. Note: protection for water splashes, waves, and the protective properties of footwear, gloves and separate headwear are excluded.
Key Topics
- Scope and exclusions: Focus on precipitation, fog and ground humidity; excludes splashes/waves and separate PPE items (footwear, gloves, headwear).
- Primary performance metrics:
- Resistance to water penetration (WP) - hydrostatic pressure testing to quantify opposition to water passage.
- Water‑vapour resistance (R) - breathability measured to assess evaporative cooling and wearer comfort.
- Mechanical and dimensional requirements:
- Tensile strength, tear resistance, bursting strength (for knitted outer shells).
- Seam strength and dimensional change after cleaning.
- Test methods and procedures:
- Hydrostatic pressure tests, pre‑treatment of samples, sweating guarded‑hotplate methods for R (see ISO 11092), and optional readymade garment tests (rain tower test).
- Sampling principles and innocuousness (material safety) checks.
- Marking, labelling and manufacturer information:
- Size designation, care labeling, and required information to be supplied with garments.
- Performance assessment principles:
- All individual specimen results must meet requirements; directionality (warp/weft) is considered.
Applications
EN ISO 24232:2025 is intended for:
- PPE manufacturers and apparel designers developing waterproof or water‑resistant protective garments.
- Textile and material suppliers validating outer shell membranes, coatings or laminates for rain protection.
- Testing laboratories performing WP, R and seam tests for certification and quality control.
- Procurement teams and safety officers specifying protective clothing for outdoor workers (construction, utilities, transportation), emergency responders, and other roles exposed to precipitation and ground humidity.
- Regulatory bodies and conformity assessors referencing test methods and labelling requirements for compliance with PPE legislation.
Related Standards
- ISO 11092 - measurement of thermal and water‑vapour resistance (sweating guarded‑hotplate).
- ISO 811 - hydrostatic pressure test (resistance to water penetration).
- ISO 24231 - test method for ready‑made garments against high energy droplets from above (related readymade garment testing).
- ISO 13688 - protective clothing - general requirements.
- Relevant EN and ISO test methods for tensile, tear and bursting strength.
This standard helps ensure objective, repeatable evaluation of rain‑protective clothing performance, balancing waterproofness, breathability, durability and consumer information.
