Protective clothing certification
Clothing protecting against heat and flame is Category III PPE: it protects the wearer's life, so every performance level behind the marking must be demonstrated by measurement. Certification is a notified body's procedure — and BIMEO covers this field alongside footwear and gloves.
Which products?
- heat- and flame-protective clothing (EN ISO 11612) — garments for industrial, metallurgical and energy-sector environments;
- welding protective clothing (EN ISO 11611) — Class 1 and 2, against molten-metal splash and short-duration flame;
- general requirements (EN ISO 13688) — for all protective clothing, alongside the product-specific standard.
What we measure on the garment
The thermal performance levels — including radiant heat protection and limited flame spread — are measured with our own laboratory's equipment, as are material and seam strength, abrasion and flexing endurance. Development measurement and type-examination therefore run to the same technical standard, in separated roles.
The procedure
- Enquiry: identifying the product, the target standard and the performance levels aimed for.
- Technical documentation submission per Regulation (EU) 2016/425.
- EU type-examination (Module B): examination of the type sample against the standard's requirements.
- Certificate on a conforming result.
- For Category III: ongoing production surveillance under Module C2 or D.
Frequently asked questions
What does EN ISO 11612 cover, and what does EN ISO 11611?
EN ISO 11612 is the general standard for heat- and flame-protective clothing: limited flame spread plus performance levels against convective (B), radiant (C) and contact (F) heat and splashes of molten aluminium and iron (D, E). EN ISO 11611 is specifically for clothing used in welding and allied processes (Class 1 and 2). A garment can be certified to both where the intended use justifies it.
Is EN ISO 13688 enough on its own for CE marking?
No. EN ISO 13688 sets the general requirements (innocuousness, sizing, marking, comfort characteristics) that apply to all protective clothing — but it is always applied together with a product-specific standard such as EN ISO 11612 or EN ISO 11611.
What samples and documentation are needed?
Finished garments as intended for series production, in the planned size, plus material samples that allow the fabrics and seams to be identified; and the technical documentation required by the Regulation (material data, construction drawings, user information, risk analysis). After your enquiry we send an exact sample and document list.
Can a manufacturer outside the EU certify with you?
Yes. The procedure runs remotely with English documentation and courier samples. Our page for non-EU manufacturers covers the details.
Related standards
Start a certification enquiry
Tell us which product needs EU type-examination and against which standard — we will explain the procedure steps and the documentation required.
Start an enquiry