1. Scope

1.1 This guide is intended to promote the use of standards in the development, specification, and selection of chemical protective clothing with the ultimate goal of improving the safety and health of workers who come into contact with hazardous chemicals.

1.2 Proposed Standards Under Development by ASTM Committee F-23: Test Method for Resistance to Cut Modification of Test Method F739 to include permeation testing under conditions of intermittent chemical contact (Test) Test Method for Resistance to Chemical Protective Clothing Materials to Liquid Contact-Permeation Cup Method Guide for Contaminating, Decontaminating, Evaluating Residual Contamination in Chemical Protective Clothing Reference Materials (Reference Material) Guide for Documenting the Results of Chemical Permeation Testing of Protective Clothing Materials Guide for Classification of Types of Chemical Protective Clothing Guide for Classification of Materials Used in Chemical Protective Clothing Guide for Classification of Chemicals According to Functional Groups Guide for Minimum Documentation and Test Methods for Chemical Protective Clothing Test Method for Quantitatively Measuring Leak Rate of Chemical Protective and Totally-Encapsulating Chemical Protective Suits Practice for Determining the Liquid-Tight Integrity of Chemical Protective Suits Guide for Chemical Protective Clothing Labelling for User Information Practice for Use of Chemical Protective Clothing 1.3 Standards relevant to the work of Committee F-23 are described along with their key reporting elements and limitations.

1.4 Proposed standards of Committee F-23 are also described in order to provide insight into possible future products of the committee.

1.5 The standards and proposed standards are organized under the following headings: Physical Properties, Chemical Resistance, Classification, Chemical Protective Suits, and General.

1.6 Appendix X1 is an example of how the standards can be combined into a protocol for selection of the most suitable protective clothing for a given application. Briefly, the process is one of defining the requirements of the application and then (by testing) eliminating those candidatesthat are unsuitable. No protocol can yield protective clothing that 'guarantees' worker protection, rather the purpose of testing is to generate data and information that will allow the selection of the most appropriate clothing. Ultimately, clothing selection is based on professional judgement and trade-offs.

1.7 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The SI units given in parentheses are for information only.

1.8 This standard does not purport to address the safety problems associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

D747 Test Method for Apparent Bending Modulus of Plastics by Means of a Cantilever Beam

D751 Test Methods for Coated Fabrics

D1630 Test Method for Rubber Property--Abrasion Resistance (Footwear Abrader)

D2582 Test Method for Puncture-Propagation Tear Resistance of Plastic Film and Thin Sheeting

D3389 Test Method for Coated Fabrics Abrasion Resistance (Rotary Platform Abrader)

D4157 Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Textile Fabrics (Oscillatory Cylinder Method)

D4966 Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Textile Fabrics (Martindale Abrasion Tester Method)

D5034 Test Method for Breaking Strength and Elongation of Textile Fabrics (Grab Test)

D5151 Test Method for Detection of Holes in Medical Gloves

D5587 Test Method for Tearing Strength of Fabrics by Trapezoid Procedure

D6413 Test Method for Flame Resistance of Textiles (Vertical Test)

F392 Test Method for Flex Durability of Flexible Barrier Materials

F739 Test Method for Permeation of Liquids and Gases through Protective Clothing Materials under Conditions of Continuous Contact

F903 Test Method for Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing to Penetration by Liquids

F1001 Guide for Selection of Chemicals to Evaluate Protective Clothing Materials

F1052 Test Method for Pressure Testing Vapor Protective Suits

F1154 Practices for Qualitatively Evaluating the Comfort, Fit, Function, and Durability of Protective Ensembles and Ensemble Components

F1186 Classification System for Chemicals According to Functional Groups

F1194 Guide for Documenting the Results of Chemical Permeation Testing of Materials Used in Protective Clothing

F1291 Test Method for Measuring the Thermal Insulation of Clothing Using a Heated Manikin

F1301 Practice for Labeling Chemical Protective Clothing

F1342 Test Method for Protective Clothing Material Resistance to Puncture

F1358 Test Method for Effects of Flame Impingement on Materials Used in Protective Clothing Not Designated Primarily for Flame Resistance

F1359 Test Method for Liquid Penetration Resistance of Protective Clothing or Protective Ensembles Under a Shower Spray While on a Mannequin

F1383 Test Method for Permeation of Liquids and Gases through Protective Clothing Materials under Conditions of Intermittent Contact

F1407 Test Method for Resistance of Chemical Protective Clothing Materials to Liquid Permeation--Permeation Cup Method

F1461 Practice for Chemical Protective Clothing Program

F1494 Terminology Relating to Protective Clothing

F1790 Test Method for Measuring Cut Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing

F2061 Practice for Chemical Protective Clothing: Wearing, Care, and Maintenance Instructions

F2130 Test Method for Measuring Repellency, Retention, and Penetration of Liquid Pesticide Formulation Through Protective Clothing Materials

ANSI Standard

NFPA Standards

Federal Regulations

Keywords

chemical protective clothing; chemical resistance; closure performance; overall clothing performance; physical properties; protective clothing; seam performance; Chemical protective clothing (CPC); Protective clothing;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 13.340.10 (Protective clothing)

DOI: 10.1520/F1296-98

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.