EN 14058

EN 14058 is a European standard that pertains to protective clothing designed to provide protection against cold environments, including both air temperature and wind conditions. The title of the standard is “Protective clothing – Garments for protection against cool environments.” It falls under the category of personal protective equipment (PPE) and is intended to ensure that protective clothing worn in cold conditions offers effective insulation and protection to the wearer.

EN 14058 specifies the requirements and testing methods for protective clothing garments that are designed to protect against cool environments, including both cold air temperatures and wind chill effects. The standard aims to ensure that workers exposed to cool conditions are adequately protected from the hazards of cold stress, which can lead to discomfort, reduced body temperature, and other health issues.

The main parameters covered by EN 14058 include:

1. Thermal Insulation: The clothing’s ability to provide thermal insulation is tested to ensure it offers adequate protection against heat loss in cool conditions.
2. Air Permeability: This parameter evaluates the clothing’s resistance to wind penetration, which is important to prevent wind chill and maintain warmth.
3. Water Vapor Resistance: The standard assesses the clothing’s ability to allow water vapor (perspiration) to escape while preventing external moisture from entering. This is important to maintain comfort and prevent dampness.
4. Resistance to Water Penetration: EN 14058 includes a test for resistance to water penetration to assess the garment’s ability to resist moisture.
5. Optional Requirements: The standard also provides optional requirements for additional features such as breathability, moisture management, and visibility.

EN 14058 categorizes protective clothing into different performance levels based on its ability to provide thermal protection against cool conditions. The clothing is assigned a four-digit code that indicates its thermal insulation, air permeability, and water vapor resistance properties.

For example, the code “X3Y2Z1” could represent a garment that offers moderate thermal insulation (X3), low air permeability (Y2), and moderate water vapor resistance (Z1).