This document specifies test methods and minimum performance requirements for protective clothing used by firefighters who are engaged in support activities of firefighting. This clothing is not intended for interior attack firefighting. These support activities of firefighting are defined (see 3.8.2) as activities such as:
-
— water and material supply;
-
— extinguishing fires from the outside of the structure;
-
— prevention of exterior spreading to adjacencies, preventing enviromental damage and limiting effect of smoke;
-
— securing traffic and environment;
-
— first aid base activities.
This document covers the general clothing design, the minimum performance levels of the materials used, and the methods of test for determining these performance levels.
This document is not equivalent to ISO 11999-3, clothing worn by firefighters who are at risk of exposure to high levels of heat and/or flame while fighting fires occurring in structures. This document provides lower minimum level of protection.
This document does not cover special clothing for use in other high risk situations such as specialized firefighting, or clothing for use in long term firefighting operations in high ambient temperature, for example bush, wildland, or forest firefighting where clothing according to ISO 15384 could be more appropriate. It does not cover clothing for use in high-risk fire exposures, for example reflective protective clothing according to ISO 15538 could be more appropriate.
It does not cover protection for the head, hands and feet or protection against other hazards, for example chemical, biological, radiation and electrical hazards. These aspects can be dealt with in other standards.