EN343 norm_en.qxd 02.05.

2007 9:24 Uhr Seite 1

EN 343:2003 can be obtained from the website of the

British Standards Institute
(http://bsonline.techindex.co.uk).

Further information about the content of the standard,

the performance requirements it describes and the test
methods for rainproof clothing as well as the details of
particular classes of protective clothing can be provided
by test institutes, specialist retailers or manufacturers.
If you have specific questions about choosing suitable
rainproof clothing, contact your Personal Protective
Equipment Technical Committee.

©2004 W. L. Gore & Associates GmbH. D 851. TEGT3267L02.

W. L. Gore & Associates UK Ltd.

Tel.: +44 1506 460123

gore-workwear.com
 EN343 norm_en.qxd 02.05.2007 9:24 Uhr Seite 2

DIE EUROPEAN STANDARD

EN 343:2003
>

PROTECTION AGAINST RAIN

©2004 W. L. Gore & Associates GmbH. D 851. TEGT3267L02.

Published by W. L. Gore & Associates

Editorial support Petra Jakisch,
Zentrum für Sicherheitstechnik, Erkrath,
Deutschland
EN343 norm_en.qxd 02.05.2007 9:24 Uhr Seite 3

Suitable protection against inclement weather is one of

the main functions of protective work clothing – not least
because a considerable proportion of employees work
partly or wholly in the open air.
However, in a context of European directives and national
laws and regulations, employers often do not find it easy
to choose suitable protective clothing for their employees.
European standard EN 343:2003 “Protection against rain”,
which was published at the end of 2003, makes it easier
to find one’s way.
This brochure first explains the standard and in part two
gives advice on equipping employees with rainproof clo-
thing.
EN343 norm_en.qxd 02.05.2007 9:24 Uhr Seite 4

Part I
The EN 343:2003 Standard

A European standard is a technical norm defining uniform

standards for products or materials.
A harmonized European standard, which – like EN
343:2003 – has been published in the European Union’s
Official Journal, can be used to demonstrate compliance
with statutory or regulatory requirements. It is therefore an
aid that is often used in practice to assess products or
materials. Suppliers and users both benefit from it.

1.It is easier for the supplier to apply the CE marking to

products or materials and sell them inside the EU if they
comply with the standard.

2.The user can make an objective comparison of products

or materials by referring to the uniform requirements in the
standard. In addition to the CE marking, special standardi-
zed markings provide information about characteristics
and performance classes.

3
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Employee health and safety in the workplace is an impor-

tant matter in the EU. The German legislator for example
has en-acted the Product and Equipment Safety Law
(GPSG) and the Occupational Health and Safety Law in
this area, together with the relevant implementing provi-
sions. Whilst the GPSG deals with the product require-
>
ments, the Occupational Health and Safety Law and cor-
responding regulations focus on the safety of the employ-
ee in the workplace.
If an employee is exposed to rain or foul weather for
example, a proper protective clothing (PPE = Personal
Protective Equipment) is required. The requirements that
>
rainproof clothing must satisfy are set out in the Product
and Equipment Safety Law. Similar conditions exist in all
EU countries.

TESTING REQUIREMENTS
Water proofness and water vapour permeability are the
main requirements for rainproof clothing materials.
Relevant test methods are therefore a core feature of the
EN 343:2003:

> Water proofness relates to water coming through the

protective clothing materials from the outside (e. g. due
to rain, fog, snow).

> Water vapour permeability (usually called “breathability”)

describes the physical capacity of the material to allow
water vapour, sweat etc. to escape from the inside to the
outside.

4
EN343 norm_en.qxd 02.05.2007 9:24 Uhr Seite 6

EN 343:2003 also contains requirements concerning the

tensile strength, tear strength, seam strength and dimen-
sional change resistance of the material:

> The mechanical strength requirements, i.e. the tensile,

tear and seam strengths, apply in each case to the outer
layer of material used to make the protective garment – for
laminated fabrics, to all layers that are firmly attached to
the outer material.

> Each individual layer of material used to make the pro-

tective garment is checked for dimensional change, to
ensure that the clothing does not lose its shape or fit.

TEST METHODS
The protective clothing materials are tested for conformity
with these requirements. To guide the user regarding the
degree of water proofness or water vapour permeability (=
breathability) of the materials used to make the rainproof
clothing,
EN 343:2003 defines three classes for each property.
In addition, the standard stipulates that the user shall be
informed of the respective performance class of the
material by means of a marking in the rainproof garment.

Klassenangabe zum
EN 343Wasserdurchgangswider
stand
X (= Wasserdichtheit)
X Klassenangabe zum Wasser-
dampfdurchgangswiderstand
(= Wasserdampfdurchlässigkeit)

5
EN343 norm_en.qxd 02.05.2007 9:24 Uhr Seite 7

WATER PROOFNESS

Water proofness of the material is tested by assessing the

degree of resistance to water penetration (Wp).
Hydrostatic pressure is measured in a column of water (in
Pascals) until water penetrates the material.
If the non-pretreated material resists at least 8000 Pa, it
is a Class 1 material. If it is subjected to certain pretreat-
ments be-fore the water proofness test and resists 8000
to 13000 Pa, it is a Class 2 or 3 material, depending on
the degree of pressure.
During pretreatment, the material is exposed to certain
stresses: washing and/or dry-cleaning, abrasion, flexing
and contamination with oil and fuel.
For each pretreatment a new sample material is used.
The seams are tested only on non-pretreated samples.

CLASS 3

<130 cm ≥130 cm >

CLASS 2
CLASS 1

≥80 cm ≥80 cm
>

>
Wp≥8 000 Pa Wp≥8 000 Pa Wp≥13000 Pa
no pretreatment with pretreatment
1000 Pa = 10 cm water column = 0,01 bar

6
EN343 norm_en.qxd 02.05.2007 9:24 Uhr Seite 8

WATER VAPOUR PERMEABILITY

Water vapour permeability is tested by measuring the

resistance to water vapour, expressed as a Ret value. The
lower the Ret, the higher the water vapour permeability
(breathability) of the material and thus its physiological
characteristics.

0
CLASS 3

20
CLASS 2

40
CLASS 1

Ret
(m2 Pa/W)

Major differences between the previous ENV 343:1998

and the EN 343:2003 <
WATER PROOFNESS
> Classes 2 and 3: Also materials with an outer layer
coating are pretreated by abrasion before the water
penetration test.

WATER VAPOUR PERMEABILITY

> Class 1: Protective clothing made of material with a
water vapour resistance of more than Ret 40 must carry a
warning about limited wearing times.

> Class 2: The lower threshold for the water vapour

resistance of materials in this class has been changed
from Ret 150 to 40.

7
EN343 norm_en.qxd 02.05.2007 9:24 Uhr Seite 9

RECOMMENDED WEARING TIMES

Because the water vapour permeability of the material is

very important for the physiological wear properties of
the garments, the standard includes a summary table
with recommended maximum wearing times for the indi-
vidual performance classes. In this summary table four
different ambient temperatures at a constant physical
effort are being considered. However, a change in the
physical effort will influence the recommended continuous
wearing time of the respective performance class.
The standard requires the overview to be reproduced in
the manufacturer’s information leaflet for Class 1 protec-
tive wear, so that the user is informed about possible
restrictions in the use of the garment. In addition the
marking in the clothing must contain the restricted wearing
time warning.

EN 343:2003 recommended continuous wearing times

12

10

8
Zeit [h]

0
10 15 20 25 Temperature [°C]

CLASS 3 CLASS 2 CLASS 1

Ret ≤ 20 20 < Ret ≤ 40 40 < Ret

Table valid for medium physical effort (150 W/m2),

standard-man, at 50% relative humidity and a
wind speed of va=0,5m/s
8
 EN343 norm_en.qxd 02.05.2007 9:24 Uhr Seite 10

MAIN REQUIREMENTS OF EN 343:2003 AT A GLANCE

Scope Protection against rain

Testing range Assessment of materials, not of
made-up garments
Protective No testing of thermal insulation and
clothing components no marks for removable thermal linings
tested
Water Class 1: Material without pretreatment and
proofness seams ≥ 8000 Pa
test Class 2: Material with pretreatment and
seams ≥ 8000 Pa
classification
Class 3: Material with pretreatment and
seams ≥ 13000 Pa
seams are not pretreated

ntinuous wearing times Pretreatment for Washing / Dry-cleaning (5 cycles)

water Abrasion (for all materials) (1000 cycles)
penetration Flexing (9000 cycles)
test Contamination with fuel and oil
Water vapour New Classification:
permeability Class 1: Ret > 40
test Class 2: 20 < Ret ≤ 40
classification Class 3: Ret ≤ 20
Wearing time Examples of recommended wearing times –
based on the new classification of
water vapour permeability
20 25 Temperature [°C]
Marking Pictogram indicating the performance class;
Additional warning about restricted wearing
time for rainproof clothing in
hysical effort (150 W/m2),
water vapour permeability class 1
lative humidity and a
s
9
EN343 norm_en.qxd 02.05.2007 9:24 Uhr Seite 11

Part II

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON EQUIPPING

EMPLOYEES WITH RAINPROOF CLOTHING

The following questions and answers are particularly desi-

gned for employers and safety officers who are looking for
information about the EN 343:2003.

1.Who is responsible for European standards?

The European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) is
responsible for drafting European Standards (EN). CEN
members are the national standards institutes e.g. in the
member states of the EU
(BSI in UK). Technical experts representing manufacturers,
users and test institutes from various European countries
work together in the standardisation committees and wor-
king groups to produce standards that will unify product
requirements across Europe.

2. Is rainproof clothing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)?

Rainproof clothing for the workplace comes within the
scope of the EU Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Directive. The directive is intended to ensure the suitability
of PPE to protect the wearer from health and accident
risks. The PPE bears a CE marking, which shows that the
product meets the basic health and safety requirements.

3.Must the rainproof clothing in current use now be

replaced by protective clothing according to
EN 343:2003?
A new standard does not automatically mean that new
protective wear must be acquired.
According to the Use of PPE Regulation, Personal
Protective Equipment that is made available by the
employer must be CE marked. Protective clothing already
in use and hitherto considered to comply with the directive
can definitely continue to be used.
However, attention should be paid to the performance
characteristics when rainproof clothing is to be used. The
markings on the garments and the manufacturer’s infor-
mation leaflet provide details of the testing on which the
manufacture of the rainproof clothing was based.

10
EN343 norm_en.qxd 02.05.2007 9:24 Uhr Seite 12

4.Must new rainproof clothing meet the EN 343:2003

standard?
Standards are not necessarily the decisive factor regarding
the capabilities of a product but rather the regulations pres-
cribed by law, i.e. EU guidelines and the PPE directive.
Nevertheless, European standards are very often used as
a guideline to make it easier to compare products und make
a final choice.

5. How can I identify the ‘right’ rainproof clothing?

The “right” rainproof clothing can only be identified by
looking at the intended application. If the workplace risk
assessment shows rainproof clothing to be necessary, the
performance characteristics required must be defined to
suit the working conditions, taking into account factors
such as the precise activity involved, duration of the work
etc. Suitable rainproof clothing can then be chosen on
that basis.

11