ASTM F1296-08(2023)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F1296 − 08 (Reapproved 2023)
Standard Guide for
Evaluating Chemical Protective Clothing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1296; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
ASTM Committee F23 was established in 1976 for the purpose of producing standards for use in
the evaluation of protective clothing. A significant number of these standards have applied to
protection against chemicals. Chemical protective clothing ranges from aprons and gloves to totally
encapsulating ensembles. Chemical protective clothing is widely used throughout in several different
applications including the general industry, the chemical process industry, oil refining, agriculture,
hazardous materials remediation, and emergency response.
The effective development and selection of chemical protective clothing requires information on
several aspects of the clothing, including chemical resistance, physical integrity, comfort, and fit.
Some of these characteristics can be evaluated using swatches of the materials from which the clothing
is fabricated. Other characteristics require testing of the finished items of clothing. Committee F23 has
developed test methods for both types of evaluations.
The successful use of Committee F23’s standards requires an awareness and understanding of each
standard as well as the interrelationship of the standards.
The successful application of chemical protective clothing requires the careful matching of the
proper level of protection and performance characteristics of clothing with the potential hazard and the
functional requirements of the tasks to be performed while wearing the clothing.
1. Scope 1.4 The values stated in SI units or in other units shall be
regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
1.1 This guide is intended to aid in the application of
system must be used independently of the other, without
standards for the development, specification, and selection of
combining values in any way.
chemical protective clothing with the ultimate goal of main-
taining the safety and health of workers who come into contact
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
with hazardous chemicals.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.2 This guide provides a short description of each refer- responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
enced standard and then makes specific recommendations for
the use of these standards. The referenced standards are mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
organized under the following headings: Material Chemical
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
Resistance, Material Physical Properties, Seam and Closure
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
Performance, and Overall Clothing Performance.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
1.3 No protocol can ensure the selection of protective
clothing that guarantees worker protection. The purpose of mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
testing is to generate data and information that will allow the Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
selection of the most appropriate clothing. Ultimately, clothing
selection is based on technical evaluation of available infor-
2. Referenced Documents
mation and professional assessment of risk.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F23 on Personal
Protective Clothing and Equipment and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
F23.30 on Chemicals. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved June 1, 2023. Published June 2023. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1991. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as F1296 – 08 (2015). Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
DOI: 10.1520/F1296-08R23. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F1296 − 08 (2023)
D747 Test Method for Apparent Bending Modulus of Plas- Clothing Materials to Liquid Permeation—Permeation
tics by Means of a Cantilever Beam (Withdrawn 2019) Cup Method
D751 Test Methods for Coated Fabrics F1461 Practice for Chemical Protective Clothing Program
D1630 Test Method for Rubber Property—Abrasion Resis- F1494 Terminology Relating to Protective Clothing
tance (Footwear Abrader) F1790/F1790M Test Method for Measuring Cut Resistance
D2582 Test Method for Puncture-Propagation Tear Resis- of Materials Used in Protective Clothing with CPP Test
tance of Plastic Film and Thin Sheeting Equipment
D3389 Test Method for Coated Fabrics Abrasion Resistance F2061 Practice for Chemical Protective Clothing: Wearing,
(Rotary Platform Abrader) Care, and Maintenance Instructions
D4157 Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Textile F2130 Test Method for Measuring Repellency, Retention,
Fabrics (Oscillatory Cylinder Method) and Penetration of Liquid Pesticide Formulation Through
D4966 Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Textile Protective Clothing Materials
Fabrics (Martindale Abrasion Tester Method)
2.2 ANSI Standard:
D5034 Test Method for Breaking Strength and Elongation of
ANSI Z41 American National Standard for Personal
Textile Fabrics (Grab Test)
Protection—Protective Footwear
D5151 Test Method for Detection of Holes in Medical
2.3 ANSI/ISEA Standard:
Gloves
ANSI/ISEA 105 American National Standard for Hand Pro-
D5587 Test Method for Tearing Strength of Fabrics by
tection Selection Criteria
Trapezoid Procedure
2.4 NFPA Standards:
D6413/D6413M Test Method for Flame Resistance of Tex-
NFPA 1991 Standard on Vapor-Protective Ensemble for
tiles (Vertical Test)
Hazardous Materials Emergencies
F392/F392M Practice for Conditioning Flexible Barrier Ma-
NFPA 1992 Standard on Liquid Splash-Protective Ensemble
terials for Flex Durability
and Clothing for Hazardous Materials Emergencies
F739 Test Method for Permeation of Liquids and Gases
NFPA 1994 Standard on Protective Ensemble for Chemical/
Through Protective Clothing Materials Under Conditions
Biological Terrorism Incidents
of Continuous Contact 7
2.5 Federal Regulations:
F903 Test Method for Resistance of Materials Used in
29 CFR Part 1910.120 Hazardous Waste Operations and
Protective Clothing to Penetration by Liquids
Emergency Response: Final Rule, Federal Register, Vol
F1001 Guide for Selection of Chemicals to Evaluate Protec-
54, Mar. 6, 1989, p. 9317, as amended in Federal Register,
tive Clothing Materials
Vol 55, Apr. 13, 1990, p. 14073; Federal Register, Vol 56,
F1052 Test Method for Pressure Testing Vapor Protective
Apr. 18, 1991, p. 15382 and Federal Register, Vol 59,
Suits
Aug. 22, 1994, p. 43270
F1154 Practices for Evaluating the Comfort, Fit, Function,
29 CFR Part 1910.132 General Requirements of Subpart
and Durability of Protective Ensembles, Ensemble
I—Personal Protective Equipment, Federal Register, Vol
Elements, and Other Components
39, Jun. 27, 1974, p. 23502, as amended in Federal
F1186 Classification System for Chemicals According to
Register, Vol 59, Apr. 6, 1994, p. 16334 and Federal
Functional Groups
Register, Vol 59, July 1, 1994, p. 33910
F1194 Guide for Documenting the Results of Chemical
29 CFR Part 1910.1000 Air Contaminants, Federal Register,
Permeation Testing of Materials Used in Protective Cloth-
Vol. 39, June 27, 1974
ing
2.6 American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hy-
F1291 Test Method for Measuring the Thermal Insulation of
gienists:
Clothing Using a Heated Manikin
TLVs® and BEIs®: Threshold Limit Values for Chemical
F1301 Practice for Labeling Chemical Protective Clothing
Substances and Physical Agents; Biological Exposure
F1342/F1342M Test Method for Protective Clothing Mate-
Indices
rial Resistance to Puncture
F1358/F1358M Test Method for Effects of Flame Impinge-
3. Terminology
ment on Materials Used in Protective Clothing Not
3.1 Definitions:
Designated Primarily for Flame Resistance
F1359/F1359M Test Method for Liquid Penetration Resis-
tance of Protective Clothing or Protective Ensembles 4
Available from National Safety Council (NSC), 1121 Spring Lake Dr., Itasca,
Under a Shower Spray While on a Manikin IL 60143-3201, http://www.nsc.org.
Available from Industrial Safety Equipment Association, 1901 North Moore
F1383 Test Method for Permeation of Liquids and Gases
Street, Suite 808, Arlington, VA 22209.
Through Protective Clothing Materials Under Conditions
Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch
of Intermittent Contact
Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471, http://www.nfpa.org.
Available from U.S. Government Printing Office Superintendent of Documents,
F1407 Test Method for Resistance of Chemical Protective
732 N. Capitol St., NW, Mail Stop: SDE, Washington, DC 20401, http://
www.access.gpo.gov.
Available from American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists,
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on Inc. (ACGIH), 1330 Kemper Meadow Dr., Suite 600, Cincinnati, OH 45240,
www.astm.org. http://www.acgih.org.
F1296 − 08 (2023)
3.1.1 protective clothing, n—an item of clothing that is 5. Evaluation of Material Chemical Resistance
specifically designed and constructed for the intended purpose
5.1 Applicable Standards:
of isolating all or part of the body from a potential hazard; or,
5.1.1 Test Method F739 (Resistance of Protective Clothing
isolating the external environment from contamination by the
Materials to Permeation by Liquids or Gases Under Condi-
wearer of the clothing.
tions of Continuous Contact)—The resistance of a protective
3.1.2 For definitions of other terms related to protective
clothing material to permeation by a test chemical is assessed
clothing used in this guide, refer to Terminology F1494.
by measuring the breakthrough detection time, normalized
breakthrough detection time, and subsequent permeation rate
4. Significance and Use
through replicate specimens of the material.
4.1 The standards under the jurisdiction of Committee F23
5.1.1.1 In the permeation test apparatus, the protective
and other technical committees can be used individually or as
clothing material specimen separates the test chemical from the
part of an integrated protocol in the development, selection,
collection medium. The liquid or gas collection medium is
specification, and use of chemical protective clothing.
analyzed quantitatively for the challenge chemical concentra-
4.2 The standards are intended as a means by which
tion that permeates through the test specimen as a function of
information can be requested, generated, and reported in a time after it contacts the material.
consistent, comparable manner.
5.1.1.2 Test Method F739 permits several configurations of
the test, including the choice of collection media, detection
4.3 The suggested evaluation and test methods are recom-
systems, the test temperature, and length of the test.
mended guidelines only. Test methods offer procedures for
5.1.2 Test Method F1383 (Resistance of Protective Clothing
evaluating chemical protective clothing at standardized condi-
tions to allow comparison. Materials to Permeation by Liquids or Gases Under Condi-
tions of Intermittent Contact)—This test method is a variation
4.4 The information on clothing performance must be com-
of Test Method F739 and is used to measure breakthrough
bined with professional judgment and a clear understanding of
detection time and permeation rate through specimens of
the clothing application to provide the best protection to the
protective clothing under the conditions of intermittent contact
worker. All chemical protective clothing use must be based on
of the test chemical with the specimen.
a hazard assessment to determine the risks for exposure to
5.1.2.1 Test Method F1383 is designed to simulate the type
chemicals and other hazards. Conduct hazard assessments in
of chemical exposures where chemical contact occurs through
accordance with 29 CFR 1910.132.
periodic exposure or through repeated splashes depending on
4.5 Chemical protective clothing intended for use during
the type of task in which the clothing wearer is involved.
hazardous materials emergencies shall be evaluated against and
5.1.2.2 Test Method F1383 permits several options for
conform to NFPA 1991, Standard on Vapor-Protective En-
specifying the frequency and length of chemical contact with
semble for Hazardous Materials Emergencies, or NFPA 1992,
the material specimens. Because chemical contact with the
Standard on Liquid Splash-Protective Ensemble and Clothing
specimen is varied, the test method specifies the reporting of
for Hazardous Materials Emergencies, as appropriate for the
cumulative permeation as opposed to permeation rate. One of
type of emergency. For emergencies involving release of
the options for using Test Method F1383 is to measure the
chemical agents during terrorism incidents, chemical protec-
length of time for a specific chemical to permeate through a
tive clothing shall be evaluated against and conform to NFPA
candidate clothing material after a single “splash” exposure
1994, Standard on Protective Ensemble for Chemical/
followed by a saturated vapor exposure. This test protocol can
Biological Terrorism Incidents.
simulate how clothing is exposed during actual use.
4.6 Recommendations for labeling chemical protective
5.1.3 Test Method F1407 (Resistance of Chemical Protec-
F1301, recommendations for
clothing are provided in Practice
tive Clothing Materials to Liquid Permeation—Permeation
implementing a chemical protective clothing program are
Cup Method)—In this test method, permeation of chemicals
provided in Practice F1461, and recommendations for prepar-
through a clothing specimen is measured gravimetrically. The
ing care and maintenance instructions are provided in Practice
chemical is placed in a shallow cup and the clothing specimen
F2061.
clamped over the top of the cup. The interior surface of the
4.7 Appendix X1 is an example of how several of the clothing surface is left open to air. The cup assembly is
referenced standards can be combined into a protocol to select
weighed periodically, and from the change in weight, the
the most suitable chemical protective clothing for a given permeation rate calculated and the breakthrough time esti-
application. Briefly, the process is one of defining the require-
mated. The clothing material specimen is also observed for
ments of the application and then (by testing) eliminating those visible changes in appearance that would indicate chemical
candidates that are unsuitable.
degradation.
5.1.3.1 Physical properties of the clothing specimen can be
4.8 Appendix X2 provides a chart to cross reference U.S.
measured before and after the exposure as another means for
Standards with European and International Standards. This
assessing chemical resistance.
chart shows only analogous standards for measuring the same
property or evaluating the similar chemical protective clothing 5.1.3.2 Test Method F1407 is applicable to chemicals with
and does not imply that results from different tests will be sufficiently high vapor pressure such that they will readily
comparable. evaporate upon permeation through the clothing material. The
F1296 − 08 (2023)
test cannot distinguish the permeation of different chemicals 5.2 Recommended Use of Standards:
from a chemical mixture. 5.2.1 This guide lists recommended challenge chemicals to
5.1.4 Test Method F903 (Resistance of Materials Used In be used in testing programs to evaluate chemical protective
Protective Clothing to Penetration by Liquids)—This test clothing materials. The guide contains a list of 15 liquids and
method is used to evaluate the barrier effectiveness of protec- six gases representing many different classes of chemicals,
tive clothing materials against liquids. such as inorganic acids, bases, ketones, aldehydes, amines, and
5.1.4.1 In penetration resistance testing, a material speci- hydrocarbons. These chemicals serve as a useful means for
men is subjected to a liquid contact for a specified time and comparing the performance of protective clothing materials
pressure sequence and observed for visible penetration of the against a common set of chemicals.
liquid. If the liquid passes through the material, the material
NOTE 2—ANSI/ISEA 105 provides a test method for the evaluation of
fails the test for resistance to penetration of the liquid. Test
chemical degradation resistance for glove materials. While chemical
Method F903 permits the use of techniques such as the use of
degradation resistance information is used extensively for gloves and for
some chemical protective splash suits and footwear, chemical degradation
blotter paper and dyes to enhance the visual detection of
resistance information does not provide an assessment of the clothing
penetration. Results are reported as “pass” or “fail.”
barrier performance. Rather, chemical degradation resistance information
5.1.4.2 Test Method F903 specifies four different time and
can only be used to exclude a material from further consideration.
pressure sequences representing different types of exposure
5.2.2 The type of chemical resistance testing recommended
scenarios. The test method also permits the use of a support
for evaluating materials used in chemical protective clothing
screen for lightweight or elastomeric films.
will depend on several factors including:
5.1.5 Test Method F2130 (Measuring Repellency, Retention,
5.2.2.1 The physical state of the chemical(s).
and Penetration of Liquid Pesticide Formulation Through
5.2.2.2 The likelihood for exposure and the exposure sce-
Protective Clothing Material)—This test method measures
nario (that is, control and extent of exposure, duration, work
repellency, retention, and penetration of a known volume of
mission, environmental conditions, other hazards and
liquid pesticide when applied to protective clothing material.
influences, etc.).
No external hydrostatic or mechanical pressure is applied to the
5.2.2.3 The hazards of the chemical and consequences of
test specimen during or after the application of the liquid
exposure.
pesticide. Test Method F2130 is designed to measure perfor-
5.2.3 Permeation resistance testing in accordance with Test
mance of protective clothing materials at two levels of con-
Method F739 or Test Method F1383 is recommended for
tamination. A low level of contamination is achieved by
chemicals which are gases, liquids that produce vapors, or any
applying the 0.1 mL liquid formulation and a high level of
chemical that presents a high hazard for skin exposure.
contamination is achieved by applying 0.2 mL.
5.2.3.1 Permeation resistance testing is generally recom-
5.1.6 Classification F1186 (Classification System for
mended for evaluating gloves since the hands are most likely to
Chemicals According to Functional Groups)—This classifica-
come in contact with chemicals.
tion provides a method of categorizing chemicals by their
5.2.3.2 When the expected exposure to chemicals is
function group, which is helpful in grouping permeation
continuous, Test Method F739 should be applied for evaluating
resistance test data for large numbers of chemicals and mate-
protective clothing materials.
rials.
5.2.3.3 If exposure is intermittent and no change of clothing
NOTE 1—Chemical resistance data are available for only a very small
occurs, Test Method F1383 should be applied with a contact
fraction of the chemicals for which protective clothing is used. However,
time, purge time, and frequency representative of the expected
for chemicals for which no data are available, knowledge of the chemical
exposure.
class can sometimes give insight into the expected resistance of prospec-
tive clothing material. Hazard analyses must be performed in accordance
5.2.3.4 In specifying permeation resistance testing, the
with 29 CFR 1910.132.
minimum test parameters should include the test chemical, its
5.1.7 Guide F1194 (Documenting the Results of Chemical concentration (if not 100 %), the method of contact (continu-
ous or intermittent), the test temperature, and the duration of
Permeation Testing of Materials Used in Protective
Clothing)—This guide establishes a format and the details for the test.
5.2.3.5 Permeation resistance test results should be docu-
completely reporting permeation resistance test results. The
guide assists with the development of a chemical permeation mented using Guide F1194.
5.2.4 Permeation resistance testing in accordance with Test
resistance database. This guide is also intended to encourage
thorough and consistent documentation of permeation testing Method F1407 is recommended for field testing or as a
preliminary test to the more costly Test Method F739.
and its results.
5.1.8 Guide F1001 (Selection of Chemicals to Evaluate 5.2.5 Penetration resistance testing in accordance with Test
Protective Clothing Materials)—This guide lists recommended Method F903 is recommended when the chemical is a liquid
challenge chemicals to be used in testing programs to evaluate but is not a known or suspected carcinogen, or has a “skin”
notation, as indicated in either the American Conference of
chemical protective clothing materials. The guide contains a
list of 15 liquids and six gases representing many different Governmental Industrial Hygienist TLVs and BEIs (Threshold
Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents;
classes of chemicals, such as inorganic acids, bases, ketones,
aldehydes, amines, and hydrocarbons. These chemicals serve Biological Exposure Indices) or in 29 CFR 1910.1000.
as a useful means for comparing the performance of protective 5.2.5.1 Penetration resistance testing is generally not appro-
clothing materials against a common set of chemicals. priate for chemicals that are volatile under the conditions of use
F1296 − 08 (2023)
where contact with the vapor at the exposure concentration is unsupported elastomeric materials. In this test method, tear
considered unacceptable. strength is measured on a specimen that has a small cut along
5.2.5.2 Penetration resistance testing is generally appropri- one side and the tear strength is the average force required to
ate when the exposure to low-hazard liquid chemicals is continue the tear of the specimen. Tear strength is reported in
limited and occurs in the form of splashes. both directions for anisotropic materials.
5.2.5.3 In specifying penetration resistance testing, the
6.1.3 Test Method D751 (Methods of Testing Coated
minimum test parameters should include the test chemical and
Fabrics)—This standard includes a collection of test methods
the time and pressure sequence.
appropriate for coated fabrics, but which may also be applied
5.2.6 Penetration and repellency testing of protective cloth-
to different types of protective clothing fabrics. Test methods of
ing for use in agricultural operations against pesticide formu-
interest include methods for evaluating burst strength, seam
lations should be evaluated in accordance with Test Method strength, and blocking resistance. The burst strength method is
F2130.
conducted using a tensile testing machine and measures the
5.2.7 Specimens for chemical resistance testing should be force to push a 25 mm ball through the specimen. Seam
representative of the materials used in the construction of
strength is conducted in a manner similar to tensile strength
protective clothing. testing, but the specimen includes a seam bisecting the long
5.2.7.1 Where practical, specimens should be taken from
axis.
protective clothing items. Areas that include seams should also
6.1.4 Test Method D2582 (Puncture-Propagation Tear Re-
be tested.
sistance of Plastic Film and Thin Sheeting)—This test method
5.2.7.2 For gloves and footwear, specimens should be taken
evaluates the resistance of plastic materials to a snagging like
from the thinnest portion of the gloves and boots that yields the
puncture and tear. In this test method, the material specimen is
appropriately sized specimens.
clamped onto a holder of a special test apparatus and a
5.2.7.3 Where different materials are used in the construc-
weighted carriage including a puncture probe falls by the force
tion of the protective clothing item, each different material
of gravity such that the probe strikes the fabric, puncturing the
should be tested for chemical resistance.
material and then causing it to tear. The length of the tear is
5.2.8 Protective clothing materials should be evaluated
related to the force that causes the puncture and tear. Puncture
against each chemical of interest.
propagation tear resistance is reported in both directions for
5.2.8.1 The chemical(s) should b
...