SIST EN 1073-2:2002

Overview

SIST EN 1073-2:2002 is a European Standard developed by CEN that specifies the requirements and test methods for non-ventilated protective clothing designed to protect the wearer against particulate radioactive contamination. This standard focuses on clothing intended to shield the body, arms, and legs from contamination by radioactive particles. It excludes protection against ionizing radiation and contamination protection for patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic radioactive procedures.

The standard is crucial for industries and environments where workers are exposed to radioactive particles but do not require full respiratory protection or ventilated suits.

Key Topics

Scope and Application

• Protects only the body, arms, and legs; additional accessories (e.g., gloves, boots, respiratory protective equipment) protect other body parts as specified in other standards.
• Non-ventilated, meaning the suit is not supplied with clean air and does not maintain positive pressure inside.
• Applicable to both single-use and reusable protective clothing.

Design Requirements

• The clothing must be easy to put on and remove to minimize contamination risk.
• Must reduce physiological stress on the wearer.
• Can be a single garment or a combination designed to be worn with accessories.
• Tested with accessories fitted, according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Material Criteria

• Materials must have high abrasion resistance, puncture resistance, tear resistance, and resistance to ignition.
• Materials undergo conditioning and testing to simulate actual use and cleaning cycles for reusable suits.
• Standard classifies materials and garments according to test results (abrasion cycles, puncture force, tear force, etc.).

Protection Performance

• Measured by the Nominal Protection Factor (NPF), which is the ratio of ambient particle concentration to particle concentration inside the suit.
• Total Inward Leakage (TIL) is quantified to classify protective performance.
• Classification ensures a minimum protection level (class 1 or above).

Seam and Joins Strength

• Seam strength and integrity are critical to prevent particulate ingress.
• Specific seam strength thresholds classify the garment.
• Joins and assemblages between clothing and detachable parts (gloves, boots) are pull-tested for durability.

Testing Procedures

• Includes practical performance tests simulating realistic movements like walking and handling materials.
• Tests are performed under controlled temperature and humidity.
• Visual inspection and preconditioning simulate real industrial conditions.
• Test subjects evaluate comfort, ease of movement, and fastening security during the practical performance test.
• Nominal protection factor is determined with accessories attached as prescribed.

Marking and Information

• Clothing must be clearly marked with manufacturer ID, standard number, performance level, year of manufacture, size, and standardized pictogram.
• Manufacturers must provide detailed user information in the official language(s) of the country.

Applications

SIST EN 1073-2:2002 compliant non-ventilated protective clothing is essential for:

• Nuclear power plants and nuclear fuel cycle facilities.
• Radiological emergency response teams.
• Decontamination and decommissioning operations involving radioactive dust or particulate contamination.
• Industrial environments where workers may encounter particulate radioactive substances.
• Research institutions handling radioactive materials that require body protection but not respirators.

This protective clothing provides effective particulate contamination protection while enabling freedom of movement and reducing physiological strain, supporting safe work practices in radioactive environments.

Related Standards

• EN 1073-1: Requirements and test methods for ventilated protective clothing against particulate radioactive contamination.
• EN 340: General requirements for protective clothing.
• prEN 943-1: Protective clothing against chemical hazards, including gas-tight suits.
• EN 863: Protective clothing - Test methods for puncture resistance.
• EN 530: Abrasion resistance test methods for protective clothing materials.
• prEN 13982-2: Test methods for inward leakage of solid particulate chemicals into suits.
• EN 1146 & EN 13274-4: Test methods for ignition resistance of respiratory protective devices, applicable to integrated suit components.

These interconnected standards ensure comprehensive protection against various hazardous agents, supporting worker safety across chemical, radioactive, and industrial hazards.

By adhering to SIST EN 1073-2:2002, manufacturers and safety professionals can ensure that non-ventilated protective clothing reliably defends against harmful particulate radioactive contamination, while maintaining wearer comfort and operational functionality.