Standards and pictograms - Protective clothing

All performance levels, pictograms and information given on this page correspond to the status as of September 2025. This information may change during the validity of this page. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or require up-to-date information. All information without guarantee.

General explanations of achieved performance levels (all tests were carried out under laboratory conditions):

1-6 / A-F      Achieved test result (the higher, the better)
0                    Minimum performance level not reached
X                    Not tested or not applicable due to material or design

Protective clothing - general requirements
General performance requirements for ergonomics, harmlessness, size designation, aging, compatibility and characterisation of protective clothing as well as the information that the manufacturer must provide with the protective clothing.

Protective clothing against liquid chemicals
Performance requirements for clothing with liquid-tight (type 3) or spray-tight (type 4) connections, including items providing protection to parts of the body only (types PB [3] and PB [4]).

Protective clothing for use against solid particulates
Performance requirements for chemical protective clothing providing protection to the full body against airborne solid particulates (type 5 clothing).

Protective clothing against liquid chemicals
Performance requirements for chemical protective clothing offering limited protective performance against liquid chemicals (type 6 and type PB [6] equipment).

Protective clothing against infective agents
Performance requirements and test methods for protective clothing against infective agents.

Protective clothing against radioactive contamination
Requirements and test methods for non-ventilated protective clothing against particulate radioactive contamination.

Protective clothing - Electrostatic properties
Part 5: material performance and design requirements.

Protective clothing - Clothing systems and cold protection garments
This document covers performance requirements for gloves worn by users handling liquid pesticide products, and for gloves worn by people returning to the workplace. It contains requirements for chemical-resistant gloves that offer protection for the whole hand, as well as for gloves used for certain return-to-work activities, for which partial protection of the palm is sufficient.

Test parameters                                                                    Performance levels
Y(B)/Y(C)/Y(R) Insulation value of liner system                   Icler in m2∙K/W
AP Air permeability class                                                       1-3
WP Water penetration resistance, optional                       -

Protective clothing - Protection against rain
Requirements and test methods for materials and seams of protective clothing against the influence of precipitation (e.g. rain, snow), fog and ground humidity.

                 Test parameter                                                       Performance level
A              Resistance to water                                               1-4        
B              Water vapour permeability                                 1-4

C              Finished garment tested in the rain tower       R*

High-visibility clothing
Requirements for high-visibility clothing which signals the presence of wearers visually. The high-visibility clothing ensures that the wearer is strikingly visible for drivers or operators of other technical equipment in all lighting conditions; both under conditions in daylight or under spotlight in the dark. The class of clothing depends on the smallest area of the visible material.

                 Test parameter                                                                                    Class
A              Minimum area of the visible material in square meters         1-3        

Material                                                                                                Class 3               Class 2               Class 1
Background material                                                                      0,80 sqm         0,50 sqm           0,14 sqm
Retroreflective material                                                                 0,20 sqm           0,13 sqm           0,10 sqm
Material with combined features                                               n. a.                     n. a.                     0,20 qsm 

Protective properties against ultraviolet solar radiation
Requirements for clothing intended to protect the wearer against exposure to ultraviolet solar radiation.

This pictogram identifies articles for which the water column (mmH2O) and the breathability (g/sqm/24h) of the outer fabric or of complete garments is indicated. 

3M Scotchlite™ Reflective Material ensures the early identification of people at dusk, darkness and poor visibility and protects them against possible serious accidents. Due to 3M Scotchlite™ Reflective Material, the user is more visible and it is possible to recognise him quickly. Therefore 3M Scotchlite™ Reflective Material is an important part of modern workwear.

3M Scotchlite™ Reflective Material ensures early recognition of people at dusk, in the dark and in poor lighting conditions, thus protecting them from potentially serious accidents. The wearer is more visible and quicker to recognize thanks to 3M Scotchlite™ Reflective Material. This makes 3M Scotchlite™ Reflective Material an important component of modern workwear.

GUNOVA chemical protective aprons are made of strong and resistant PVC foil, have reinforced and welded in plastic eyelets and their neck and side ribbons are made of polyester drill.

The quality of our products is our first priority and our whole product range is meeting our high standards. Products which have further premium features (e.g. due material selection, fitting, characteristics, finishing) are marked with this pictrogram.

This pictogram identifies items of clothing that are fitted with reflective elements. The reflective elements serve to improve visibility in poor visibility conditions. 

This pictogram identifies garments that can be worn in several ways by turning or removing parts of the garment.

Products and items which are determined to come into contact with food.

Characterisation of articles that are subsidised by the BG BAU. Applies to Germany only. More information at: bgbau.de.

Characterisation of articles that are manufactured in Germany.