What Is Multinorm Workwear

Multinorm workwear is a specific type of clothing designed to offer protection against multiple workplace risks within a single garment. Multinorm workwear meets multiple European Safety Standards (EN). This means that people who encounter multiple risks and hazards at work receive appropriate protection on the job without having to wear multiple layers and sacrificing comfort. 

Different European Standards

In Europe, protective clothing and PPE is regulated under the EU PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425. These regulations are then separated into different standards (EN), with each standard covering a different risk. The standards are all named and given their own individual pictogram to make them easily identifiable. Below is a list of the most common EN standards with their names and their pictograms:

 EN ISO 20471: High Visibility 

EN ISO 11612: Protection against heat and flame

 EN IEC 61482-2: Protection against thermal effects of electric arc

EN 13034: Limited protection against liquid chemical splashes (Type 6)

EN 1149-5: Protection against electrostatic properties

EN 342: Protection against cold

EN 343: Protection against rain

Which Sectors Require Multinorm Workwear

Protective clothing and PPE are manufactured to protect against different risks with many garments only focusing on and offering protection against one risk, therefore only meeting one standard. However, there are many sectors of work that require protection against multiple risks at the same time. The energy sector would require protection against arc flash (EN IEC 61482-2), heat and flames (EN ISO 11612), and static electricity (EN 1149-5). The petro-chemical, oil, and gas sectors would require protection against fire and heat (EN ISO 11612), static electricity (EN 1149-5), and chemical splashes (EN 13034). The welding and fabrication sector would require protection against welding sparks, heat, and flames (EN ISO 11611/ EN ISO 11612). These examples illustrate how multinorm workwear offers a practical solution for industries exposed to multiple risks and hazards, combining appropriate protections into one garment without compromising comfort or performance.

This article is not exhaustive, but we hope it has given you a better understanding of what multinorm workwear is and how it may benefit you or your employees. For more information, please feel free to get in touch with our team of PPE experts. You can call us on 0402 32116 (Arklow) or 021 484 1370 (Cork).