ISO 18640-2-2018 PDF

Full title and description

Protective clothing for firefighters — Physiological impact — Part 2: Determination of physiological heat load caused by protective clothing worn by firefighters. This international standard specifies a laboratory method to quantify the thermo‑physiological (heat) load imposed by firefighter protective fabric ensembles or complete ensembles under defined simulated activity conditions, for characterisation and comparison purposes.

Abstract

This document provides a test method to evaluate the thermo‑physiological impact of protective fabric assemblies and, optionally, full clothing ensembles (including underwear and air layers) during simulated activities relevant to structural firefighting. It is designed to characterise and compare the physiological heat load caused by different materials and garment combinations; it is not a method for assessing heat‑stress risk in actual fireground conditions.

General information

• Status: Published (International Standard).
• Publication date: 11 May 2018.
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.340.10 (Protective clothing).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2018); amended by ISO 18640-2:2018/Amd 1:2019.
• Number of pages: 17.

(General information based on the ISO bibliographic record for ISO 18640-2:2018 and its amendment.)

Scope

Specifies a laboratory protocol to determine the physiological heat load caused by firefighter protective clothing. Default testing is performed on fabric samples representative of a garment or ensemble; optionally the protocol can be applied to complete garments (including underwear and air layers) and certain design features. The method characterises thermo‑physiological impact for comparison and selection of materials/ensembles, but does not quantify real-world heat‑stress risk in live fire conditions.

Key topics and requirements

• Measurement objective: quantify physiological heat load (heat storage, evaporative cooling limitations) attributable to clothing assemblies.
• Test specimens: default on representative fabric samples; optional testing of ready‑made garments and ensembles with underwear/air layers.
• Apparatus and methods: controlled simulated activity phases and instrumentation to characterise dry thermal insulation, moisture/evaporative behaviour and resulting heat load on a mannequin/simulated torso or equivalent test setup.
• Outcome: comparative characterisation data for manufacturers, procurers and researchers — not a field heat‑stress prediction tool.
• Includes an amendment published in 2019 that clarifies/appends specific provisions.

Typical use and users

Used by firefighter PPE manufacturers for product development and material selection, independent test laboratories for product characterisation, procurement/specification teams in fire and rescue services, research organizations studying firefighter physiology and heat stress, and national standards/adoption bodies when harmonising regional regulations or EN adoptions. Results support comparative evaluation and design optimisation.

Related standards

ISO 18640 is a multi‑part series addressing physiological impact of firefighter protective clothing. Closely related documents include ISO 18640-1:2018 (Measurement of coupled heat and moisture transfer with the sweating torso) and regional adoptions (EN ISO / national variants) and amendments such as ISO 18640-2:2018/Amd 1:2019. The parts are intended to be used together to characterise thermo‑physiological performance.

Keywords

firefighter protective clothing; physiological impact; heat load; thermo‑physiology; sweating torso; fabric assemblies; PPE testing; ISO 18640; evaporative resistance; thermal insulation.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 18640-2:2018 is an international test method that determines the physiological heat load imposed by firefighter protective clothing under defined laboratory conditions for characterisation and comparison of materials and ensembles.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers laboratory test procedures (default on fabric samples, optional on garments) and measurement/recording of parameters related to heat storage and evaporative cooling limitations caused by clothing. It is not a field risk assessment method for live fire operations.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: PPE manufacturers, accredited test laboratories, fire service procurement/specification teams, researchers studying heat strain and comfort, and standards bodies that adopt or reference the method.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The original publication date is 11 May 2018 and it was amended (Amd 1) in 2019. There is no ISO record of withdrawal; the standard and its amendment remain the published references for Part 2. Users should check national adoption records or ISO updates for any later revisions.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes. ISO 18640 is a multi‑part series on the physiological impact of firefighter protective clothing; Part 1 (sweating torso measurements) and Part 2 (physiological heat load) are closely related and intended to be used together.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: firefighter protective clothing, physiological impact, heat load, thermal insulation, evaporative resistance, sweating torso, PPE testing, ISO 18640.