EN ISO 11612 is the international standard for protective clothing against heat and flame, and its performance codes — A for flame spread, B for convective heat, C for radiant heat, D and E for molten metal, F for contact heat — tell you which hazards a garment covers. This guide explains the codes, with reference to EN ISO 11612.
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Quick definition: EN ISO 11612 specifies performance requirements for protective clothing against heat and flame, using letter codes for each heat hazard with performance levels behind them.
Key Takeaways
- Each code addresses one heat transfer mode, and the performance level within each code shows how well the garment handles that hazard — the label lists the codes, and the report holds the levels.
- EN ISO 11612 covers heat and flame, while other standards address different hazards: NFPA 2112 for flash fire in North America, ASTM F1506 for electric arc, and ISO 11612 is adopted in Europe as EN ISO.
- Select by listing the heat hazards of the task — flame, radiant, convective, contact, or molten splash — and requesting the garment with the matching codes and adequate levels.
- Verify the codes and levels through the test report for the exact model, confirm the standard edition and the delivered batch, and keep the documentation with the compliance file.
What Is EN ISO 11612?
EN ISO 11612 specifies performance requirements for protective clothing against heat and flame, using letter codes for each heat hazard with performance levels behind them.
| Code | Hazard |
|---|---|
| A1, A2 | Flame spread |
| B | Convective heat |
| C | Radiant heat |
| D | Molten aluminum |
| E | Molten iron |
| F | Contact heat |
The standard is the reference for Europe and many international projects, and garments are often CE-marked under the PPE Regulation. The certificate states the codes and levels for the exact model. A garment marked with the codes relevant to your hazard covers those exposures; one without the code does not.
How Do the Codes Work?
Each code addresses one heat transfer mode, and the performance level within each code shows how well the garment handles that hazard — the label lists the codes, and the report holds the levels.
Two garments can carry the same letter with different levels, and the higher level is not automatically the right choice — it is usually heavier and hotter to wear. Compare the levels against the exposure duration and intensity of the actual task. The standard’s strength is that it separates the heat modes, so a foundry garment and a furnace garment carry different code sets. Match the codes to the hazards, and the levels to the exposure.
How Does It Relate to Other Standards?
EN ISO 11612 covers heat and flame, while other standards address different hazards: NFPA 2112 for flash fire in North America, ASTM F1506 for electric arc, and ISO 11612 is adopted in Europe as EN ISO.
The standards answer different questions and are not interchangeable. A garment certified to EN ISO 11612 may not meet NFPA 2112’s flash fire test, and neither covers arc unless tested for it. Global buyers should confirm which standard their market and client require, and request cross-certification where projects span regions. The certificate for the exact model states the standard and edition.
How Do You Select a Garment Against the Codes?
Select by listing the heat hazards of the task — flame, radiant, convective, contact, or molten splash — and requesting the garment with the matching codes and adequate levels.
Walk the process and name each heat source: a furnace operator needs the radiant code, a foundry worker needs the molten codes, a welder needs flame and contact protection. Then confirm the levels against the exposure duration and intensity. For arc exposure, add the arc standard. The specification names the codes and levels, and the certificate confirms them for the exact model. The garment that matches the hazard set is the garment that protects.
How Do You Verify EN ISO 11612 Certification?
Verify the codes and levels through the test report for the exact model, confirm the standard edition and the delivered batch, and keep the documentation with the compliance file.
Confirm that the codes and levels on the exact model and keep the market register current.
Choose garments from the hazard assessment and the applicable standard; fabric or certification type alone does not establish suitability for a task.
Reading EN ISO 11612 as a Set of Performance Codes
EN ISO 11612 is not a single pass mark: it reports several performance areas, each with its own code and level, so two garments can both “meet” the standard while being suitable for very different exposures. Reading the codes is what turns the certificate into a specification.
| Code group | Performance area | What to match it to |
|---|---|---|
| A | Limited flame spread, with or without the surface test | The base requirement for any garment claiming heat and flame protection |
| B | Convective heat | Radiant and convective exposure such as furnace work |
| C | Radiant heat | Working in line of sight of a hot surface |
| D | Molten aluminium splash | Foundry and casting tasks |
| E | Molten iron splash | Iron and steel handling |
| F | Contact heat | Handling or leaning against hot surfaces |
Worked example: two garments, both labelled 11612
Illustrative. Two quotes arrive for a foundry jacket. The first names EN ISO 11612 with a flame-spread result only; the second names the same standard with flame spread plus molten metal splash codes. Both are honestly described as “certified to EN ISO 11612”. For a task where molten aluminium can splash, only the second answers the hazard, and buying on the standard’s name alone would have produced a garment that meets the base requirement while missing the exposure in the room. The rule of thumb: ask for the code groups and levels, not the standard’s name.
Where the certificate is not the whole decision
Heat and flame performance does not imply arc rating — an arc-rated garment is measured in cal/cm², which is a different test programme. It also does not address static, chemical permeation or molten metal that sits on the garment rather than splashing off it. And layering is not arithmetic: adding a garment does not add the two codes together, so a combination has to be supported by the maker’s data or validated as a system.
For the wider topic and related decisions, see our Flame-Resistant Workwear.
FAQs
What do the letters mean on the label?
Each letter covers one heat hazard — flame spread, convective, radiant, molten, or contact heat — with performance levels in the report.
Is EN ISO 11612 the same as NFPA 2112?
No. They serve different markets and test methods; choose the standard your market requires.
Does the standard cover electric arc?
No. Arc protection requires its own standard, such as ASTM F1506.
How do we get garments certified to EN ISO 11612?
Request the reports for the exact models via our contact page , or ask Shield Wings’ factory team on the EN ISO 11612 .
What does EN ISO 11612 cover?
Clothing that protects against heat and flame, reported through several performance areas rather than one overall pass: limited flame spread, convective heat, radiant heat, molten metal splashes and contact heat. Each area carries its own code and level, so two certified garments can be suitable for very different exposures.
Is EN ISO 11612 the same as arc-rated clothing?
No. EN ISO 11612 covers heat and flame exposures; arc-rated clothing is measured in cal/cm² under a different test programme, and a garment can hold one without the other. Where both hazards exist, the specification has to ask for both results on the same model.
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Official Resources
- Heat Protective Clothing
- Fr Clothing Certifications Nfpa 2112 Astm F1506 And En Iso 11612
- Fr Clothing For Welders What You Actually Need
- Contact Shield Wings