Personal protective equipment EN 1149-5
Antistatic protective clothing certified according to EN 1149-5 standard is essential for safety in environments at risk of explosion and explosive atmospheres, also known as ATEX zones (Explosive Atmospheres). This antistatic PPE is made from technical materials and textiles that, in combination with a grounding system, prevent the formation of incendiary discharges that could ignite combustible gases, vapors, or dust.
Features of EN 1149-5 clothing
- Electrostatic properties achieved through specific treatments or the integration of conductive fibers (stainless steel, carbon, etc.), ensuring protection against electrostatic discharges.
- Wearing antistatic shoes EN ISO 20345:2004 standard A is highly recommended to complement the effectiveness of anti-static clothing.
- Compliance with standard EN 1149-5: The garment must remain in contact with the skin (at the neck, wrists) or be worn with a grounding wrist strap, in order to ensure optimal dissipation of electrostatic charges.
- Wearing a badge is prohibited so as not to compromise electrostatic safety.
Attention: The requirements of the EN 1149-5 / antistatic PPE standard may be insufficient in certain oxygen-enriched atmospheres or in very specific ATEX Gas / Dust zones.
This standard does not apply to protection against electrical hazards (electrical voltages).
What does the regulation say about antistatic PPE and ATEX zones?
Directive 1999/92/EC – Annex 2 – Part 3
To prevent the risk of ignition in explosive atmospheres, this European directive requires consideration of electrostatic discharges from workers or their environment. It is imperative to wear antistatic workwear, made from materials that do not generate charges likely to ignite an explosive atmosphere.
EU Regulation 2016/425 – Clause 2.6
This European regulation specifies that ATEX PPE must meet specific requirements for use in explosive atmospheres.
The ATEX pictogram makes it easy to identify Cepovett Safety products that comply with the EN 1149-5 standard for antistatic safety.
Which professions are affected by the EN 1149-5 standard and ATEX zones?
Antistatic protection with PPE EN 1149-5 is essential in many sectors exposed to the risks of explosion, fire, or ignition by electrostatic discharges:
- Transport, storage of explosive or combustible materials
- Cleaning of tanks, silos, containers that have contained hazardous substances
- Silo (agriculture, agri-food, cement industry)
- Chemicals, petrochemicals, manufacturing or use of solvents and paints
- Plastics industry (dust-rich atmospheres)
- Energy: thermal power plants, gas storage/distribution, refinery
- Wood: sawmill, carpentry, wood industry
- Alcohol industry (distillery)
- Metallurgy: blast furnaces, coking plants, steel mills
- Mines and quarries
- Sites using or producing natural gas
- Automotive garages, service stations
- Arts and entertainment (pyrotechnics, stages, cinema)
- Waste incinerators
- Pharmaceutical, nuclear industry
- Professions handling, transporting or storing flammable substances: flour, sugar, milk, coal, sulfur, starch, cereals, plastics, metals, etc.
Wearing EN 1149-5 certified protective clothing and suitable anti-static PPE is therefore essential for workplace safety in ATEX zones. Choosing Cepovett Safety quality means ensuring your company’s compliance with European legislation and protecting your teams against explosion and fire risks related to electrostatic discharges.
