EN 1073-2 sets the requirements for non-ventilated protective clothing against contamination by radioactive particulates. The essential point is to be clear about what this clothing does and does not do.
What it protects against, and what it does not
- It protects against radioactive dust and particles landing on the skin or accumulating in clothing.
- It does not protect against gamma or X radiation — that is energy and passes straight through fabric. Lead shielding and time control are needed for that.
Classes
Protection is expressed as a nominal protection factor in classes 1 to 3. Class 1 corresponds to a factor of 5, class 2 to 50 and class 3 to 500. The higher the class, the tighter the suit.
In practice this clothing is used in nuclear power stations, radioactive waste handling, decontamination and research facilities. It is normally single-use and disposed of as radioactive waste — a cost worth factoring into procurement.
