Limited flame spread
When to use EN ISO 14116 garments
Garments certified to EN ISO 14116 are designed for situations where the risk of flame exposure is limited and short in duration. They prevent the clothing from igniting or continuing to burn after brief contact with a small flame, forming part of a passive protection approach against accidental ignition.
Flame-retardant performance under EN ISO 14116
The EN ISO 14116 standard defines the performance requirements for materials, material assemblies and garments that limit flame spread. Its purpose is to ensure that clothing itself does not become a hazard by igniting and continuing to burn.
Compared to EN ISO 11612, which specifies protection against higher thermal risks, EN ISO 14116 provides a more basic level of flame resistance. However, it remains an essential layer of safety in many work environments where flame contact is a possible but infrequent risk.
Classes of protection: index 1 to 3
EN ISO 14116 distinguishes between three protection classes, referred to as indexes.
Index 1 – offers the lowest level of protection and must not be worn directly against the skin. These garments must be layered over index 2 or index 3 clothing.
Index 2 – provides intermediate flame resistance and can be used either alone or in multilayer assemblies.
Index 3 – provides the highest level of limited flame-spread protection and limits afterflame time to a maximum of 2 seconds.
Garments can be made of a single layer (tested as a whole) or a multilayer assembly. The notation x + x indicates that layers are tested separately. For example, FR 1 + 3 means the outer layer is index 1 and the inner layer is index 3.
| Test criterion | Index 1 | Index 2 | Index 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flame reaches sample edges | No | No | No |
| Hole formation in specimen | Yes | No | No |
| Afterglow spread from the carbonised area | No | No | No |
| Flaming debris | No | No | No |
| Afterflame time | No requirement | No requirement | ≤ 2 s |
Reading the EN ISO 14116 symbols on Sioen PRO garments
In the Sioen PRO range, the different types of protection according to EN ISO 14116 can be recognised by specific symbols. Each symbol indicates the level of limited flame-spread protection and, where applicable, the composition of the protective layers.
Correct use and maintenance of EN ISO 14116 garments
To ensure lasting and reliable protection, EN ISO 14116 garments must be worn and maintained correctly:
Move away immediately from the flame in case of exposure.
Avoid contact between thermally conductive parts (such as metal fastenings) and the skin.
Maintain sufficient overlap of at least 20 cm between jacket and trousers, even when bending forward.
Keep garments clean and free from flammable substances such as oil, grease or other residues that can impair flame-retardant performance.
Inspect garments regularly and replace them if damaged or after excessive wear.
Follow the care instructions on the garment label to maintain certified protection levels.