5.1 This guide establishes recommended lists of challenge chemicals to encourage those who evaluate chemical protective clothing materials to test chemicals in common. The lists will facilitate the comparison of data from different sources and for different materials.

5.2 This guide may also serve material developers or evaluators in screening candidate protective clothing materials.

5.3 Test methods applicable to the use of this guide include, but are not limited to, Test Methods F739 and F903.

5.3.1 The gaseous chemicals shall not be used for testing material penetration resistance because Test Method F903 is for measuring liquid penetration only.

5.3.2 Evaluation of materials and construction elements (for example, seams) using the gaseous chemicals is primarily intended for those materials used in the construction of totally encapsulating protective suits or other clothing items that are designed to prevent exposure to chemical vapors or gases. Only vapor-protective clothing that has been evaluated for and has demonstrated appropriate levels of inward or outward leakage against gases and vapor is appropriate for protection against vapors and gases. Protective clothing that only covers part of the body or that does not have vapor-resistant closures, closures, or interfaces to other ensemble components does not provide protection against hazardous chemical vapors and gases.

Note 1: Methods to evaluate the vapor-protective performance of protective clothing ensembles include, but are not limited to, Test Methods F1052 and F2588.

5.4 The presence of any chemical in this guide does not connote any special significance of the chemical for protecting workers from chemical hazards. The chemicals are intended to represent a range of chemical classes, hazards, physical characteristics, and other factors. Not all of the chemicals have significance from a skin toxicity or irritation perspective.

Note 2: Classification F1186 is one approach to classifying chemicals.

5.5 Chemical resistance of a protective clothing material against a specific chemical or list of chemicals does not infer the chemical resistance of that protective material against other chemicals.

1.1 The purpose of this guide is to provide recommended lists of both liquid and gaseous chemicals for evaluating protective clothing materials in testing programs.

1.2 Results derived from testing programs using these lists of test chemicals are not intended for the definitive characterization of protective clothing materials.

1.3 The lists of test chemicals are not inclusive of all chemical challenges; the chemicals were chosen to represent broad ranges of liquid and gaseous chemical classes and properties. Not all chemical classes are represented. Other chemicals specifically of interest to the developer, manufacturer, or user should be tested in addition to those recommended in this guide.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. A specific hazards statement is given in Section 7.

1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.