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EN 342 Cold Weather Clothing Explained


For working in cold, low temperature environments it is important the your work apparel can provide you with the thermal efficiency needed in order to keep the cold at arms length, as well as keep you warm and insulated. EN 342:2004 is the standard related to cold weather clothing designed to offer excellent protection in hazardous, cold environments under 5°C.

The EN 342 standard is determined by four parameters:

a – Thermal insulation properties with motion
b – Thermal insulation properties without motion (optional)
c – Air permeability
d – Waterproof penetration properties (optional)

Requirements for effective thermal insulation of clothing in relation to ambient temperature conditions for heat balance at different durations of human exposure to cold according to PN EN 342 [source]

Effective thermal insulation Icle [m2∙K/W] User standing activity [75 W/m2]
8 h 1 h
0.31 11 -2
0.39 7 -10
0.47 3 -17
0.54 -3 -25
0.62 -7 -32

Requirements for resultant effective thermal insulation of clothing in relation to ambient temperature conditions for heat balance at different activity levels and duration of exposure to cold acc. to EN 342 [source]

Resultant effective thermal insulation Icler [m2 K/W] Light wearer activity

115 W/m2

Medium wearer activity

170 W/m2

8 h 1 h 8 h 1 h
0.31 -1 -15 -19 -32
0.39 -8 -25 -28 -45
0.47 -15 -35 -38 -58
0.54 -22 -44 -40 -70
0.62 -29 -54 -60 -83

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