Resistance of protective clothing materials to puncture according to ISO 13996:1999
Testing lab
Physical lab
Legislation
PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425
Testing standard
ISO 13996:1999
Principle
ISO 13996:1999 specifies a method to measure the resistance of protective clothing materials to puncture by a standardized pointed test probe. The goal is to assess how much force is needed to pierce the material, simulating hazards such as sharp objects or tools.
Test Method
Equipment
- A test apparatus with:
- A standard puncture probe (conical or specified geometry),
- A clamping device to hold the sample,
- A force measurement system (e.g. tensile tester),
- Controlled probe speed (usually 100 mm/min).
Procedure
- Condition the sample (standard atmosphere: 20 ± 2 °C, 65 ± 4% RH for 24 h).
- Clamp the flat specimen securely in the testing device.
- Lower the probe vertically at a constant speed onto the fabric surface.
- Record the maximum force (in Newtons) required to puncture the fabric.
- Repeat on multiple specimens to obtain an average value.
Application
Industries
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Medical protection (gloves, gowns)
- Industrial safety clothing
- Military and law enforcement garments
Use Cases
- Ensures that protective clothing meets minimum puncture resistance levels.
- Helps manufacturers design materials resistant to mechanical penetration.
- Often used in combination with other tests (e.g. cut, tear resistance) to certify protective gear.
Useful Document
Specific Testing Conditions
Specific conditions concerning our testing reports
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Useful Document
Testing application form
If you have received a quotation, you're welcome to fill in and sign this form, and submit a printed copy together with your sample(s). In this way we can start testing immediately, and serve you much faster!
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