Cement, Steel and Heavy Industry Workwear: Heat, Abrasion and Molten Splash
The short answer
Heavy industry workwear is specified around three hazards: radiant and convective heat, abrasion from materials and machinery, and molten metal splash in foundries and steel plants. The practical specification is an FR garment tested to EN ISO 11612 with the relevant codes — B for convective heat, C for radiant heat, D and E for molten metal splash — in a heavier fabric with reinforced knees and cuffs, plus heat-resistant tape where hi-vis is required.
The code set, not the standard number, tells you what the garment can survive, and it should be matched line by line to the site's hazard analysis.
Last updated: October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Read the EN ISO 11612 codes, such as B1, C1, D3 or E3.
- Molten metal codes (D and E) are not interchangeable.
- Abrasion resistance comes from fabric weight and reinforcement, not from FR treatment.
- Heat stress is the counter-hazard, so heavier is not always better.
- Hi-vis on FR garments requires FR-certified tape.
1. Hazard vs specification vs purchasing notes
| Hazard | Required codes or features | What to check when buying |
|---|---|---|
| Radiant heat from furnaces | EN ISO 11612 C codes | Level matches the distance and temperature |
| Convective heat | EN ISO 11612 B codes | Level from the hazard analysis |
| Molten aluminium splash | D codes | D and E are different metals |
| Molten iron splash | E codes | Higher levels for heavier exposure |
| Abrasion and dust | Heavier fabric, reinforced knees and cuffs | GSM and stitch density |
| Visibility in the plant | FR-certified reflective tape | Tape certificate |
2. What to specify on a purchase order
| Item | Specification to write | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Standard and codes | "EN ISO 11612 A1 B1 C1 E3" | The codes define the actual protection |
| Fabric | Composition, weight, inherent or treated FR | Wash life and protection level |
| Reinforcement | Knees, cuffs, shoulders | Abrasion resistance |
| Tape | FR-certified where hi-vis is required | Standard tape can melt |
| Laundry | EN ISO 15797 data for rental programmes | Performance after industrial washing |
| Marking | Codes and standards on the label | Site inspection |
3. Frequently asked questions
What should foundry workers wear?
An FR garment tested to EN ISO 11612 with the molten metal codes matching the hazard — D for aluminium, E for iron — in a heavier fabric with reinforcement and, where required, FR-certified reflective tape.
What is the difference between D and E codes?
D codes cover molten aluminium splash and E codes cover molten iron splash. They are separate tests, so a garment approved for one may not be approved for the other.
Does heavier fabric always mean better protection?
No. Heavier fabric increases abrasion and heat resistance but also heat stress, which is a genuine risk in front of a furnace. Match the weight to the task.
Can standard reflective tape be used on FR garments?
No. Hi-vis FR garments require FR-certified tape, otherwise the tape can melt and both the visibility and the FR performance are lost.
Do these garments survive industrial laundry?
Inherent FR fabrics generally do. Treated fabrics require correct laundering, so ask for EN ISO 15797 data if the garments go into a rental programme.
Get heavy-industry garments quoted to the code set
Send us the hazard analysis and the codes you need, and we will quote the correct construction with the test report and tape certificate named in the quotation.
