EN 1149-5 – Electrostatic dissipative protective clothing
In short: EN 1149-5 covers clothing that does not build up electrostatic charge – intended for potentially explosive areas, where a single spark is enough. The clothing dissipates charge instead of storing it. The crucial point is: it only works as a closed system – together with dissipative footwear on a conductive floor. The jacket alone does not do it.
- The marking
- The lightning bolt in the shield identifies the garment as electrostatic dissipative. The pictogram is accompanied by the standard designation. EN 1149 specifies the test methods for dissipative protective clothing intended to prevent incendive discharges; proof on the material is provided via charge decay to EN 1149-3 or surface resistance to EN 1149-1.
- What the symbol does not say: it assesses the garment, not your workplace. Dissipative clothing only works in the closed system of clothing, footwear and earthed floor – and only as long as the garment is worn fully closed. How this fits together is explained under The system: clothing, shoe, floor.
How dissipative clothing works
Electrostatic charge arises from an excess or deficit of electrons on the surface. This happens wherever poorly conducting materials rub against each other or are separated from each other: when unwinding webs of paper or fabric, when walking on an insulating surface, when filling liquids or when transporting powdered substances through pipes.
How strongly clothing becomes charged depends on the material, the speed of movement and the humidity. To prevent the charge from arising in the first place or to dissipate it immediately, dissipative threads are woven into the fabric or a proportion of dissipative fibres is spun into the yarns. In our multi-standard fabrics this proportion is around one per cent – visible as a fine grid.
Proof is provided on the material – via charge decay to EN 1149-3 or surface resistance to EN 1149-1. Building on this, EN 1149-5 specifies the requirements for material and design.
The system: clothing, shoe, floor
Two rules for wearing follow from this, which are not a recommendation but a precondition for the protection:
- Wear fully closed and correctly fitting. An open jacket interrupts the dissipation and exposes non-dissipative clothing underneath.
- Do not put on or take off in the Ex zone. It is precisely when two textile surfaces are separated that the strongest charge is generated – exactly the moment that has to be avoided in the hazardous area.
The 5 cm rule for customisation
Every non-dissipative part on the outside is a potential island of charge. That is why the customisation of dissipative clothing is tightly restricted:
Non-dissipative attachments on the outside – labels, customer logos, reflective bands – are permitted up to 5 cm in width with no limit on length, permanently attached. If a part is wider than 5 cm, it is limited to a maximum area of 10 × 10 cm. Beyond that, test data are needed to show that no incendive discharges can occur under the most unfavourable conditions.
Incidentally, this limit explains a design detail of our high visibility clothing: the reflective bands are 5 cm wide – exactly at the limit the standard sets for non-dissipative applications. That is no coincidence, but design in line with the standard.
Because dissipative clothing is usually also multi-standard PPE of category III, it may in any case only be modified by the manufacturer – with notification to the test institute. So clarify any customisation in advance, not afterwards.
Where dissipative clothing is needed
- Chemical and pharmaceutical industry
- Refineries and tank farms
- Mixing and conveying systems, mills
- Paint shops
- Unloading of silo tankers
What these areas have in common is that flammable gases, vapours or dusts can occur – and that the ignition energy sufficient to ignite them is extremely low. A spark from static charge is enough.
Do not confuse them: EN 1149 is not ESD protection
The difference is relevant in practice: EN 1149 clothing is not automatically suitable for ESD in the sense of component protection, because different parameters are tested there. Conversely, ESD clothing does not replace dissipative protective clothing for the Ex zone. Anyone working in an Ex zone needs EN 1149-5 – anyone working in electronics manufacturing needs ESD equipment. Confusing the two can be costly in both directions.
Collections with electrostatic protection
39 styles from our collections are tested to EN 1149. All of them also offer flame protection to EN ISO 11612 and arc flash protection to IEC 61482-2 – because wherever there is a risk of ignition, heat protection is an issue anyway.
Frequently asked questions
Is a dissipative jacket enough?
No. The protection only arises in the system of dissipative clothing, dissipative footwear and a dissipative, earthed floor. If one link is missing, the charge remains on the person.
Why must I not take the clothing off in the Ex zone?
Because the strongest electrostatic charge is generated when two textile surfaces are separated. Precisely this moment must be avoided in the potentially explosive area. Putting on and taking off belong outside the zone.
Can I have a company logo applied?
Only within narrow limits: up to 5 cm in width the length is unrestricted; wider applications are limited to a maximum of 10 × 10 cm, and beyond that test data are needed. As the clothing is usually PPE category III, only the manufacturer may make modifications in any case.
Is EN 1149 clothing also ESD protective clothing?
No. EN 1149 protects people against the risk of ignition in an explosive atmosphere. ESD clothing to IEC 61340 protects electronic components and is not PPE. The parameters tested are different – one does not replace the other.
Does the clothing lose its dissipative properties through washing?
With woven-in dissipative threads, the function is retained as long as the grid is mechanically intact. Pay attention to the washing procedures permitted for the garment – and, for industrial laundering, also to suitability in accordance with EN ISO 15797.
Advice on electrostatics
Dissipative only works
in a closed system.
We will work out with you whether your areas require dissipative equipment, what that means for footwear and flooring and which limits apply to customisation.
Last updated: July 2026