Comparing Firefighter Gear Standards: EN 1486, NFPA 1971, and GA 634-2015

In the Heat Protection (HP) industry, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is divided into two major applications areas: firefighting and industrial PPE. These environments expose workers to extreme hazards, including molten metal splashes, radiant heat, and open flames, making high-performance protective clothing essential.

To ensure safety and performance, PPE must meet specific international standards. Three of the most recognized certifications for heat-protective clothing are:

• NFPA 1971 (North America and South America)
• EN 1486 (Europe)
• GA 634–2015 (China)

But what is EN 1486? What is NFPA 1971? How does GA 634-2015 differ?
This article explains each standard, the tests involved, and provides a detailed comparison to help manufacturers, buyers, and safety professionals understand their requirements.

NFPA 1971

Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting
and Proximity Fire

Applied in North America & South America area.

3 Main Tests Include:

 

Flame Resistance The flame should not persist for more than 2 seconds, and not extend overs 10 cm.

Heat and Thermal Resistance The fabric should not shrink more than 10% of its original size.

Radiant Heat Protective Performance The fabric should have an RPP level of at least 20, which translates to 20 sec at 1.0 cal/ cm2 per second of heat flux radiant exposure.

 

EN 1486

Protective Clothing for Firefighters

Test methods and requirements for reflective clothing for specialized firefighting.
Applied in European area.

 

3 Main Tests Include:

 

Flame Propagation The flame should not go through the fabric, and it should not show any visible residual incandescence after 2 seconds.

Flame Propagation Heat Resistance The fabric should not melt, drip, ignite, nor shrink more than 5% of its original size after 5 minutes at 255°C.

Radiant Heat It should take more than 120 seconds for the temperature behind the fabric to raise more than 24°C, under the exposure of 40kW/m² radiant heat source.

 

GA 634

Protective Clothing for Proximity Fire Fighting

Outer layer performance requirement.
Applied in China

 

3 Main Tests Include:

 

Fire Retardant Ability The size of the damaged area of the fabric should not go over 100cm after a 2sec burning exposure.

Thermal Stability Performance The size of the fabric should not vary more than 10% after being exposed to a 260°C ±5°C environment

Radiant Heat Stability It should take more than 60 seconds for the temperature behind the fabric to raise more than 25°C, under the exposure of 40kW/m² radiant heat source.

 

Which Standard Should You Follow?

Choosing the right standard depends on your region and the type of high-temperature hazards you face.

NFPA 1971: Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Firefighting
and Proximity Firefighting (North & South America)

The NFPA 1971 standard, developed by the National Fire Protection Association, defines the minimum performance criteria for protective ensembles used in structural and proximity firefighting. It is primarily used in the United States, Canada, and much of South America.

To meet NFPA 1971 certification, firefighter PPE must pass the following tests:

• Flame Resistance
• Radiant Protective Performance
• Heat and Thermal Shrinkage Resistance
• Water Absorption Resistance
• Tear Resistance
• Flex at Low Temperature
• Liquid Penetration Resistance
• Adhesion after Wet Flex
• Wet Flex
• Thermal Protective Performance (TPP)
• Water Penetration Resistance
• Resistance to High Temperature insulation

EN 1486: Protective Clothing for Firefighters (Europe)

This European standard covers reflective protective suits for specialized firefighting, particularly in situations involving intense radiant heat and flashover scenarios. PPE must undergo the following tests:

• Flame Propagation
• Radiant Heat
• Convective Heat
• Contact Heat
• Heat Resistance
• Surface wetting
• Tensile strength
• Tear strength
• Shrinking Resistance

GA 634-2015: Protective Clothing for Proximity Fire Fighting
(Outer layer performance requirement) (China)

GA 634-2015 is the national Chinese standard for proximity firefighting protective clothing, with a strong focus on outer layer performance. It is widely used in industrial and municipal fire protection settings across China.

To comply with GA 634-2015, PPE must pass the following tests:

• Fire retardant ability
• Radiant heat resistance
• Thermal stability performance
• Tensile strength
• Tear strength
• Peeling strength
• Anti-hydrostatic performance
• Bending behavior
• Overall thermal protective performance