⚡ Measurement of surface resistance and surface resistivity of materials for the manufacture of electrostatic dissipative protective clothing (or gloves) to avoid incendiary discharges — specimen on an insulating plate (≥ 10^14 Ω), concentric cylindrical and annular stainless steel electrodes, d.c. voltage (100 ± 5) V, ohmmeter reading after (15 ± 1) s, five specimens without seams, pre-treatment (e.g. 5 cleaning cycles according to EN 340), conditioning for at least 24 h and testing at (23 ± 1) °C and (25 ± 5) % RH, PN-EN 1149-1

Electronics and EMC PN-EN 1149-1

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN catalogue card of PN-EN 1149-1:2008 (Polish version), in full (our translation of the Polish card text): “A test method is specified for materials intended for the manufacture of electrostatic dissipative protective clothing (or gloves), to prevent discharges capable of initiating ignition. This test method is not applicable to materials used for the manufacture of protective clothing or gloves protecting against mains voltages”. We read the text of the standard in the preview of SIST EN 1149-1:2006 (text of EN 1149-1:2006) from the cover to clause 4.4.3 (page 7); we do not have Figure 1 with the electrode dimensions, the calculation of resistivity, the test report (Clause 5) or Annex A on technical changes.

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF EN 1149-1:2006 (foreword, introduction, Clauses 1–4.4.3). The standard was prepared by CEN/TC 162 “Protective clothing including hand and arm protection and lifejackets” (secretariat DIN); CEN approved it on 24 May 2006; it supersedes EN 1149-1:1995; prepared under a mandate of the European Commission and EFTA, relationship with an EU directive — Annex ZA. The EN 1149 series: Part 1 — surface resistivity, Part 2 — vertical resistance through a material, Part 3 — charge decay, Part 5 — requirements (under development in 2006). Introduction: the parts of the series are needed because of the various fields of application and materials; the method of this part is most appropriate for materials whose electrostatic dissipative behaviour is based on surface conductivity; it determines resistance over short distances and may not be appropriate for evaluating full garments. Scope (Clause 1, as on the card). Reference: EN 340:2003 (general requirements for protective clothing). Definitions (Clause 3): surface resistance — resistance in ohms determined with specified electrodes placed on the surface of the material; surface resistivity — resistance in ohms between opposite edges of a square of the material along its surface; note: resistivity does not depend on the electrode dimensions and is calculated by multiplying the measured resistance by an appropriate factor. Principle (4.1): the specimen is placed on an insulating plate and the electrode assembly on it; a d.c. voltage is applied and the resistance of the material is measured. Apparatus (4.2): electrodes — cylindrical and annular, concentric, of stainless steel (Figure 1); insulation resistance between them at least 10^14 Ω (checked according to 4.4.2); flat base plate of insulating material with a surface resistivity of at least 10^14 Ω, thickness 1–10 mm, larger than the electrode assembly, resting on an earthed conducting surface (e.g. a metal plate); ohmmeter with a range of 10^5–10^14 Ω and an accuracy of ± 5 % up to 10^12 Ω and ± 20 % above; cleaning agent, e.g. propan-2-ol or ethanol (warning: highly flammable and harmful — avoid breathing vapour and contact with skin, eyes and clothing). Specimens (4.3): pre-treatment according to the manufacturer’s instructions, including the number of cleaning cycles, or five cleaning cycles according to 5.4 of EN 340:2003 (note: superfluous for garments not intended for cleaning, e.g. single-use); five specimens of a size between the dimensions of the electrode assembly and the plate, cut from roll material or from the garment; an uncut garment is tested at five different places; specimens without seams, handled only at the edges; from the same production lots as the material used for the delivered clothing; conditioning for at least 24 h before testing and testing at (23 ± 1) °C and (25 ± 5) % relative humidity (note: surface resistance can depend strongly on humidity — the lower the humidity, the higher the resistance). Procedure (4.4): the lower surfaces of the electrodes and the upper surface of the plate are wiped with a tissue moistened with the cleaning agent and the electrodes are air-dried; blank test without a specimen — the resistivity of the plate is calculated and the requirement of 4.2.2 checked; the specimen is placed with the surface to be tested upwards, the electrode assembly on top, connected according to Figure 1; a voltage of (100 ± 5) V is applied and after (15 ± 1) s the resistance is read with the ohmmeter; if the resistance is less than 10^5 Ω, an appropriate lower voltage may be used (recorded in the report), and if necessary it may be determined from the current measured with an ammeter connected in series with the specimen (ratio of voltage to current); the procedure is repeated on the four other specimens or at four other places on the garment; this is where the part we read ends.

STATUS (cards as of 02.10.2026). The card of PN-EN 1149-1:2008 (Polish version, published 14-01-2008, 13 pages, price group G) has no “Withdrawn” header: Electrical Engineering Sector, KT 143 Static Electricity, ICS 13.340.10, “Introduces: EN 1149-1:2006 [IDT]”, “Replaces: PN-EN 1149-1:2006 – English version”. PN-EN 1149-1:2006 (English version, published 17-08-2006, 11 pages; introduced EN 1149-1:2006, replaced PN-EN 1149-1:1999 and its correction Ap1:2001) — “Withdrawal date: 14-01-2008”, replaced by PN-EN 1149-1:2008. Both introduce the same text EN 1149-1:2006.

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, data up to 17.09.2026, read on 02.10.2026). The number 1149-1 appears in 8 records at 7 laboratories: AB 005, AB 128, AB 154, AB 164, AB 374, AB 665, AB 1710. In the current scopes on the PCA website (read on 02.10.2026, issues from 05.09.2023 to 14.07.2026) the number appears at all 7: “PN-EN 1149-1:2008” at AB 005, AB 154, AB 164 (two locations), AB 374 (with the note “excluding clause 4.3.1” — pre-treatment) and AB 1710 (together with EN 1149-1:2006); without the year at AB 128 and AB 665 (both with the mark “E”). The declared measurement ranges differ: from 10^3 to 10^12 Ω (AB 005), from 2·10^3 to 2·10^14 Ω (AB 154), from 0,1 to 2·10^14 Ω or from 2·10^3 to 2·10^14 Ω (AB 164), from 1 to 10^10 Ω (AB 374), from 500 Ω to 10^14 Ω (AB 1710). No row with this number is set in bold italics (at AB 374 the suspension at the request of the body from 15.12.2025 concerns another part of the scope). The “Laboratories” tab searches for entries BEGINNING WITH “PN-EN 1149-1” and shows all 7 laboratories — checked with a query of the tab on the production server labcoda.pl on 02.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (items in the PCA scopes). Protective clothing (materials and products), gloves and footwear (AB 005), materials for protective clothing (AB 374) — “surface resistance” and “surface resistivity (calculated)” (AB 005, AB 154), “electrical surface resistance” (AB 164), “static electricity — resistance parameters, direct measurements” (AB 665); usually next to vertical resistance according to PN-EN 1149-2 (AB 128, AB 164, AB 1710), PN-EN 61340-2-3 (AB 374) and IEC 62631-3 standards (AB 128).

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. Humidity: surface resistance depends strongly on humidity — testing at a humidity higher than (25 ± 5) % RH gives a result that is too low; conditioning for at least 24 h. Pre-treatment: the standard requires pre-treatment according to the manufacturer or five cleaning cycles according to EN 340 (except single-use clothing) — measuring the material without it does not meet 4.3.1; AB 374 excludes this clause. Resistance and resistivity: resistance depends on the electrodes, resistivity does not; the result must be given with the name of the quantity. Range: the ohmmeter of the standard covers 10^5–10^14 Ω; below 10^5 Ω the standard permits a lower voltage or a current measurement (recorded) — declared ranges from 0,1 Ω or 1 Ω go beyond the basic conditions. Plate: the resistivity of the plate is checked by a blank test — it must be at least 10^14 Ω, and the plate and electrodes are wiped with the cleaning agent before measurement. Specimens: without seams, handled at the edges, from the same lot as the delivered clothing. Interpretation: the method measures over short distances and concerns materials with surface conductivity — it does not replace the assessment of the whole garment or the requirements of EN 1149-5.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We do not have Figure 1 (electrode dimensions), the formula and factor for converting resistance to resistivity, the test report or Annex A — so we do not give the electrode dimensions or the value of the factor.

Method principle

The specimen on an insulating plate (≥ 10^14 Ω) is loaded with an assembly of concentric electrodes and a d.c. voltage of 100 V is applied; after 15 s the surface resistance is read with an ohmmeter, and the resistivity is calculated by multiplying it by the geometric factor of the electrodes.

Applications

• Materials for electrostatic dissipative protective clothing (prevention of incendiary discharges) — 7 laboratories in the PCA scopes
• Protective gloves and footwear (AB 005)
• Checking the material after cleaning cycles according to EN 340

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN 1149-1:2008 (wersja polska; EN 1149-1:2006 IDT)

Title (PL)

Odzież ochronna — Właściwości elektrostatyczne — Część 1: Metoda badania rezystywności powierzchniowej

Title (EN)

Protective clothing — Electrostatic properties — Part 1: Test method for measurement of surface resistivity

Step-by-step procedure

1. Pre-treatment

   According to the manufacturer’s instructions or five cleaning cycles according to 5.4 of EN 340:2003 (superfluous for single-use clothing). PN-EN 1149-1:2008 current (cards as of 02.10.2026).

2. Specimens and conditioning

   Five specimens without seams (or five places on the garment), handled at the edges; ≥ 24 h and testing at (23 ± 1) °C, (25 ± 5) % RH.

3. Cleaning and blank test

   Electrodes and plate wiped with propan-2-ol or ethanol, dried; measurement without a specimen — check that the plate has ≥ 10^14 Ω.

4. Measurement

   Specimen with the tested side upwards, electrodes connected according to Figure 1; (100 ± 5) V, reading after (15 ± 1) s; below 10^5 Ω — lower voltage or current measurement.

5. Repetitions and result

   Measurement on five specimens; surface resistance and resistivity (resistance × electrode factor); voltage changes in the report.

Required equipment and apparatus

Reagents, media and consumables

Health and safety (OHS)

• The standard (4.2.4) warns: propan-2-ol and ethanol are highly flammable and harmful — avoid breathing vapour and contact with skin, eyes and clothing; 100 V on the electrodes — do not touch during measurement
• TECHNICAL NOTE: the result depends strongly on humidity ((25 ± 5) % RH) and pre-treatment; the method does not assess the whole garment or protection against mains voltage

Frequently asked questions