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What clothing is approved for working in cold stores?

Comunicación Juba 03 March 2025

In all jobs, it is essential that professionals are equipped with the appropriate clothing and accessories for the work they have to carry out on a daily basis, both for optimum efficiency in their professional activity and also for their safety against potential risks.

People working inside cold rooms must wear approved clothing for those environments where temperatures can reach temperatures below -18ºC. In addition, this type of environment also demands quality products that are comfortable, practical and resistant.

Importance of wearing certified cold protection clothing

Approved clothing for cold rooms is that which offers the guarantee of meeting the requirements, in terms of safety and ergonomics, to carry out work in this type of spaces.

These garments are designed and manufactured with materials resistant to low temperatures, so that they protect professionals from risks such as hypothermia, chilling and similar problems.

In addition, they must guarantee that the people responsible for this task have the appropriate ergonomics to carry out all the necessary movements in their daily activity and/or with the products they must introduce or extract from it.

Safety standards and regulations

Workwear protecting against the cold is based on European standard EN 342, oriented to protect professionals exposed to extreme cold conditions, especially in environments with temperatures below -5ºC.

Clothing approved to work in cold rooms must be certified to this standard, which measures the following parameters:

Y(B): ICLER in [m2 K/W] Thermal insulation measured on a mobile manikin with B sub-garments. A mandatory parameter.
AP: Air permeability class (quantified from 1 to 3). A mandatory parameter.
WP: Resistance to water penetration. Optional so if the garment has not been tested, the corresponding marking will be X.

Characteristics of PPE

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) recommended for cold rooms must fulfil two main objectives: to facilitate the work of the professional and to protect him/her at all times.

Therefore, these garments are usually designed with the following properties:

Thermal and waterproof materials, able to conserve body heat and protect against sub-zero temperatures.
Ergonomics and freedom of movement, according to the needs of each job.
Breathability and capacity to facilitate the evacuation of humidity, so that the professional is comfortable at all times.

Essential types of clothing

In cold rooms, professionals must be appropriately equipped, which implies having approved clothing that also includes the following essential garments:

Protective gloves: designed to prevent loss of body heat, preferably resistant to water and moisture seepage and at the same time allowing the professional to work in a comfortable and safe manner.
Jackets and other warm clothing: covering the entire torso and with protections such as elasticated cuffs, watertight fastenings and multi-layers.
High-visibility clothing: essential in low-light environments or where vehicles operate with reflective elements to improve worker visibility and reduce the risk of accidents.
Thermally insulated trousers: to prevent cold penetration of the lower body and with an ergonomic design to ensure freedom of movement.
Footwear for cold environments: usually designed with waterproof and insulating materials and, as required, with non-slip soles.

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