What Is EN343?

What is EN343?

EN 343 is a European Standard for protective clothing that outlines a minimum level of protection against wet weather, with the whole garment construction taken into consideration, in addition to the fabric used.

Items are judged on two categories; the first (X) judges its ability to protect against precipitation, fog and humidity, while the second (Y) measures breathability in those particular conditions. They are then rated from one to three in these two categories, with three representing the highest level of protection and one the lowest. See below for an explanation of the different classes in each category:

(X) Water Penetration Resistance

1 - Minimum level of rain protection

2 - Intermediate rain protection

3 - Highest level of rain protection

(Y) Breathability

1 - Not classified as breathable under EN343

2 - Intermediate level of breathability

3 - Highest level of breathability