A new blast suit that meets international standards for use in wet and dry abrasive blasting operations and also for heat-protective clothing has been launched by Hodge Clemco.

Developed in collaboration with Shell and major maintenance contractors in the petro-chemical sector, the suit is an important advance in protective clothing for abrasive blasting operatives. It is the first to meet EN ISO 11612:2008 (Clothing for protection against heat and flame) and EN ISO 14877:2002 (Protective clothing for blasting with granular abrasives), allowing it to be used at on-shore and off-shore petro-chemical installations and in zoned environments.

The suit is manufactured to military standards, with features such as reinforced stitching, Velcro zip protector flap, brass zip, thumb loops and elasticated foot stirrups. The outer material is heavy-duty wear-resistant fabric, which is supple enough to provide full mobility, while a breathable inner lining helps to regulate body temperature. An identification label holder is stitched to the chest area, and the wrists and ankles have 50mm-wide reflective tape.

Unlike traditional leather-fronted blast suits, which are difficult to clean, the new model can be laundered up to 50 times without adversely affecting fire-resistance and other properties. Laundering and care instructions are stitched in. Five sizes are available, from 38in. to 56in. chest.

Hodge Clemco continues to offer its traditional leather-fronted suit, which is ideal for conventional abrasive blasting operations.