Collection: Protective Suit

A protective coverall isolates the body and clothing from splashes, aerosols and particles. The more watertight it is, the less it breathes: choosing the right level matters as much as the level itself.

The 4 references in the catalogue

• 3M 4400, 3M 4540+, 3M 4545, protective coveralls.
• 3M 50425, reusable coverall.

See also our body protection and our respiratory protection.

Choosing the right type

Coveralls are classified by type, according to what they protect against: pressurised liquid jets, spray, liquid aerosols, solid particles.

Taking a higher type than the workstation requires is not without consequence. A more watertight coverall lets less sweat escape, quickly becomes uncomfortable, and ends up open at the collar or taken off. Protection worn correctly is better than higher protection abandoned halfway through the shift.

The details that make real tightness

Seams are the weak point. A coverall with simply stitched seams lets through the needle holes; a taped or welded seam is much safer.

Elastic at the wrists, ankles and hood determines tightness against particles far more than the fabric itself.

The flap over the zip stops the zip from becoming a direct path.

Disposable or reusable

Disposable avoids any question of decontamination and suits one-off jobs or hazardous products.

Reusable costs less for daily use and generates less waste, provided a suitable laundering route exists: washing a protective coverall with ordinary laundry transfers the contamination.