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5 styles we can bring in · Result Core, Result, Result SafeguardWaterproof suits and rainwear for work.
Two-piece rain suits, waterproof trousers and hi-vis waterproof sets — including Portwest Sealtex. Certified to EN 343, which is a real standard with real numbers, not a marketing word.
Result Core
Core rain suit
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Result
Waterproof jacket and trouser set
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Result
Waterproof 2000 pro-coach trousers
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Result Safeguard
High-viz waterproof suit
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Portwest
Sealtex essential rainsuit (two-piece suit…
EN 343
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No prices here on purpose. These are the styles we can bring in; what they cost depends on the quantity, the sizes and the standard you need, so we quote against your actual order rather than publishing an average.
EN 343 gives you two numbers
Protective clothing against rain is certified to EN 343, and it carries two ratings, each 1 to 4 (class 4 was added in the 2019 revision). The first is water penetration resistance — how waterproof it is. The second is water vapour resistance — how breathable it is. A cheap PVC suit is often class 4 waterproof and class 1 breathable, which means the wearer stays dry from the outside and soaked from the inside. For anyone working hard in it, the second number is the one that decides whether the suit gets worn.
Waterproof and hi-vis at the same time
A waterproof over a hi-vis garment hides the hi-vis, which defeats it. If the job needs both, the outer layer has to be the certified hi-vis one — a waterproof that is itself certified to EN ISO 20471 at the class the site requires.
Sizing over layers
Rainwear goes over everything else, so size up, and size up again if it goes over a bodywarmer or a fleece in winter. Tell us what is being worn underneath and we will quote the size that actually fits over it.
Waterproof PPE: the questions people actually ask
What does EN 343 mean on waterproof workwear?
EN 343 is the standard for protective clothing against rain. It gives two class numbers, each from 1 to 4: the first for resistance to water penetration, the second for water vapour resistance, which is breathability. Both are printed next to the pictogram. A high first number with a low second one means a suit that keeps the rain out and the sweat in.
What is the difference between water-resistant and waterproof?
Water-resistant means a finish on the fabric that sheds light rain for a while and then wets out. Waterproof means a membrane or coating that holds out sustained rain and water pressure, and if it is certified it will carry EN 343 with a class number. For anyone outdoors all day in British weather, water-resistant is not enough.
Can you wear a waterproof over hi-vis?
Not if the hi-vis is doing a job. Covering a certified hi-vis garment with a non-hi-vis waterproof hides the certified material and defeats the point. Where both are needed, the waterproof itself has to be certified to EN ISO 20471 at the required class, so it is the outer layer that is visible and compliant.
Are breathable waterproofs worth the extra cost for work?
For active work, almost always. A non-breathable suit traps sweat, the wearer gets wet from the inside and cold when they stop, and in practice the suit gets left in the van. For short exposure — walking between buildings, standing at a gate — a cheap non-breathable suit is perfectly sensible. Match the second EN 343 number to how hard people are working.
What size waterproofs should I order?
One size up from the normal garment size as a rule, because rainwear is an outer layer, and two sizes up if it goes over a fleece or a bodywarmer in winter. A tight waterproof fails at the seams and restricts movement, and a suit that is slightly too big is the one that actually gets worn.
How do you look after waterproof work clothing?
Wash it, which surprises people. A dirty outer face wets out and the garment feels like it has stopped working even though the membrane is intact. Wash to the care label with a technical cleaner rather than detergent, skip the fabric softener entirely, and reproof when water stops beading on the surface. Check the taped seams while it is off — lifting tape is the usual end of a waterproof's life.