Glossary
Disposable PPE glossary for food plant buyers
Short definitions of the products, materials and standards you meet when specifying disposable PPE.
Products
- Hair net / bouffant cap
- A gathered, elasticated disposable head cover that holds all hair inside. The bouffant style gives extra volume for longer hair and is common in food production and cleanrooms. Disposable hair nets →
- Beard cover
- A single-use net, also called a beard snood, that holds facial hair against the jaw. It is worn together with a hair net so no hair is left exposed on a food line. Disposable beard covers →
- Shoe cover vs. boot cover
- A shoe cover protects the shoe up to the ankle and suits visitors and dry zones. A boot cover extends higher up the leg and is chosen for wet or heavily contaminated areas. Disposable boot covers →
- Sleeve cover
- An elasticated tube that protects the forearm from product contact. Non-woven versions suit dry zones; polyethylene versions block liquids in wet processing. Non-woven sleeve covers →
- PE apron
- A waterproof polyethylene apron worn over clothing in wet or greasy zones such as meat, fish and dairy processing. Long versions cover the legs as well. Disposable PE aprons →
- Coverall
- A one-piece disposable garment covering body, arms and legs, usually with elastic cuffs and a zip. Used for maintenance staff, contractors and visitors entering production areas. Disposable coveralls →
Materials
- Non-woven spunbond
- A fabric made by bonding continuous polypropylene filaments into a web instead of weaving them. Lightweight, breathable and low-linting, it is the base of hair nets, sleeve covers, shoe covers, gowns and coveralls. Non-woven shoe covers →
- Polyethylene (PE) film and micron thickness
- A waterproof plastic film used for aprons, sleeve covers and boot covers. Thickness is measured in microns (µm): a higher value means a stronger, more puncture-resistant film. PE shoe covers →
- gsm (grams per square metre)
- The weight of a fabric per square metre. A higher gsm generally means a thicker, more durable non-woven, at a higher cost per piece.
Standards
- HACCP
- Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points: a facility-level food-safety management system. It is not a product certification. Disposable PPE is one hygiene control inside a plant's HACCP plan.
- Medical face mask types (Type I, II, IIR)
- Classes defined in EN 14683, distinguished by bacterial filtration efficiency and, for Type IIR, splash resistance. Which class a food plant needs depends on its own risk assessment. Face masks in food plants →