CE Marking Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
2016/42
European Regulation (EU) 2016/425 covers the process for CE Marking Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) described as any device or appliance designed to be worn or held by an individual for protection against one or more health and safety hazards. The following are also included in the scope of the Regulation requiring a CE mark to be affixed:
– Interchangeable components for equipment as defined above which are essential for its protective function
– Connection systems for equipment referred to above that are not held or worn by a person, but are designed to connect that equipment to an external device or to a reliable anchorage point and that are not designed to be permanently fixed or require fastening works before use.
The Regulation does not apply to the following protective equipment:
– PPE intended specifically intended for use by armed forces or law enforcement,
– PPE for self-defence with the exception of PPE intended for sporting activities
– PPE intended for private use against: atmospheric conditions or damp and water during dishwashing.
– PPE intended for exclusive use on seagoing vessels or aircraft that are subject to the relevant international treaties.
– Head, face or eye protection intended for drivers and passengers of motorcycles and mopeds intended to be used on public roads.
Categories of PPE
The route to conformity of PPE is determined by the category it falls into which it falls. PPE is split into three categories as defined below The Regulation does not officially define the three categories but it is common practice to refer them as below:
– Category I: PPE intended to protect users against minimal risks, as defined by the exhaustive list in Annex I;
– Category II: Equipment falling into neither Category I or Category III;
– Category III: PPE intended to protect users against very serious risk such as death or irreversible damage to health as defined by the exhaustive list in Annex I
The route to conformity for each category is shown in the following flow chart.
Route to conformity
When the process has been completed the ‘CE’ can then be affixed.
How we can help:
The CE Marking Association can assist manufacturers, distributors and importers of PPE by providing advice and guidance on the relevant Directives and standards. If you need support with affixing the CE mark, please can the technical team on 01564 792349.
