PPE Directive Briefing

Jon Orton

January 2009
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Contents
What is the PPE Directive?

Types of PPE

Requirements and procedures

Interteks capabilities

What is the PPE Directive?

Directive 89/686/EEC

European legislation
Text available here
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/mechan_equipment/ppe/dir89-686.htm

Intended to ensure that PPE products are safe and fit for
purpose prior to placing on the market

Mandatory since 1995

Legal requirement in all 25 member countries of the European
Union (EU)

Allows free movement of goods within EU

25 members
of EU

What is PPE?
Personal Protective Equipment

Any device or appliance designed to be worn or held by an

individual for protection against one or more health and safety
hazards in the execution of the user's activities

PPE Examples

Respiratory protection

PPE Examples

Eye protection

PPE Examples

Head protection

High-visibility

PPE Examples

Hearing protection

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PPE Examples

Hand/arm protection

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PPE Examples

Fall arrest equipment

Foot/leg protection

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PPE Examples

Protective clothing

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PPE Examples

Buoyancy aids and life-jackets

Protective sports equipment

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Scope of the PPED

What is NOT covered by the PPE Directive?

PPE for armed forces and police

PPE for self-defence
PPE for private use protecting against adverse atmospheric
conditions, damp and water, heat

PPE for protection or rescue of persons on vessels or aircraft

which are not worn all the time

Motorcycle helmets and visors

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Categories of PPE
PPED defines 3 categories of PPE:

Category I protection against minimal risks

Category II intermediate risks
Category III protection against mortal danger or dangers that
may seriously and irreversibly harm the user

The 3 categories are subject to different procedures and

requirements

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Requirements of the PPED

How to demonstrate compliance with the PPE Directive?

PPED includes a list of health and safety requirements which all

PPE must meet (however not all requirements are applicable to all
types of PPE)

Harmonised European standards are designed to test products

for compliance with specific health and safety requirements

Current list of harmonised standards for PPE can be found here

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/mechan_equipment/ppe/stand.htm

All common types of PPE are covered by harmonised standards

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Category I PPE
Required procedures:

Comply with applicable health and safety requirements

Perform product testing
Compile Technical File
Make Declaration of Conformity
CE mark the product
Effectively self-certification

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Some Definitions
What is a Technical File?

Test reports
Product specifications
Details of compliance with health and safety requirements of PPED
Quality control systems
What is a Declaration of Conformity?

A signed declaration to say that the product is in compliance with

the PPE Directive

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Declaration of
Conformity

Usually
signed by
manufacturer
or importer

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Category II PPE
Required procedures:

Comply with applicable health and safety requirements

Perform product testing
Compile Technical File
EC Type Examination by a Notified Body according to Article 10
of the PPE Directive

Notified Body issues certificate

Make Declaration of Conformity
CE mark the product

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More Definitions
What is a Notified Body?

An institution or company which has been approved by national

government and authorised to perform conformity assessments
according to the Directive

There are approximately 100 Notified Bodies for the PPE

Directive, listed here
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newapproach/legislation/nb/notified
_bodies.htm
What is an EC Type Examination?

Notified Body checks that product has been tested satisfactorily

Examine Technical File
Issues certificate effectively a license to CE mark the product
and sell throughout EU
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Example certificate

Note no expiry date

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Category III PPE

Required procedures:

Comply with applicable health and safety requirements

Perform product testing
Compile Technical File
EC Type Examination by a Notified Body according to Article 10
of the PPE Directive

Notified Body issues certificate

Make Declaration of Conformity
CE mark the product
Annual checks performed by Notified Body according to Article
11 of the PPE Directive either selected testing or quality system
audits
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Interteks Capabilities
Which harmonised standards can Intertek currently perform?

EN ISO 20345/6/7 safety/protective/occupational footwear

EN 15090 footwear for firefighters
EN 420 protective gloves, general requirements
EN 388 protective gloves against mechanical risks
EN 13061 shin guards for football players (GZ only)
EN 13138 buoyancy aids (Leicester only)

Note:
US lab in Cortland can perform PPE testing to US standards
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Intertek Notified Body

Intertek Leicester is approved by UK government to perform EC
Type Examinations according to Article 10 of the PPED (not
Article 11)

Footwear
Gloves
Buoyancy aids

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Future Developments?
Intertek plans for PPE:

Leicester intending to expand certification capability to

include other types of PPE such as high-visibility, shin guards

GZ expand testing capability according to developments in

Leicester

Expand glove testing to include other types, such as thermal

protection (EN 407), chemical protection (EN 374)

Additional footwear capabilities, such as motorcycle boots (EN

13634), chainsaw protective boots (EN ISO 17249)

PPE Directive revision?

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Thank you
jonathan.orton@intertek.com

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