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Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment (PPE) sets out uniform requirements for the placing on the market and availability of PPE in the EU. The aim is to ensure a high level of protection for the health and safety of users.

The regulation applies to all PPE intended to protect against health and safety risks – both for professional and private use. Manufacturers must ensure that their products meet the essential health and safety requirements, undergo a conformity assessment, and bear the CE marking. In addition, an EU declaration of conformity and technical documentation must be provided.

DIN EN 14404 defines the requirements for knee protection used during work in a kneeling position.

Kneeling for extended periods puts continuous pressure on the knee joints, increasing the risk of chronic injuries. Therefore, wearing appropriate knee protection is recommended for all tasks performed in a kneeling posture.

The standard distinguishes four types of knee protectors:

• Type 1: Stand-alone, wearable knee pads
• Type 2: Knee pads integrated into or attached to clothing
• Type 3: Knee protection mats used separately from the body
• Type 4: Knee protection systems with additional support devices

DIN EN ISO 20471 defines the requirements for high-visibility warning clothing to improve the visibility of individuals in low-light or poor visibility conditions. The standard specifies which high-visibility materials may be used and defines their minimum surface areas and photometric (light-reflective) properties.

The standard classifies warning clothing into three classes, based on the minimum required surface area of fluorescent and retroreflective materials. Each class represents a different level of visibility, with Class 3 offering the highest degree of conspicuity.

DIN EN 61482-2 applies to protective clothing used for live working and specifically addresses the thermal hazards caused by electric arcs.

The standard describes the test setup and procedures used to assess the protective performance of clothing against the thermal effects of arc faults.

DIN EN ISO 11611 – Protective clothing for welding and allied processes

This standard specifies requirements for protective clothing designed for welding and related processes. Its purpose is to protect the wearer from hazards such as welding spatter (small droplets of molten metal), brief contact with flames, and radiant heat, for example from an electric arc.

The standard defines two protection classes:

1. Class 1: For less hazardous welding techniques and work environments with a lower risk of spatter and radiant heat.
   • Resistance: ≥ 15 metal droplets
   • Heat transfer/radiation (RHTI 24): ≥ 7 seconds
2. Class 2: For more hazardous welding techniques with higher exposure to spatter and radiant heat.
   • Resistance: ≥ 25 metal droplets
   • Heat transfer/radiation (RHTI 24): ≥ 16 seconds
3. In addition, the clothing is tested for limited flame spread:
   • (A1): Surface ignition
   • (A2): Edge ignition

DIN EN ISO 11612 – Protective clothing against heat and flame

This standard specifies requirements for protective clothing designed to protect the wearer against brief contact with flames and against convective, radiant, and contact heat. The garments must fully cover the upper and lower torso, neck, arms down to the wrists, and legs down to the ankles to ensure complete protection.

Performance Categories and Levels:

DIN EN 1149-3 / DIN EN 1149-5 – Protective clothing with electrostatic dissipative properties

This set of standards defines the requirements for protective clothing designed to dissipate electrostatic charges, in order to reduce the risk of ignition in explosive atmospheres.

As clothing can become electrostatically charged depending on material, movement, and humidity, DIN EN 1149-3 tests how quickly and effectively the material can discharge static electricity. DIN EN 1149-5 complements this by specifying requirements for the design and manufacture of the garments.

Important: This standard does not provide protection against electric hazards from mains voltage.

DIN EN 13034 – Protective clothing against liquid chemicals (Type 6)

This standard specifies the minimum requirements for chemical protective clothing offering limited protection. It applies to both reusable and limited-use garments.

Type 6 protective clothing is intended for situations where there is a potential exposure to light chemical sprays, liquid aerosols, or low-pressure splashes.

Type 6 suits provide at least protection for the torso and lower back area and are tested as full-body garments.

DIN EN 343 – Protective clothing against rain

DIN EN 343 specifies requirements for protective clothing designed to shield the wearer from precipitation (rain, snow), fog, and ground moisture. The standard evaluates the water penetration resistance (waterproofness) and the water vapour resistance (breathability) of the material.

The performance is classified into four levels – from Class 1 (lowest protection) to Class 4 (highest protection) – for the following criteria:

• Water resistance (X)
• Water vapour permeability (Y)