Personal protective equipment

The EU Commission recently issued Commission Recommendation (EU) 2021/1433 which directly affect PPE products put on the market under the EU Commission Recommendation (EU) 2020/403. Please visit our page to understand the changes and implications that this has on your products.

Hearing protection

Hearing protection requires mandatory CE and UKCA certification under the PPE Regulations (UK) 2016/425.

We also offer voluntary certification with BSI Kitemark and verification certificates for certain products. Below are common examples of products that we test. Similar products can also be tested, please contact us for more information.

Examples of hearing protection include:

• Ear muffs
• Helmet mounted devices   
• Level dependent earplugs

Services available:

• BSI Kitemark
• BSI Benchmark
• CE and UKCA marking
• Direct testing
• ESMA
• Verification

Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE)

RPE requires mandatory CE and UKCA certification under the PPE Regulations 2016/425.

All RPE falls into category III PPE and therefore requires EU Type Examination. As a Notified (EU) and Approved (UK) Body we have the expertise and recognized status to offer this service.

We can offer voluntary certification with BSI Kitemark, and Verification Certificates for certain products. We can also offer certification for breathing apparatus, escape sets and all other types of RPE.

We have increased our capacity in testing RPE, with the opening of our new gas testing lab in 2017. This covers filter testing for face masks used in mining, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, industrial, and niche or specialist areas for example. We are offering testing of the following types of gases: Type A, B, E and K gases.

Examples of RPE include:

• Powered Respirators
• Disposable facemasks
• Filters
• Gas and combined filters
• Full face masks
• Half masks

Services available:

• BSI Kitemark
• BSI Benchmark
• CE and UKCA marking
• Direct testing
• ESMA
• Verification

Eye protection

Eye protection requires mandatory CE and UKCA certification under the PPE Regulations (EU) 2016/425.

The majority of eye protection products such as safety glasses, goggles and face screens fall within category II. As a Notified Body we have the expertise and recognized status to offer this service.

We also offer voluntary certification with BSI Kitemark, and Verification Certificates for certain products. For BSI Kitemark we offer schemes for Safety Eyewear for products such as safety spectacles, goggles and face screens. WE can also offer certification for welding shields, sun glasses and swimming goggles.

Motorcycle visors do not fall under the PPE Regulations. We offer Kitemark and Benchmark for UK, global and Australian markets.

Examples of eye protection:

• Safety spectacles
• Face screens
• Swimming goggles
• Goggles
• Welding protectors

Services available:

• BSI Kitemark
• BSI Benchmark
• CE and UKCA marking
• Direct testing
• ESMA
• Verification

Gloves

Gloves require mandatory CE and UKCA certification under the PPE Regulations (EU) 2016/425. The majority of gloves fall within category II or III PPE and therefore require EU Type Examination and if complex, on-going surveillance too. As a notified body we have the expertise and recognized status to offer these services.

We can provide certification for both PPE and medical device products where applicable.

Examples of hand protection:

• Surgical and examination gloves
• Fire fighting gloves

Protective gloves against:

• Chemical permeation
• Heat and fire
• Chemicals and micro-organisms
• Mechanical risks
• Cold

Services available:

• BSI Kitemark
• BSI Benchmark
• CE and UKCA marking
• Direct testing
• ESMA
• Verification

Safety footwear

Safety footwear requires mandatory CE and UKCA certification under the PPE Regulations (EU) 2016/425.

We also offer Verification Certificates for certain products.

Dependant on the standard, or optional testing within standard, safety footwear may require EU Type Examination ad if complex, on-going surveillance too. As a Notified (UK) and Approved (UK) Body we have the expertise and recognized status to offer these services.

Examples of safety footwear:

• Protective footwear
• Electrical insulation
• Occupational footwear
• Forestry footwear
• Footwear for motorcyclists

Footwear protection against:

• Chemicals
Molten metalFire fighting

Services available:

• BSI Kitemark
• BSI Benchmark
• CE and UKCA marking
• Direct testing
• ESMA
• Verification

Head protection

Head protection requires mandatory UKCA and CE certification under the PPE Regulations (EU) 2016/425.

We also offer voluntary certification with Kitemark, and Verification Certificates for certain products.

The majority of head protection products such as canoeists, equestrian, mountaineering, bump caps, industrial safety, ski helmets and cycle helmets fall within category II PPE. For those which claim electrical or molten metal protection or are fire fighters helmets they require category III.

Examples of impact head protection

• Mountaineering
• Cycling
• Industrial
• Skiing
• Fire fighting

Services available:

• BSI Kitemark
• BSI Benchmark
• CE and UKCA marking
• Direct testing
• ESMA
• Verification

Hi-vis jackets

High visibility clothing requires mandatory UKCA and CE certification under PPE Regulations (EU) 2016/425. High visibility clothing depending on the standard used and colour of the garments, ca be either category I or category II PPE. We also offer Verification Certificates for certain products.

Fall arrest

Fall arrest equipment falls under mandatory UKCA and CE certification under the PPE Regulations (EU) 2016/425. All fall arrest equipment fall into category III PPE and therefore requires EU type examination and on-going surveillance. As a notified (EU) and approved (UK) body we have the expertise and recognized status to offer these services.

Examples of protective workwear:

• Harness
• Connecting devices

Services available:

• BSI Kitemark
• BSI Benchmark
• CE and UKCA marking
• Direct testing
• ESMA
• Verification

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