Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) testing & certification
WHAT IS PPE? Whether it is for recreation or the workplace, PPE provides individuals with protection against one or more hazards. These may be environmental, skin cancer from UV radiation, or an accidental consequence of an activity, head injuries on a construction sites or burns in the kitchen. The right PPE, used correctly, will offer the individual considerable protection against any number of hazards. PPE is controlled in most markets by a variety of standards, with mandatory testing being required before the product can go on sale to the public
SGS SERVICE
Covering the full range of PPE, we offer:
- Product testing
- Technical file writing
- Category II & III certification
- SGS FIMKO (NB0598) are notified bodies for the PPE regulation (EU) 2016/425
- Category III production auditing
- CE mark examinations
Our global network of laboratories and experts helps manufacturers to produce high-quality, compliant PPE products. The products, and the standards we test against include:
EYE & FACE PROTECTION
- Swimming goggles BS 5883 / ISO 18527-3 / JIS S7301
- Sunglasses EN ISO 12312-1 / ANSI Z80.3 / 21 CFR 801.410 / AS/NZS 1067.1 / CNS 15067 /QB 2457 / GB10810.2
- Diving equipment
EN 16804 (diving open heel fins) / EN 16805 (masks) / EN 1972 (snorkels) - Ski goggles EN 174 / ASTM F659
- Safety spectacles, Goggles, Face shields EN 166 / EN 170 / EN 172 / ISO 16321-1 / ANSI Z87.1 / MIL-PRF-32432A / AS/NZS 1337.1 / CNS 7177 / EN 1731
- Motorcycle / moped riders EN 1938
- Sports ASTM F803
- Prescription Eyewear
Reading Glasses EN 14139 / ISO 16034
Optics lens ISO 8980-1 / -2 / -3 / ISO 14889 / ISO 21987
Optics frames ISO 12870
PROTECTION AGAINST FALLSFROM HEIGHT
- Full body harness EN 361
- Sit harness EN 813
- Connectors EN 362
- Fall arresters (guided) including flexible anchor line EN 353-2
- Fall arresters (retractable) EN 360
- Lanyards EN 354
- Energy absorbers EN 355
- Belts for work positioning & restraint, work positioning lanyards EN 358
MOUNTAINEERING EQUIPMENT
- Harnesses EN 12277
- Connectors EN 12275
- Ice tools EN 13089
- Sling EN 566
- Chocks EN 12270
- Frictional anchors EN 12276
- Dynamic mountaineering rope EN 892
HEAD PROTECTION
- Helmets for, industrial use EN 397 / ANSI Z89.1
- Roller sports EN 1078 / CPSC 1203 / ASTM F1447
- Horse riding sports EN 1384 / ASTM F1163 / AS/NZS 3838
- Snow sports EN 1077 / ASTM F2040
- Ice hockey EN ISO 10256 / ASTM F1045
- Children’s helmets EN 1080
- Canoeing & whitewater sports EN 1385
- Airborne sports EN 966
- Mountaineering EN 12492
- Cricket BS 7928
EQUIPMENT PROVIDING FOOT, LEG & ANTI-SLIP PROTECTION
- Safety footwear ISO 20345 / CNS 20345
- Protective footwear ISO 20346 / CNS 20346
- Occupational footwear ISO 20347 / CNS 20347
- Footwear Protecting against risks in foundries (Part-1); Protection against risks in welding and allied processes (Part-2) ISO 20349
- Footwear for firefighters EN 15090
- Protective footwear for motorcycle riders EN 13634
- Footwear protecting against chemicals EN 13832
- Live working. Footwear for electrical protection. Insulating footwear and overboots EN 50321-1
- Safety footwear with resistance to chainsaw cutting EN ISO 17249 / EN ISO 11393-3
- Anti-slip devices No harmonized requirement or standard (in-house method)
EUROPEAN UNION REGULATIONS
Since April 21, 2018, PPE products in the EU have been regulated by Regulation (EU) 2016/425. It covers most safety products used for domestic, leisure and sports activities, as well as professional use, and ensures they meet the essential health and safety requirements (EHSR).
Regulation (EU) 2016/425 classifies all PPE into one of three risk categories – I, II and III – each requiring the manufacturer to produce an EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC).
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PPE CATEGORY |
EXAMPLES OF PRODUCTS |
REQUIREMEN |
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Category I – products protecting against “ minimal risks” |
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Self-Certification (Module A) Manufacturers can self-certify, a process which requires the development of a Technical File including the manufacturer’s DoC |
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Category II – |
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EU Type Examination (Module B) Manufacturers require an EU Type Examination certificate issued by a Notified Body (NB). This can be done by developing a Technical File including independent testing reports/results |
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Category III – products protecting against “risks that may cause very serious consequences such as death or irreversible damage to health” |
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EU Type Examination (Module D or Module C2) + Surveillance Manufacturers require an EU Type Examination certificate and ongoing assessment of compliance. The latter requires either:
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TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION UNDER REGULATION 2016/425
Regulation 2016/425 technical documentation must include all relevant data on the means used by the manufacturer to ensure that their PPE product is compliant with all essential requirements. EU type-examination requires a review of the technical documentation by a Notified Body (NB). This is done against the essential health and safety requirements of Regulation 2016/425 and is normally achieved by meeting the appropriate harmonized standard.
ACCREDITATIONS
Our operations in the UK and Finland are certified Notified Bodies for the EU’s PPE Regulation 2016/425. As a part of this, we provide Category III auditing services through our worldwide network of auditors.
ISO/IEC 17025 accredited, we are also a BSMI approved laboratory.
WHY CHOOSE SGS?
As the world’s leading testing, inspection, verification and certification service provider, we operate a global network of state- of-the-art laboratories to help manufacturers product high-quality, compliant PPE products.
CONTACT US
Contact your local SGS office for more information on how SGS can help you manufacture safe and compliant PPE for European and International markets.
