Certification

A personal protective equipment is a device or means intended to be worn or held by an individual for protection against one or more hazards likely to endanger the health and safety.

Directive 89/686/CEE sets for each of the three categories of PPE, certification procedures and technical rules which they must meet to benefit from free movement within the European Union.

The CE marking applies to three types of PPE :

For PPE for minor risks (health, superficial injury) the manufacturer shall perform a self-certification CE. He stated that the new copy of PPE complies with the requirements of the Directive. Its responsibility is engaged. The product is then marked.

PPE intended for intermediate risk (mechanical, thermal, chemical) the manufacturer applies-examination, accompanied by the design and the IPS with a reported 80 European laboratories, which conduct a series of tests and examination of the record for the award of a certificate of EC type-examination (TSE) if the PPE is compliant.

PPE for covering the risks serious (fatal or irreversible health) the manufacturer has the option to control the manufacturing of its products between the EC guarantee system of the finished product, or the quality assurance system of production with EC surveillance. Previously, he will have the same approach as that relating to PPE for the type of intermediate risk.

The products are certified CE, followed for the category3, the number of the agency that ensures quality control. For each certified product, the manufacturer provides an information sheet indicating the name and address, the instructions for storage, use, maintenance, expiration date and meaning of the marking.