Don’t just memorize PPE standards — read them on the product.
Explore EN/EN ISO markings on helmets, harnesses, connectors, eyewear, gloves, respirators, hearing protectors and footwear with classes, field checks and wrong-selection examples.
Turn “What is this code?” into “What does it mean on this product and what should I check in the field?”
Industrial Protective Helmet Standard
EN 397 covers design, impact/penetration performance, testing and marking requirements for industrial protective helmets. The current European edition is EN 397:2025 with its 2025 corrigendum.
Full Body Harness Standard
Covers full body harnesses used in fall-arrest systems.
Energy Absorber Standard
EN 355 covers energy absorbers used in fall-arrest systems. An absorber may be integrated into a lanyard, anchor line or full-body harness, or used in combination with them.
Connector and Carabiner Standard
Covers connectors used in personal fall-protection systems.
EN 166 Legacy Eye Protection Standard
EN 166:2001 is the legacy general performance and marking standard for personal eye protection. For new products/certification, the current main reference is the EN ISO 16321-1:2022+A1:2025 series.
Protective Gloves Against Mechanical Risks
Covers glove performance against mechanical risks including abrasion, blade cut, tear, puncture and, where applicable, impact.
Protective Gloves Against Chemicals Standards
EN ISO 374-1 covers classification for chemical risks, while EN ISO 374-5 addresses relevant requirements for micro-organism risks.
Filtering Half Mask Standard
EN 149:2001+A1:2009 covers FFP1/FFP2/FFP3 performance classes for filtering half masks against particles; it is not a gas/vapour filter standard.
EN 352 Hearing Protector Standards Series
The EN 352 series contains different parts for earmuffs, earplugs, mounted earmuffs and electronic/special hearing protectors according to product type.
Safety Footwear Standard
EN ISO 20345:2022+A1:2024 covers basic and additional/optional protective properties of general-purpose safety footwear; complementary standards may be required for special risks.
Protective Gloves General Requirements Standard
EN ISO 21420 covers general requirements for protective glove design and construction, innocuousness, comfort/efficiency, marking and manufacturer information. ISO 21420:2020 was reconfirmed in 2025 and has a published 2022 amendment.
Protective Gloves Against Thermal Risks Standard
EN 407:2020 specifies requirements, testing, marking and user information for protective gloves and other hand protection against heat and/or fire, and is used together with EN ISO 21420.
Protective Clothing for Welding and Allied Processes
EN ISO 11611 specifies minimum safety requirements and test methods for protective clothing used during welding and allied processes. The current ISO edition is ISO 11611:2024; a subsequent revision is under development.
Protective Clothing Against Heat and Flame
EN ISO 11612 specifies minimum performance requirements for protective clothing against heat and/or flame. ISO 11612:2015 remains the published current edition while a new edition is at final-draft stage.
High Visibility Clothing Standard
EN ISO 20471:2013+A1:2016 specifies requirements for high-visibility clothing intended to make the wearer conspicuous to vehicle and mechanized-equipment operators in daylight and under headlights in darkness. The current edition remains valid while a revision is under development.
Protective Clothing Against Electric Arc Thermal Hazards
EN IEC 61482-2 specifies requirements for materials and garments protecting electrical workers against the thermal hazards of an electric arc. It does not cover electric-shock hazards.
Electrostatic Protective Clothing Standard
EN 1149-5:2018 specifies material-performance and design requirements for electrostatic protective clothing intended to reduce electrostatic charge and spark-ignition risk. It does not provide protection against mains voltage.
Electrically Insulating Helmet Standard
EN 50365:2023 covers electrically insulating helmets for live working on low- and medium-voltage installations. The current European edition includes the 2024 corrigendum.
Insulating Gloves for Live Working Standard
EN 60903 covers insulating gloves and mitts for live working. It distinguishes insulating gloves providing electrical protection from composite gloves providing electrical and mechanical protection.
Full Face Mask Respiratory Standard
EN 136:1998 covers requirements, testing and marking for full face masks used in respiratory protective devices. BSI currently lists the edition as current and under review.
Check in 4 steps in the field
A standards code is not a procurement decision by itself.
Risk assessment, performance class, actual product markings, manufacturer instructions, PPE compatibility and conditions of use must be verified together.