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Safety standards guide

PPE Certification Standards Explained

Every piece of PPE carries a code that says what it was tested for and how well it did. Search for the job or hazard below to find the right standard, see what its numbers mean, and shop products that meet it.

Hi-vis and enhanced visibility

EN ISO 20471 High-visibility clothing for high-risk situations

EN ISO 20471 sets the colour, retroreflection and minimum material areas for high-visibility clothing worn in high-risk situations, such as near traffic or moving plant. Garments must make the wearer conspicuous in daylight and under vehicle headlights in the dark. They are classified 1 to 3 by the amount of visible material.

How to read it

The class (1, 2 or 3) shows how much fluorescent background material and retroreflective tape the garment has. Class 3 is the highest. A jacket and trousers can reach a higher class when worn together, which is why some products list two classes.

Shop EN ISO 20471 hi-vis clothing Official EN ISO 20471 info (ISO)

EN 17353 Enhanced visibility equipment for medium-risk situations

EN 17353 covers garments and devices that help the wearer to be seen in medium-risk situations. It sets requirements for fluorescent and retroreflective materials, their minimum areas and where they are placed. It does not replace EN ISO 20471 where high-visibility clothing is required.

How to read it

Each product has a type. Type A uses fluorescent material for daylight. Type B uses retroreflective material for the dark, under headlights. Type AB combines both for day, dusk and night. The number after the B refers to where the retroreflective material is worn.

Shop EN 17353 enhanced-visibility clothing Official EN 17353 info (BSI)

Gloves

EN 388 Protective gloves against mechanical risks

EN 388 tests how well a glove resists the mechanical risks of abrasion, blade cut, tear and puncture, and optionally impact. Each property gets its own performance level, printed under the hammer-and-shield pictogram. Higher numbers mean better performance in the test.

How to read it

Read the code from left to right: abrasion (0 to 4), coupe blade cut (0 to 5), tear (0 to 4), puncture (0 to 4), then the ISO 13997 cut letter (A to F, where F is highest). A P at the end means the glove passed the impact test. X means not tested or not applicable, and 0 means below level 1.

Shop EN 388 gloves Official EN 388 info (BSI)

EN 407 Protective gloves against thermal risks (heat and/or fire)

EN 407 covers gloves and other hand protection against thermal risks. It can test six properties: limited flame spread, contact heat, convective heat, radiant heat, small splashes of molten metal and large quantities of molten metal. Each is rated separately, so check the level for the hazard you face.

How to read it

The six-character code follows the order above, each from 1 to 4, where 4 is highest. X means not tested. For contact heat, levels 1 to 4 relate to contact temperatures of 100, 250, 350 and 500 °C.

Shop EN 407 heat-resistant gloves Official EN 407 info (BSI)

EN 511 Protective gloves against cold

EN 511 covers gloves that protect against convective and contact (conductive) cold down to -50 °C, whether from the weather or from industrial work. Results are shown as three characters under the snowflake pictogram. Higher numbers mean better insulation in the test.

How to read it

First character: convective cold (0 to 4). Second: contact cold (0 to 4). Third: water penetration (0 = fail, 1 = pass). X means not tested.

Shop EN 511 cold protection gloves Official EN 511 info (BSI)

EN ISO 374-1 Protective gloves against dangerous chemicals

EN ISO 374-1 sets performance requirements for gloves that protect against dangerous chemicals. Gloves are tested for permeation against a list of test chemicals, each identified by a letter, and classified Type A, B or C. Always check the glove’s chemical letters against the chemicals you handle.

How to read it

Type A: at least 30 minutes’ protection against at least 6 test chemicals. Type B: at least 30 minutes against at least 3. Type C: at least 10 minutes against at least 1. The letters under the flask pictogram show which test chemicals were passed.

Shop EN ISO 374 chemical gloves Official EN ISO 374-1 info (ISO)

Footwear

EN ISO 20345 Safety footwear

EN ISO 20345 covers general-purpose safety footwear. Every pair has a protective toecap tested to 200 joules of impact and 15 kN of compression. Classes such as S1, S3 or S5 add features like anti-static soles, water-resistant uppers and penetration-resistant midsoles.

How to read it

SB: basic requirements, including the 200 J toecap. S1: adds a closed heel area, anti-static properties and an energy-absorbing heel. S2: S1 plus an upper that resists water penetration and absorption. S3: S2 plus penetration resistance and a cleated outsole. S4 and S5: moulded rubber or polymer boots, with S5 adding penetration resistance and a cleated outsole. S6 and S7: S2 and S3 with whole-footwear water resistance. P means a metal penetration-resistant insert; PL/L and PS/S mean non-metallic inserts tested with 4.5 mm and 3 mm nails. Extra codes such as SR (slip resistance) and HRO (heat-resistant outsole) are listed separately.

Shop EN ISO 20345 safety footwear Official EN ISO 20345 info (ISO)

EN ISO 20347 Occupational footwear

EN ISO 20347 covers occupational footwear for general work. It uses the same kinds of tests as safety footwear, such as slip resistance and anti-static properties, but no protective toecap is required. Choose EN ISO 20345 footwear where there is a risk from falling objects.

How to read it

OB: basic requirements. O1: adds a closed heel area, anti-static properties and an energy-absorbing heel. O2: O1 plus an upper that resists water penetration and absorption. Other classes and extra codes, such as SR for slip resistance, are shown on the product.

Shop EN ISO 20347 occupational footwear Official EN ISO 20347 info (ISO)

Head, eye, ear and respiratory

EN 397 Industrial safety helmets

EN 397 covers industrial safety helmets that protect the head against falling objects and the resulting brain injury and skull fracture. Helmets are tested for shock absorption, resistance to penetration and resistance to flame.

How to read it

Optional markings show extra tested performance: very low temperature (-20 °C or -30 °C), very high temperature (+150 °C), electrical insulation (440 V a.c.), lateral deformation (LD) and molten metal splash (MM). A revised edition, EN 397:2025, adds Type 1 (top impact) and Type 2 (top and side impact) helmets.

Shop EN 397 safety helmets Official EN 397 info (BSI)

EN 166 Personal eye protection

EN 166 sets the requirements for eye protectors such as safety spectacles, goggles and face shields. It covers optical quality, robustness and protection against hazards like impact, liquids and dust. It is being replaced by the EN ISO 16321 series.

How to read it

Impact: S (increased robustness), F (low energy, 45 m/s), B (medium energy, 120 m/s), A (high energy, 190 m/s). Field of use: 3 liquids, 4 large dust particles, 5 gas and fine dust, 8 short-circuit electric arc, 9 molten metal and hot solids. K means anti-scratch and N means anti-fog.

Shop EN 166 eye protection Official EN 166 info (BSI)

EN 352 Hearing protectors

The EN 352 series covers hearing protectors, including Part 1 for earmuffs, Part 2 for earplugs and Part 3 for earmuffs attached to safety helmets. Protectors are tested for sound attenuation and physical safety requirements. Choose protection that brings noise exposure down without cutting out so much sound that wearers cannot hear warnings.

How to read it

SNR (single number rating) is the average noise reduction in decibels. H, M and L values give the reduction for high, medium and low-frequency noise. Higher numbers block more noise.

Shop EN 352 hearing protection Official EN 352 info (BSI)

EN 149 Filtering half masks to protect against particles

EN 149 covers filtering half masks that protect against particles such as dust, mists and fumes. Masks are classed FFP1, FFP2 or FFP3 by filter efficiency and total inward leakage. They do not protect against gases or vapours, and a good fit is essential.

How to read it

FFP1: at least 80% filter efficiency (no more than 22% total inward leakage). FFP2: at least 94% (no more than 8%). FFP3: at least 99% (no more than 2%). NR means single shift use only, R means reusable, and D means the mask passed the dolomite dust clogging test.

Shop EN 149 disposable masks Official EN 149 info (BSI)

Flame, heat, arc, static and chemical

EN ISO 11612 Protective clothing against heat and flame

EN ISO 11612 sets minimum performance requirements for clothing that protects the body, except the hands, from heat and flame. Every garment must pass a limited flame spread test and is then rated for the types of heat it was tested against, such as radiant, convective or contact heat and molten metal splash.

How to read it

A1 and A2: limited flame spread (surface and edge ignition). B: convective heat (1 to 3). C: radiant heat (1 to 4). D: molten aluminium splash (1 to 3). E: molten iron splash (1 to 3). F: contact heat (1 to 3). Higher numbers mean better performance; letters not shown were not tested.

Shop EN ISO 11612 flame-resistant clothing Official EN ISO 11612 info (ISO)

EN ISO 14116 Limited flame spread materials and clothing

EN ISO 14116 covers materials and clothing with limited flame spread, reducing the chance that clothing burns after brief, occasional contact with small flames. It does not cover protection against heat; EN ISO 11612 is used where heat protection is needed. Materials are classed by an index from 1 to 3.

How to read it

Index 1: flame does not spread, but a hole may form; it must not be worn next to the skin and should be worn over Index 2 or 3 clothing. Index 2: as Index 1, and no hole forms. Index 3: as Index 2, with limited afterflame.

Shop EN ISO 14116 limited flame spread clothing Official EN ISO 14116 info (ISO)

EN ISO 11611 Protective clothing for welding and allied processes

EN ISO 11611 covers clothing worn for welding and similar processes. It protects against small splashes of molten metal (spatter), short contact with flame, radiant heat from the arc and UV radiation, and reduces the chance of shock from brief accidental contact with live conductors at up to about 100 V d.c. Other PPE is still needed for the head, face, hands and feet.

How to read it

Class 1: for welding with lower levels of spatter and radiant heat. Class 2: for more hazardous welding with higher levels of spatter and radiant heat. A1 or A2 shows the flame spread test method used.

Shop EN ISO 11611 welding clothing Official EN ISO 11611 info (ISO)

IEC 61482-2 Protective clothing against the thermal hazards of an electric arc

IEC 61482-2 covers clothing for people working on or near live electrical equipment who could be exposed to the heat of an electric arc. Fabrics and garments are tested for arc protection, heat resistance and limited flame spread. It does not protect against electric shock.

How to read it

In the box test, APC 1 is tested at 4 kA and APC 2 at 7 kA, so APC 2 is the higher class. The open arc test gives an arc rating in cal/cm² (such as ATPV or EBT): the higher the value, the more arc energy the clothing is rated for.

Shop IEC 61482-2 arc flash clothing Official IEC 61482-2 info (IEC)

EN 1149-5 Protective clothing with electrostatic properties

EN 1149-5 sets material and design requirements for electrostatic dissipative clothing, worn as part of a totally earthed system to avoid incendiary discharges in potentially explosive atmospheres. The wearer must be properly earthed, for example through suitable footwear, and the garment should stay fastened and cover other clothing.

How to read it

There are no levels or classes: a garment either meets EN 1149-5 or it does not.

Shop EN 1149-5 anti-static clothing Official EN 1149-5 info (BSI)

EN 13034 Protective clothing with limited protection against liquid chemicals (Type 6)

EN 13034 covers chemical protective clothing with limited performance against liquid chemicals: Type 6 for full garments and PB[6] for partial body protection such as aprons or sleeves. It is intended for light sprays, liquid aerosols and low-pressure, low-volume splashes, not as a complete liquid barrier.

How to read it

Type 6 is the lightest chemical protection type. Types 1 to 5 are covered by other standards and give greater protection.

Shop EN 13034 Type 6 clothing Official EN 13034 info (BSI)

Weather: rain, cold and UV

EN 343 Protective clothing against rain

EN 343 covers clothing that protects against rain, snow, fog and ground humidity. Garments, including their seams, are rated for water penetration resistance and for water vapour resistance (breathability). It is being superseded by EN ISO 24232.

How to read it

Shown as two numbers, for example 3:1. The first is water penetration resistance (class 1 to 4) and the second is breathability (class 1 to 4). Higher is better for both. A garment with breathability class 1 may have a recommended limit on wearing time.

Shop EN 343 rainwear Official EN 343 info (BSI)

EN 342 Protective clothing against cold

EN 342 covers clothing ensembles and garments that protect against cold environments at -5 °C or below, taking humidity and wind into account. The whole garment’s thermal insulation is measured on a heated manikin, and the fabric is tested for air permeability (wind resistance).

How to read it

Insulation is given as an Icler value in m²K/W. Air permeability is class 1 to 3, where class 3 lets the least air through. Water penetration resistance may also be shown where tested.

Shop EN 342 cold protection clothing Official EN 342 info (BSI)

EN 14058 Garments for protection against cool environments

EN 14058 covers single garments, such as jackets, waistcoats, trousers and thermal linings, that protect against cool environments above -5 °C, including the effects of wind and humidity. Full cold protective ensembles come under EN 342 instead.

How to read it

Garments are rated for thermal resistance and, where tested, air permeability and water penetration resistance. Check the product label or user information for the exact classes.

Shop EN 14058 cool weather clothing Official EN 14058 info (BSI)

EN 13758-2 Solar UV protective clothing

EN 13758-2 sets the classification and marking for clothing that protects against solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. To be marked, all of the garment’s materials must have a UPF above 40 and let less than 5% of UVA through. Only the skin the garment covers is protected.

How to read it

Compliant garments are marked EN 13758-2 and UPF 40+ with a sun pictogram. Protection can drop if the garment is stretched, wet or worn.

Shop EN 13758-2 UV protective clothing Official EN 13758-2 info (BSI)

Knee and fall protection

EN 14404 Knee protectors for work in the kneeling position

EN 14404 covers knee protectors for people who work kneeling. It includes knee pads that strap to the leg and pads that fit into the knee pockets of trousers, which are tested together with the specified garment. Protection depends on using the right pad in the right trousers.

How to read it

Type 1: knee protectors independent of other clothing, attached around the leg. Type 2: pads that fit into trouser pockets or are permanently attached. Level 0: for flat floors, without penetration resistance. Level 1: for flat or uneven floors, with penetration resistance of at least 100 N. Level 2: for harsh conditions, with penetration resistance of at least 250 N.

Shop EN 14404 knee protection Official EN 14404 info (BSI)

EN 361 Full body harnesses

EN 361 covers full body harnesses used in fall arrest systems, which hold the body and spread the forces during and after a fall is arrested. Harnesses are tested for static strength and dynamic performance, and must be used with suitable connectors, lanyards and anchors.

How to read it

Attachment points suitable for fall arrest are marked with a capital A. Points marked A/2 must be connected together and used as a pair.

Shop EN 361 full body harnesses Official EN 361 info (BSI)

Rail

RIS-3279-TOM GB rail industry standard for high-visibility clothing

RIS-3279-TOM is the Rail Industry Standard, published by RSSB, for high-visibility clothing worn on or near the line in Great Britain. Garments must be fluorescent orange and meet at least EN ISO 20471 Class 2, with tighter colour requirements for the orange.

How to read it

There are no extra classes: check the EN ISO 20471 class shown on the product. At least one Class 2 garment must be worn, and not covered, on or near the line.

Shop RIS-3279-TOM rail hi-vis Official RIS-3279-TOM info (RSSB)

Conformity marks

CE CE marking (EU PPE Regulation 2016/425)

The CE mark shows the manufacturer declares the product meets the EU requirements that apply to it. For PPE, that means the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425, usually shown by testing against harmonised standards like those on this page. CE marking is also currently recognised in Great Britain for PPE.

How to read it

For Category III PPE, such as respirators and harnesses, the CE mark is followed by the four-digit number of the notified body that monitors production.

Shop CE marked products Official CE info (European Commission)

UKCA UK Conformity Assessed marking

The UKCA mark is the UK product marking for goods placed on the market in Great Britain, including PPE. It shows the manufacturer declares the product meets the GB requirements that apply to it. CE marking is also currently recognised in Great Britain for many products, including PPE.

How to read it

As with CE, Category III PPE carries the identification number of the approved body after the mark.

Shop UKCA marked products Official UKCA info (GOV.UK)

Frequently asked questions

What does EN 388 4X42C mean?

Read it left to right. 4 is abrasion level 4 (the top level). X means the coupe cut test was not done. 4 is tear level 4. 2 is puncture level 2. C is the ISO 13997 cut level, on a scale from A (lowest) to F (highest). Many cut-resistant gloves show X for the coupe test because tough yarns blunt its blade, so the letter is the cut score to compare.

What is the difference between S1, S1P and S3?

All three are EN ISO 20345 safety footwear with a 200 J toecap, a closed heel, anti-static properties and an energy-absorbing heel. S1P adds a penetration-resistant midsole to stop nails and sharp objects coming through the sole. S3 adds that midsole plus a water-resistant upper and, under the 2021 edition, a cleated sole for grip. Choose S3 for wet or outdoor sites.

What hi-vis class do I need for roadside work?

In the UK, work on or near the public highway usually needs at least EN ISO 20471 Class 2, and a Class 3 jacket with sleeves on faster roads (typically 50 mph or above). Many highway clients ask for Class 3 everywhere, often with hi-vis trousers. Always follow your risk assessment and your client’s site rules.

What does CE vs UKCA mean?

Both marks show the manufacturer declares the product meets the safety rules for that market. CE is the EU mark and is also used in Northern Ireland. UKCA is the mark for Great Britain. Under current UK rules, CE-marked PPE can still be sold in Great Britain, so you may see either mark, or both.

What do X and 0 mean in a PPE code?

X means that property was not tested or does not apply, so the product makes no claim for that risk. 0 means it was tested but did not reach level 1. Higher numbers or later letters mean better performance in that test.

Check the product, not just the code

These summaries are a plain-English guide. Always check the markings on the product and its user information, and ask us for the declaration of conformity if you need it. Levels apply to the tested product as sold, and some standards have newer editions with different tests.