Availability of standards under the new PPE regulatory framework
On 27th of March 2018, the first list of references of harmonised European standards (hENs) under the new Personal Protective Equipement (PPE) Regulation (EU) 2016/425 has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). This does not mean that products which are in conformity with the last list of hENs under the old PPE Directive 89/686/EEC cannot be made available on the market. On the contrary, the agreed 1-year transition period will guarantee the marketing of these products until 20 April 2019. The presumption of conformity under the old PPE Directive will cease as from 21 April 2019, thus only reference to hENs under the new Regulation will be allowed.
Nevertheless, it must be noted that not all hENs under the Directive have been automatically cited also in the framework of the new Regulation. There is still a number of candidate standards which are still waiting to be published on the OJEU:
EN 1621-1:2012
Motorcyclists' protective clothing against mechanical impact. Motorcyclists' limb joint impact protectors. Requirements and test methods
EN 1621-2:2014
Motorcyclists' protective clothing against mechanical impact. Motorcyclists' back protectors. Requirements and test method
EN 1621-4:2013
Motorcyclists' protective clothing against mechanical impact. Motorcyclists' inflatable protectors. Requirements and test methods
EN ISO 11611:2015
Protective clothing for use in welding and allied processes
EN ISO 11612:2015
Protective clothing -- Clothing to protect against heat and flame -- Minimum performance requirements
EN ISO 12402-2:2006
Personal flotation devices -- Part 2: Lifejackets, performance level 275 -- Safety requirements
EN ISO 12402-3:2006
Personal flotation devices -- Part 3: Lifejackets, performance level 150 -- Safety requirements
EN ISO 12402-4:2006
Personal flotation devices -- Part 4: Lifejackets, performance level 100 -- Safety requirements
EN 13911:2017
Protective clothing for firefighters. Requirements and test methods for fire hoods for firefighters
EN ISO 14116:2015
Protective clothing -- Protection against flame -- Limited flame spread materials, material assemblies and clothing
EN 16689:2017
Protective clothing for firefighters. Performance requirements for protective clothing for technical rescue
EN ISO 20349-1:2017
Personal protective equipment -- Footwear protecting against risks in foundries and welding -- Part 1: Requirements and test methods for protection against risks in foundries
EN ISO 20349-2:2017
Personal protective equipment -- Footwear protecting against risks in foundries and welding -- Part 2: Requirements and test methods for protection against risks in welding and allied processes
Presumption of conformity under the PPE Directive still allows products covered by these standards to be made available on the market until 20 April 2019, it would desirable their swift publication also in the framework of the new PPE Regulation so to allow all economic operators to get acquainted with the standards provisions of every.