UV protection and PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 NEWs!

New PPE regulation and UV protection

On April 21, 2018, the European Union adopted the new Regulation (EU) 2016/425 for personal protective equipment (PPE). Since then UV protection clothing has been included and consequently must fulfil the requirements set out in category I of the new PPE Regulation.

This applies to protective clothing for both the professional sector with workwear for ie. builders, roofers, refuse collectors, gardeners and farmers as well as the consumer sector with swim and outdoor ware.

Clothing, that has so far been marked to carry a sun protection UPF rating based on

• EN 13758 1:2001+A1:2006; EN 13758-2:2003+A1:2006
• AS/NZS 4399:2017
• and/or UV Standard 801

must be certified based on PPE regulation (EU) 2016/425.

Requirements for Category I PPE before placing it on the market
Category I personal protective equipment is equipment that protects a person against minimal risks to health and safety. Before placing on the market, category I PPE must fulfil the following requirements:

• technical documentation
• essential health and safety requirements
• risk assessment
• declaration of conformity
• CE marking
• internal product control

Australian/New Zealand Standard 4399:2017 NEW!

The newest edition of AS/NZS 4399:2017 provides information on major changes.

The major changes in this edition are as follows:

• Introduction of a minimum level of body coverage required for clothing to display or claim a UPF rating (ie. the garment shall fully cover the shoulders and extend down to the hip line. It shall also have sleeves that cover at least three-of the upper arm and half of the thighs
  (Items such as singlets, crop and halter tops, bikini tops, briefs and G-strings are not accepted)

• Introduction of minimum requirements for specified items of clothing including hats and gloves.

• A revised UPF classification scheme:

*) UV-protection factor (UPF = Ultraviolet Protection Factor)

To be certified, clothing must reach a minimum UPF factor of 15.

UV Standard 801, PPE Regulation and
consumer protection

It is safe to say that the changes regarding the new PPE directive and UV certification combined with UV STANDARD 801 provide the highest level of UV consumer protection.

Major benefits / changes:

• Measuring the UV protection factor according to the UV STANDARD 801 for all types of clothing and shading textiles is always based on the worst-case scenario for wear and use. This means the stretching of a fabric during wear, moisture from perspiration or water and wear, and later care of the textile are imitated whilst testing.
• The areas of application of textiles are defined more precisely compared to AS/NZS 4399:2017
• Update of certification documents (ie. declaration of conformity now included)

This results in the highest level of consumer protection.

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