A new PPE regulation has been adopted by the European Commission

A new PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) regulation will come into force in 2018.

The PPE directive is suspended. In 2018, it should be replaced by a regulation that brings significant new features. A proposal is in progress. The publication of the new regulation for personal protective equipment is planned for 2016. Two years later, in 2018, the PPE regulation will be published mandatory.

26 years after its publication, European Directive 89/686/EEC, also known as the PPE Directive (Personal Protective Equipment), will give way to a new regulation in 2018. The scope of the latter will be extended.

Some new features in this PPE regulation. Certain types of PPE, such as goggles of sun, fluorescent vest�, are added to list products subject to the most stringent conformity assessment procedure. In addition, PPE for private use against heat in the kitchen, such as potholders, are included in the scope of the new regulation.

Among which the distribution of PPE into three categories according to the risk considered. Category I concerns minimal risks such as superficial mechanical aggression, contact with water and hot surfaces (less than 50�C), exposure to sunlight and non-extreme atmospheric conditions.

Category 3 PPE concerns risks generating permanent or fatal injuries related to harmful substances, aggressive chemicals, ionizing radiation, hot environments (over 100�C), cold environments (below -50�C), falls from heights, electric shocks, live working, drowning, harmful noise.

New risks are emerging, the risk of cuts from chainsaws and high-pressure water jet cutting devices, injuries from bullets or stab wounds.

Between the two, the products falling into category 2 are those that protect against risks other than minimal (1) and very serious (3) and custom-made PPE (unless they are intended for minimal or very serious risks ). In this case, as for category 3 products, the manufacturer must have the products certified by a notified body, but there is no need to carry out an annual manufacturing check. �The clarification of the risks incurred for the health of users will be defined in the guide to the application of the regulation and will give examples�, reports Pierre Belingard, head of Coordination of French notified bodies at Eurogip.

Other major changes, the product conformity certificates issued by the notified laboratories will only be valid for a period of five years.

Primarily financially restrictive for manufacturers, this provision will provide users with the guarantee that their PPE meets the new standards in force and follows the state of the art.

By forcing manufacturers to renew the certificate of validity of their products every five years, the European legislator wants to encourage them to question the conformity of their PPE with harmonized standards (for example EN 342 for clothing cold protection). Which give a presumption of conformity with the requirements of the directive. In this case, the renewal procedure will be quick. Otherwise, the Notified Body will ask to evaluate the product in order to verify its performance.

The new rules apply to all equipment put into service for the first time on the European market after publication of the regulation in the OJ. They define health and safety requirements and establish the conformity assessment procedures that manufacturers must follow. The CE mark is affixed to products that meet health and safety requirements.