PPE certification

BIMEO has been a notified body since 2005. Under Regulation (EU) 2016/425 it carries out EU type-examination (Module B) for the protective footwear, gloves and clothing listed on this page.

As a notified body, BIMEO acts impartially and independently. We explain the procedure steps, the documentation required and the manufacturer's obligations. The certification decision is based on the applicable test results, the assessment of the technical documentation and the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2016/425.

BIMEO certificates are held by manufacturers across Europe and Asia — from Czechia, Germany and Slovenia through Sweden and the other Nordic and Baltic countries to Turkey and Pakistan — covering protective gloves as well as safety and occupational footwear. Every certificate is listed in the Hungarian notifying authority's public register.

NB 1524 — verify our designation in the European Commission's notified-body register →

Our designation covers EU type-examination (Module B). For Category III PPE, ongoing conformity assessment under Module C2 or Module D is also required, with a notified body of the manufacturer's choice. Depending on the product scope, this may be provided by our partner notified body GÉPTESZT (NB 2233), designated for these modules for footwear, hand protection and heat-protective equipment; as its subcontractor, BIMEO can carry out the laboratory work behind the product checks.

Testing or certification — which one do you need? →

Where are you starting from?

New PPE certification

EU type-examination (Module B) by BIMEO as Notified Body 1524, for products within its designation.

I already have test reports

Send them first: we assess what can be used before any new test is ordered.

I already have a certificate

Issued by BIMEO: review and renewal. Issued by another notified body: we assess it and determine what an NB 1524 certificate requires.

I manufacture outside the EU

A remote procedure in English, with courier samples. Existing reports are assessed first.

By product family

Safety footwear certification

EU type-examination of safety, protective and occupational footwear, including firefighter and chainsaw-resistant footwear.

Protective glove certification

Conformity assessment of gloves against mechanical, thermal, cold and chemical risks.

Welding PPE

Welder’s gloves, protective clothing and footwear — the PPE of the welding workplace.

Firefighter PPE

EU type-examination of firefighter footwear and gloves.

Protective clothing certification

EU type-examination of heat- and flame-protective (EN ISO 11612) and welding clothing (EN ISO 11611).

Chainsaw PPE

EU type-examination of chainsaw-resistant footwear (EN ISO 17249) and chainsaw gloves (EN ISO 11393-4).

Motorcycle or welding range?

Two specialist sectors in which a manufacturer's whole range is handled as one coordinated project.

Not sure which procedure applies to your product?

Tell us what you need and answer a few questions about the product — we summarise what applies to it. No personal data needed.

Request a quote, step by step →

Conformity assessment procedures for the different categories of PPE

For personal protective equipment (PPE) belonging to Category II and III, it is necessary to involve a notified body (Modules B, C2/D). The conformity assessment procedures to be followed for each of the risk categories are as follows:

  • Category I: internal production control (Module A) e.g. simple gardening gloves, or footwear for professional use that protects only against non-extreme weather
  • Category II: EU type-examination (Module B), followed by conformity to type based on internal production control (Module C) e.g. safety footwear (EN ISO 20345), gloves against mechanical risks (EN 388), welding gloves — most protective footwear and gloves fall here
  • Category III: EU type-examination (Module B) together with one of: (i) conformity to type based on internal production control plus supervised product checks at random intervals (Module C2); (ii) conformity to type based on quality assurance of the production process (Module D) e.g. firefighter footwear and gloves, chainsaw PPE, chemical-resistant gloves, heat- and flame-protective clothing

CE-marking of PPE

Category I — Minimal risks

  1. Technical documentation
  2. EU declaration of conformity

CE marking

Category II

  1. Technical documentation
  2. EU type-examination (Module B)
  3. Conformity to type based on internal production control (Module C)
  4. EU declaration of conformity

CE marking

Category III — Very serious risks

  1. Technical documentation
  2. EU type-examination (Module B)
  3. Supervised product checks at random intervals (Module C2)orQuality assurance of the production process (Module D)
  4. EU declaration of conformity

CE marking + the notified body’s number

PPE categories explained → The type-examination process, step by step →

BIMEO offers conformity assessment against the following standards:

Foot and leg protectors: footwear, removable insocks and footbeds, foot protectors worn over footwear

Hand and arm protection: protective gloves and armguards

  • General requirements (applied with every glove standard) EN 420, EN ISO 21420
  • Protective gloves against mechanical risks — including the TDM cut test (EN ISO 13997) EN 388
  • Protective gloves against thermal risks (heat and fire) EN 407
  • Protective gloves against cold EN 511
  • Protective gloves for welders EN 12477
  • Motorcycle gloves EN 13594
  • Protective gloves for users of hand-held chainsaws EN ISO 11393-4
  • Protective gloves with electrostatic properties EN 16350
  • Protective gloves against dangerous chemicals EN ISO 374-1
  • Protective gloves against micro-organisms (bacteria and fungi) EN ISO 374-5
  • Protective gloves for firefighters EN 659

Protective clothing

  • General requirements (applied with every protective-clothing standard) EN ISO 13688
  • Protective clothing for use in welding and allied processes EN ISO 11611
  • Clothing to protect against heat and flame EN ISO 11612
  • Motorcycle garments (mechanical risks) EN 17092

Certification enquiry

Tell us which product needs EU type-examination and against which standard — we will explain the procedure steps and the documentation required.

Start an enquiry