Chainsaw PPE certification
Cuts by hand-held chainsaws are a Category III risk named in Regulation (EU) 2016/425 itself: the PPE can only be placed on the market after EU type-examination plus ongoing conformity assessment under Module C2 or D. Cut protection is one of our laboratory's specialisations.
Which products?
- chainsaw-resistant safety footwear (EN ISO 17249) — for forestry, arboriculture and tree work, in protection classes 1–3;
- chainsaw protective gloves (EN ISO 11393-4) — with Design A (back of hand) or Design B (back of hand and fingers) protected areas, in protection classes 0–3.
The protective principle is the same in both product groups: fibres of the built-in multi-layer anti-cut insert are drawn into the moving chain, clog the drive sprocket and stop the chain before injury. Testing is therefore done with a real chain at the specified speed.
Why the strictest route?
Cuts by hand-held chainsaws are listed by name among the Category III risks in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2016/425. EU type-examination (Module B) alone is therefore not sufficient: the manufacturer must also maintain the conformity of series production with a notified body's involvement — through supervised product checks at random intervals (Module C2) or quality assurance of the production process (Module D).
The procedure
- Enquiry: identifying the product, the target standard and the intended protection class.
- Technical documentation submission per Regulation (EU) 2016/425.
- EU type-examination (Module B) — covering the cut protection and the basic requirements.
- Ongoing conformity assessment: Module C2 or D, with checks or audits at least once a year — depending on the product scope, it may be provided by our partner notified body GÉPTESZT (NB 2233).
Frequently asked questions
What protection classes exist?
The class states the chain speed at which the protection stops the chain in the test. Footwear (EN ISO 17249): Class 1 — 20 m/s, Class 2 — 24 m/s, Class 3 — 28 m/s. Gloves (EN ISO 11393-4): Class 0 — 16 m/s, Class 1 — 20 m/s, Class 2 — 24 m/s, Class 3 — 28 m/s.
We hold an EN 381-7 certificate. Is it still valid?
The EN 381 series has been replaced by the EN ISO 11393 series; gloves now fall under EN ISO 11393-4. A replaced standard can be a change in the state of the art, which the Regulation names as a reason to have a certificate reviewed (Annex V, point 7.4). If BIMEO issued the certificate, it is reviewed against the new standard and renewed where the type meets it. If another notified body issued it, BIMEO assesses the certificate, the technical documentation and the available test reports, and determines what an EU type-examination certificate issued by NB 1524 requires. Either way, start in good time.
Does chainsaw footwear also have to meet the basic safety-footwear requirements?
Yes. Footwear under EN ISO 17249 is also safety footwear: it must meet the basic requirements of EN ISO 20345 (toecap, slip resistance and so on), and our laboratory performs those tests as well.
Can a manufacturer outside the EU certify with you?
Yes. The procedure runs remotely with English documentation and courier samples. Our page for non-EU manufacturers covers the details.
Related standards
Further reading
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Tell us which product needs EU type-examination and against which standard — we will explain the procedure steps and the documentation required.
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