Category III products

With our independent test mark, which is recognized worldwide, you ensure the trust of your customers and business partners. At the same time, you document compliance with legal requirements and demonstrate the high quality standard of your eye protection equipment. This avoids additional cost and unwanted delays and facilitates a faster access to national and international markets. Furthermore, our experts prepare you well for the transition to the PPE Regulation 2016/425.

Combined with the new legal form, the PPE Regulation has a new structure that does not leave room for interpretation on a national level. It also contains revised and expanded definitions and more specific risk categories. This means that the PPE Regulation 2016/425 provides a greater clarity and is easier to understand for all parties involved.

The new PPE Regulation 2016/425 took effect on April 20, 2016. The PPE Directive 89/686 EEC for the testing and certification of personal protective equipment continues to still and exclusively be valid for another two years. During this time period, manufacturers and distributors of eye protection equipment have time to prepare for the new requirements. Starting April 21, 2018, only the PPE Regulation 2016/425 will be valid.

To support you with the transition to the PPE Regulation 2016/425, we offer the following services:

• Workshops and in-house training
• Testing to accompany product development

Annex I of the PPE Directive 89/686/EEC specifies three PPE categories. PPE products are classified into a certain risk group according to the expected severity of injury, which the protective equipment is expected to protect against. The categorization of a PPE product is not always clear.

With a declaration of conformity, a manufacturer declares that his products meet all applicable European regulatory requirements. The declaration of conformity is the result of a conformity assessment during which the product is examined for its compliance with the required specifications. This is done by means of the EC type examination certification.

Our experts support you with the conformity assessment and test your products according to the relevant EC regulations, such as the PPE Directive 89/686/EEC and all applicable harmonized standards for PPE products. By affixing the CE Mark on the product, the manufacturer visibly demonstrates his declaration of conformity.

The abbreviation "CE" means "Communauté Européenne", which is French for "European Community". With the CE Mark, the manufacturer documents the conformity of his products to the European regulatory requirements, i.e. he demonstrates that his goods meet the safety requirements of the European Union. The CE Mark was introduced to simplify the movement of goods within Europe. It is a prerequisite for the marketing of all products on the European markets.

Important: DIN CERTCO does not issue CE Marks. The CE Mark is a declaration by the manufacturer at his sole responsibility, by which he declares to the market surveillance and to the consumers, that his products conform to all applicable European regulations.

DIN CERTCO supports the manufacturer along the way.

The EC type examination is the procedure by which a recognized test center such as the DIN CERTCO PZA assesses and certifies that the PPE product complies with the relevant regulations in the PPE Directive 89/686/EEC. For PPE products in category II and III, the EC type examination certification is mandatory.

The eye is our most important sensory organ. Roughly 90% of our sensory impressions are perceived by the eye; no other sense organ supplies us with so much information. Light enables man to recognize and orient himself to his environment.

Light and/or radiation has positive physiological and psychological effects on the human organism; light and light radiation are indispensable for the health and well-being of us all. The positive effects of light occur only within a closely restricted range of the power of light radiation – too much light and radiation damage the eye. Therefore, it is important to protect the skin and the eyes from all forms of harmful influences.

Damage to the eyes may occur as a result of a variety of extraneous causes. In the case of mechanical and chemical exposure, these are obvious. It is a different matter, however, when it comes to damage caused by optical radiation. This can arise from natural sources (the sun) or artificial sources (hot objects, welding and cutting with burners, when handling laser equipment, when working on electrical installations).

The penetration depth of optical radiation depends on the wavelength. Whilst shortwave radiation (UV radiation) and longwave IR radiation are already absorbed on the surface of the skin or the eye, the visible radiation and radiation in the vicinity of the infrared range of the spectrum penetrates deep into the tissue or skin. The type and seriousness of the effects caused by optical radiation also depend on the intensity of the radiation and the long-term dosage. Potential injuries are varied and usually irreversible.

The essential parts of the human eye are:

• Cornea
• Conjunctiva
• Iris
• Lens
• Vitreous body
• Retina with the fovea, the place where sight is most highly focussed
• Choroid membrane
• Sclera