2. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS COMMON TO SEVERAL TYPES OF PPE

If PPE incorporates adjustment systems, the latter must be designed and manufactured so that, after adjustment, they do not become undone unintentionally in the foreseeable conditions of use. PPE must be designed and manufactured in a way that perspiration resulting from use is minimised. Otherwise it must be equipped with means of absorbing perspiration. Any restriction of the user's face, eyes, field of vision or respiratory system by the PPE shall be minimised. The screens for those types of PPE must have a degree of optical neutrality that is compatible with the degree of precision and the duration of the activities of the user. If necessary, such PPE must be treated or provided with means to prevent misting-up. Models of PPE intended for users requiring sight correction must be compatible with the wearing of spectacles or contact lenses. If it is known that the design performance of new PPE may be significantly affected by ageing, the month and year of manufacture and/or, if possible, the month and year of obsolescence must be indelibly and unambiguously marked on each item of PPE placed on the market and on its packaging. If the manufacturer is unable to give an undertaking with regard to the useful life of the PPE, his instructions must provide all the information necessary to enable the purchaser or user to establish a reasonable obsolescence month and year, taking into account the quality level of the model and the effective conditions of storage, use, cleaning, servicing and maintenance. Where appreciable and rapid deterioration in PPE performance is likely to be caused by ageing resulting from the periodic use of a cleaning process recommended by the manufacturer, the latter must, if possible, affix a marking to each item of PPE placed on the market indicating the maximum number of cleaning operations that may be carried out before the equipment needs to be inspected or discarded. Where such a marking is not affixed, the manufacturer must give that information in his instructions. Where the foreseeable conditions of use include, in particular, the risk of the PPE being caught up by a moving object thereby creating a danger for the user, the PPE must be designed and manufactured in such a way that a constituent part will break or tear, thereby eliminating the danger. PPE intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres must be designed and manufactured in such a way that it cannot be the source of an electric, electrostatic or impact-induced arc or spark likely to cause an explosive mixture to ignite. Those types of PPE must be designed and manufactured in such a way as to minimise the time required for putting on and removing the equipment. Where PPE comprises fixing systems enabling the PPE to be maintained in the correct position on the user or removed, it must be possible to operate such systems quickly and easily. The instructions supplied by the manufacturer with PPE for intervention in very dangerous situations must include, in particular, data intended for competent, trained persons who are qualified to interpret them and ensure their application by the user. The instructions must also describe the procedure to be adopted in order to verify that PPE is correctly adjusted and functional when worn by the user. Where PPE incorporates an alarm which is activated in the absence of the level of protection normally provided, the alarm must be designed and placed so that it can be perceived by the user in the foreseeable conditions of use. Where PPE incorporates components which can be attached, adjusted or removed by the user for replacement purposes, such components must be designed and manufactured so that they can be easily attached, adjusted and removed without tools. Where PPE incorporates a connexion system permitting its connection to other complementary equipment, the means of attachment must be designed and manufactured in such a way as to enable it to be mounted only on appropriate equipment. Where PPE incorporates a fluid circulation system, the latter must be chosen or designed and placed in such a way as to permit adequate fluid renewal in the vicinity of the entire part of the body to be protected, irrespective of the actions, postures or movements of the user under the foreseeable conditions of use. Where PPE bears one or more identification markings or indicators directly or indirectly relating to health and safety, those identification markings or indicators must, if possible, take the form of harmonised pictograms or ideograms. They must be perfectly visible and legible and remain so throughout the foreseeable useful life of the PPE. In addition, those markings must be complete, precise and comprehensible so as to prevent any misinterpretation. In particular, where such markings include words or sentences, the latter must be written in a language easily understood by consumers and other end-users, as determined by the Member State where the PPE is made available on the market. Where PPE is too small to allow all or part of the necessary marking to be affixed, the relevant information must be mentioned on the packaging and in the manufacturer's instructions. PPE intended for foreseeable conditions of use in which the user's presence must be visibly and individually signalled must have one (or more) judiciously positioned means or devices for emitting direct or reflected visible radiation of appropriate luminous intensity and photometric and colorimetric properties. PPE intended to protect the user against several potentially simultaneous risks must be designed and manufactured in such a way as to satisfy, in particular, the essential health and safety requirements specific to each of those risks.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-01 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.