Expert advice / Guide
PPE standards explained: EN388, EN20345, EN20471
If your procurement team is spec'ing PPE without reading the EN ratings, you are buying on price alone. Here's what the numbers mean.
EN standards finder
Search by product (boots, gloves, hi-vis…), hazard (cut, chemical, cold) or EN number.
39 standards
- EN ISO 20345
Safety footwear (200J toe cap)
The core standard for safety boots and shoes. 200-joule toe cap protection plus additional class markings (SB, S1, S1P, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7).
- SB — basic 200J toe cap.
- S1 — closed heel, antistatic (A), energy absorption (E), fuel-oil resistant outsole.
- S1P — S1 + penetration-resistant midsole.
- S2 — S1 + water-resistant upper.
- S3 — S2 + penetration resistance + cleated outsole.
- S4/S5 — moulded (wellington) footwear.
- Additional markings: HRO (heat-resistant outsole), CI (cold insulation), HI (heat insulation), M (metatarsal), AN (ankle), CR (cut-resistant upper).
- EN ISO 20346
Protective footwear (100J toe cap)
Lower-energy toe cap (100J) for environments where full safety footwear isn't required.
- EN ISO 20347
Occupational footwear (no toe cap)
Work shoes with slip resistance and antistatic protection but no 200J toe cap. Common for hospitality, healthcare and cleaning.
- SRA / SRB / SRC
Slip resistance ratings
SRA = tested on ceramic tile with detergent. SRB = tested on steel with glycerine. SRC = passes both. Specify SRC for wet, oily or mixed surfaces.
- EN ISO 13287
Footwear slip-resistance test method
The underlying laboratory test that produces the SRA, SRB and SRC markings.
bootsfootwearslip - EN 388
Protective gloves against mechanical risks
Four-to-six character code: abrasion (0–4), Coup cut (0–5), tear (0–4), puncture (0–4), ISO 13997 TDM cut (A–F), impact (P).
- Abrasion 0–4 (rubs to wear through).
- Coup cut 0–5 (rotating circular blade).
- Tear 0–4 (force to tear).
- Puncture 0–4 (force to puncture).
- ISO 13997 TDM cut A–F (straight-blade cut, more accurate for high-cut yarns).
- P = impact protection passed (EN 13594 method).
- EN 374
Chemical & micro-organism protection (gloves)
Gloves rated against chemicals (Type A/B/C) and against bacteria, fungi and viruses. Look for the beaker pictogram plus letter codes for tested chemicals.
- EN 407
Gloves protecting against thermal risks (heat & fire)
Six performance levels: flammability, contact heat, convective heat, radiant heat, small splashes of molten metal, large quantities of molten metal.
- EN 511
Gloves against cold
Three digits: convective cold (0–4), contact cold (0–4), water permeability (0 or 1). Target 2-2-X minimum for UK outdoor winter work.
- EN 421
Gloves against ionising radiation & radioactive contamination
For nuclear, medical isotope and radiography work.
- EN 12477
Welders' gloves
Type A (heavier, more protection, less dexterity) or Type B (lighter, finer TIG work).
- EN ISO 20471
High-visibility clothing
Three classes by combined background-fabric and reflective-tape area. Class 1 = lowest, Class 3 = highways/rail/airside.
- Class 1 — minimum: car parks, low-speed yards.
- Class 2 — roads under 60 mph, urban delivery.
- Class 3 — highways, rail, airside. Requires sleeves + body coverage.
- A hi-vis t-shirt or vest alone cannot meet Class 3 on its own.
- EN 1150
Non-professional high-visibility
Hi-vis for non-occupational use (cyclists, pedestrians, children). Lower spec than EN ISO 20471.
- EN 17353
Enhanced visibility (medium-risk)
Replaces EN 1150 for adult medium-risk situations. Type A (passive), Type AB (passive + active e.g. flashing).
- EN 343
Protective clothing against rain
Two digits: water penetration resistance (1–4) and water vapour resistance / breathability (1–4). 3-3 or 4-3 for prolonged UK outdoor wear.
- EN 14058
Garments for cool environments
Thermal performance for non-extreme cold (above -5°C). Ratings for thermal insulation and air permeability.
coldwinterthermaljacket - EN 342
Garments for extreme cold (below -5°C)
Cold storage, refrigeration, winter highways. Tests thermal insulation, air permeability and (optionally) water resistance.
coldwinterthermalcold storefreezer - EN ISO 11611
Protective clothing for welding & allied processes
Class 1 (manual welding, light spatter) or Class 2 (heavier work, more spatter, higher heat).
weldingcoveralljacket - EN ISO 11612
Clothing against heat and flame
Letter codes for limited flame spread (A), convective heat (B), radiant heat (C), molten aluminium (D), molten iron (E), contact heat (F).
fireflamefrcoverall - EN 1149-5
Antistatic / electrostatic dissipative clothing
Required in ATEX zones and around flammable atmospheres. Garment must be earthed via footwear/floor.
antistaticatexcoverallfr - EN 13034
Limited chemical splash protection (Type 6)
Light spray protection — not for liquid jet or full immersion.
chemicalcoveralldisposable - EN 14126
Protection against infective agents
Biohazard coveralls and gowns — tests resistance to blood, bodily fluids and contaminated aerosols.
chemicalcoverallbiohazardmedical - EN ISO 13982-1
Type 5 — protection against airborne solid particulates
Dust and dry particulates (asbestos surveying, dry powder handling).
coveralldisposableasbestosdust - EN 397
Industrial safety helmets
Core construction helmet standard. Optional markings: -30°C, +150°C, LD (lateral deformation), MM (molten metal), 440V a.c., E (electrical insulation).
- EN 12492
Mountaineering / industrial climbing helmets
Used by working-at-height and rope-access crews. Better impact protection from the side and rear than EN 397.
- EN 50365
Electrically insulating helmets (1000V a.c.)
For live electrical work up to 1000V a.c. / 1500V d.c.
- EN 812
Industrial bump caps
Protects against bumps and abrasions from stationary objects — NOT an impact helmet.
- EN 166
Personal eye protection — general requirements
Impact letters: S (low energy), F (45 m/s), B (120 m/s), A (190 m/s). Plus optical class 1–3 and field-of-use codes (3, 4, 5, 8, 9).
- EN 169 / EN 170 / EN 171 / EN 172
Filters for eye protection
EN 169 = welding, EN 170 = UV, EN 171 = infra-red, EN 172 = solar (industrial sun-glare).
- EN 175
Welding shields & helmets (face)
Full-face welding shields, used with EN 169 filter shades.
- EN 1731
Mesh eye and face protectors
For forestry, brush-cutting and similar — impact rated, not splash rated.
- EN 352
Hearing protectors
EN 352-1 ear muffs, -2 ear plugs, -3 helmet-mounted muffs. Performance shown as SNR plus H/M/L values.
- EN 149
Filtering half-masks (FFP1 / FFP2 / FFP3)
Disposable respirators. FFP1 ≥ 80% filtration, FFP2 ≥ 94%, FFP3 ≥ 99%. R = reusable, NR = single-shift use.
respiratormaskffp2ffp3dustrespiratory - EN 140 / EN 136
Reusable half / full-face respirators
Reusable rubber/silicone masks fitted with bayonet or screw-thread filter cartridges.
respiratormaskrespiratory - EN 14387
Gas and combined filters for respirators
Letter/colour codes: A (organic), B (inorganic), E (acid), K (ammonia), P (particulate).
respiratorfilterrespiratorychemical - EN 361 / EN 354 / EN 355 / EN 360 / EN 358 / EN 813
Fall protection (working at height)
EN 361 full-body harness, EN 354 lanyard, EN 355 energy absorber, EN 360 self-retracting lifeline, EN 358 work-positioning, EN 813 sit harness.
harnessfall arrestheightlanyard - EN ISO 17249
Chainsaw-protective footwear
Class 1 (20 m/s), Class 2 (24 m/s), Class 3 (28 m/s) chain speed protection.
- EN 381
Chainsaw protective clothing
Trousers, leggings and jackets rated by chain speed — Class 1 to 3 (same speeds as EN ISO 17249).
chainsawforestrytrousers - EN 14404
Knee protectors for work in a kneeling position
Type 1 free-fitting, Type 2 in pocket, Type 3 separate from clothing, Type 4 ancillary device.
knee padskneetrousers
EN388 — gloves (mechanical risks)
Four to six digits/letters. In order: abrasion (0–4), cut – Coup test (0–5), tear (0–4), puncture (0–4), TDM cut – ISO13997 (A–F), impact (P if passed).
- Glazing or sheet metal handling: cut rating C or higher (TDM letter).
- General construction: 3-1-2-1 or better.
- Impact risk (e.g. oil & gas, demolition): require the P marking.
EN20345 — safety footwear
S-classes bundle features: SB is the base (200J toe cap). S1 adds closed heel + antistatic + energy absorption. S2 adds water resistance. S3 adds penetration resistance + cleated sole. S5 is wellington-style with toe + midsole protection.
- Building sites: S3 minimum.
- Food / wet areas: S2 with SRC slip rating.
- Hot work / foundries: HRO (heat-resistant outsole).
EN20471 — high-visibility clothing
Class 1 = lowest visibility (e.g. car parks). Class 2 = roads under 60mph. Class 3 = highways, rail, airside. The class depends on background fabric area and reflective tape area combined — a hi-vis t-shirt cannot be class 3 on its own.
EN166 — eye protection
Impact letters: S (low energy), F (45 m/s), B (120 m/s), A (190 m/s). Use F for grinding sparks, B for impact tooling, A for high-velocity industrial work.