Notified Bodies
For Category II and III PPE.
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Gloves, helmets, safety footwear, high-visibility clothing, respirators and fall protection are personal protective equipment. Their conformity route depends entirely on the risk category.
| Category | Risks (Annex I) | Conformity assessment |
|---|---|---|
| I - minimal risks | Exhaustive list: superficial mechanical injury; contact with weak cleaning materials or prolonged contact with water; hot surfaces not exceeding 50 °C; eye damage from sunlight (other than observing the sun); non-extreme atmospheric conditions | Internal production control (Module A) |
| II | Risks other than those in Categories I and III | EU-type examination (Module B) + conformity to type based on internal production control (Module C) |
| III - very serious consequences | Exhaustive list: substances hazardous to health; oxygen-deficient atmospheres; harmful biological agents; ionising radiation; high-temperature environments of at least 100 °C; low-temperature environments of -50 °C or less; falling from a height; electric shock and live working; drowning; cuts by hand-held chainsaws; high-pressure jets; bullet wounds or knife stabs; harmful noise | Module B + either Module C2 (supervised product checks at random intervals) or Module D (quality assurance of production) |
Gloves protecting only against minimal risks such as superficial mechanical injury or weak cleaning agents are Category I. Gloves protecting against cuts or other mechanical risks above that level are Category II. Gloves against hazardous chemicals are Category III.
An EU-type examination certificate is valid for up to 5 years and must be reviewed or renewed before it expires.
Protective equipment worn by the user, such as helmets or knee pads, usually is. Sports equipment that does not protect the user, such as balls or rackets, is not.
For Category II and III PPE.
The PPE DoC requirements.
PPE and other sectors.
Note: This guide provides general information about EU product legislation, not legal advice. Check the current legal texts on EUR-Lex for your product. Last reviewed 5 October 2026.
Tell us where your company is based, your product sector and how far your documentation is. Before any engagement, we send you a proposed compliance route.