The Complexities Of Electric Arc Testing - Article 11

Electric Arc EN 61482-2 garments are categorised as complex PPE.

Complex PPE is interpreted as :  PPE affording protection against mortal danger, or against dangers that may seriously and irreversibly harm a person’s health. The directive is quite clear that Arc comes under this category.

To attain CE marking for complex PPE the company who is CE marking the garment must initially submit the product for EC type examination to a Notified Body. The Notified body will examine the garment under Article 10 of the PPE Directive by conducting examinations and tests and issue EC type-examination certificates in respect of pre-production PPE.

The PPE Directive requires that PPE of ‘complex’ design should not only undergo EC type-examination (article 10), but should also be subject to one of two quality control systems corresponding to Article 11 of the Directive by a Notified Body. This is to ensure that PPE affording protection against mortal danger, or against dangers that may seriously and irreversibly harm health, continues to be manufactured in such a way as to ensure conformance with the pre-production PPE which successfully passed the EC type-examination. For any complex PPE garment the Notified Body’s four digit ID number must be indicated on the care label.

Achieving Article 11 is done by either of these routes: -

11A. - quality control system for the final product  - known as annual testing

11B. - quality of production by means of monitoring – similar to an ISO 9000 audit.

Therefore whenever you ask for an Electric Arc garment to EN61482-2 you should ask for the following :-

1. EC type examination certificate in accordance with Article 10 of the PPE Directive.

2. EC certificate for Article 11A or 11B for quality control systems.

Failure to produce the above would mean that the garments are not correctly certified.