Personal Protective Equipment Testing

The testing required of PPE is as varied as an equipment’s intended use and the potential risk to the user. Some specific types of testing include:

• Biological resistance testing – including penetration testing, as well as antimicrobial and antibacterial testing
• Chemical resistance testing – including chemical penetration and permeation testing
• Protective ensemble testing – such as testing for chemical, vapor or liquid splash resistance of full body protection systems and clothing ensembles 
• Impact protection testing – for sports helmets and occupational headwear, as well as body armour 
• Protective hand and footwear testing – for gloves and shoes used in hazardous work environments 
• Fall arrest equipment testing – for positioning belts and body harnesses used in construction and maintenance

In potentially dangerous workplace environments, workers rely on PPE to protect against foreseeable health and safety risks, and on the assurances of PPE manufacturers that their equipment will perform as promised. Testing of PPE sold or used in the EU is required under the terms of the EU’s PPE Directive and the EU’s forthcoming PPE Regulation. PPE used in the US in the federally regulated workplace must also meet the requirements of product-specific American National Standards for compliance with regulations of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In addition to serving as the basis for compliance with applicable regulations, PPE testing and certification provides users with assurances that their equipment will provide adequate protection against injury or illness.

TÜV SÜD is an EU Notified Body authorised to evaluate products for compliance with the EU’s PPE Directive and the PPE Regulation. We are also a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) under US OSHA regulations. A global leader in testing and certification, TÜV SÜD’s team of multidisciplinary experts are familiar with most types of PPE. Our standing as an independent and impartial third-party assessor instills confidence in the quality and safety of your products. And our global network of testing laboratories provides testing support regardless of where your PPE is manufactured or distributed.

We can support PPE suppliers and manufacturers with the full range of testing and evaluation services applicable to all categories of PPE products, as required by the EU, the US and other major markets. Specific testing capabilities include:

• Chemical and biological hazards testing
• Hand and footwear testing
• Impact protection testing
• Fall arrest equipment testing

In addition, TÜV SÜD can conduct specialised testing for extreme conditions, as well as other testing specified as a condition of procurement.

TÜV SÜD is a leading provider of comprehensive testing and certification services for all types of PPE. Our global network of technical experts, combined with our state-of-the-art testing laboratories, assure a single source solution for meeting all applicable requirements, standards and voluntary schemes. And TÜV SÜD technical professionals are actively involved in international advisory boards and standards development activities, ensuring the most up-to-date knowledge of current and changing requirements.

Represented in over 800 locations worldwide, TÜV SÜD has an unsurpassed track record of meeting and exceeding the requirements and expectations of our client companies. The TÜV SÜD brand and our distinctive blue octagon mark are instantly recognised around the globe as symbols of quality and safety, and will increase customer confidence in your brand.