CE pictograms for PPE
Also known as: PPE pictograms, EU 2016/425 pictograms, CE marking PPE
Standardised graphic symbols that indicate, next to the CE mark, the protective function of a PPE — legal basis: EU regulation 2016/425.
Description
EU regulation 2016/425 requires manufacturers of personal protective equipment (PPE) to display, in addition to the CE mark, a pictogram identifying the protection provided: cold, heat and weather, mechanical risks (cut, puncture, abrasion), chemical protection, antistatic properties, electrical hazards, high-visibility or chemical splashes.
The pictograms are defined per protection type in dedicated EN standards (e.g. EN 388 for mechanical risks, EN 407 for heat, EN 511 for cold, EN 13034 for chemical splashes). They must remain visible, durable and unambiguously legible throughout the foreseeable service life of the PPE — usually printed, woven or attached as a permanent label. The pictogram is regularly accompanied by the reference standard and a performance-code string (e.g. "4.5.4.3.X" for four EN 388 mechanical tests).
- Legal basis: EU 2016/425 (PPE regulation)
- Pictogram + reference standard + performance codes together
- Must remain visible for the whole service life
- Complements — does not replace — the CE mark itself
Properties
| Legal basis | EU regulation 2016/425 (PPE) |
|---|---|
| Related EN standards | EN 388, EN 407, EN 511, EN 13034 and others |
| Marking | Printed, woven or permanent label |
| Visibility | For the whole foreseeable service life |
| Additional info | Usually with performance codes (e.g. EN 388 4.5.4.3.X) |
Related product categories
Sources & references
2- EUR-Lex: Verordnung (EU) 2016/425 eur-lex.europa.eu https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/425/oj
- DGUV IFA: Praxishilfen PSA dguv.de https://www.dguv.de/ifa/praxishilfen/praxishilfen-persoenliche-schutzausruestungen/index.jsp
