Personal protective equipment – Knee protectors for work in the kneeling position
EN 14404 PART 1-6 - PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT – KNEE PROTECTORS FOR WORK IN THE KNEELING POSITION
This standard series specifies requirements and test methods for different types of knee protectors for work in the kneeling position. The protective equipment aiming to reduce and prevent injuries and risks that may occur immediately or over time.
There are four types of knee protection;
| Type | Design | Standard part |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knee protection that is not part of a garment. Fastened to the knee using straps around the leg. | EN 14404-2 |
| 2 | Knee protection that is made of foam or other padding. Placed in pockets on the trouser legs, or permanently attached to the trousers. | EN 14404-3 & EN 14404-4 |
| 3 | Knee protection that is not attached to the body, but put into position when the user moves. | EN 14404-5 |
| 4 | Knee protection that is incorporated into the design of an item, such as a support frame for standing up or a kneeling stool. Can be worn on the body or be stand-alone. | EN 14404-6 |
Part 1 (14404-1) specifies test methods.
Knee protection is classified as follows:
| Protection levels | Suitable use |
|---|---|
| 0 | These knee protectors do not have verified penetration protection and should therefore mainly be used when working on flat surfaces. |
| 1 | Knee protectors rated as Class 1 provide penetration protection against e.g. small stones and are suitable for use on flat surfaces. Tested penetration force of 100±5 N |
| 1U | Knee protectors rated as Class 1U provide penetration protection against e.g. small stones and are suitable for use on uneven surfaces. Tested penetration force of 100±5 N |
| 2 | Knee protectors rated as Class 2 provide greater protection against penetration when kneeling on very uneven and sharp surfaces. Tested penetration force of 250±10 N |
Apart from the protection classes that state penetration resistance, the standard also sets requirements for the size of the knee protection, its ergonomic performance, force distribution, and how well its material absorbs shocks when going into kneeling position.
The pictogram that may be used for Class 1 and 2 knee protectors;
License for using the standard
This text is an interpretation of the content in the Standard concerned, reproduced with the requisite authorization for Blåkläder from the Swedish Institute for Standards, which is the owner and copyright holder of the Standard and also sells the complete Standard at www.sis.se
