COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS
WE COOPERATE WITH THE BEST SUPPLIERS FOR PPE
We work closely with a select group of leading PPE suppliers who meet our stringent requirements for product quality, compliance, innovation, logistics and environmental impact.
International standards
These international standards and methodologies serve as a framework to guide our operations in the most responsible manner.
Standards and RegulationsTHE REQUIREMENTS OF APPLICABLE EUROPEAN LEGISLATION
EN 397 – INDUSTRIAL SAFETY HELMETS
Provides protection against falling objects and their consequences, such as brain injury and skull fractures.
Standard requirements:
- Shock absorption in the vertical direction
- Resistance to penetration by sharp and pointed objects
- Flame resistance
- Chin strap attachment, which releases at a force between 150 N and 250 N
EN 397 applies to all safety parameters of protective helmets, including impact absorption and penetration resistance in different helmet designs.
Standard parameters:
- Temperature range: -30°C to +50°C
- Electrical insulation: 440 VAC
- Molten metal splash resistance: MM
- Lateral deformation resistance: LD
EN 12492 – CLIMBING HELMETS
Provides protection against hazards encountered during climbing activities.
Standard requirements:
- Shock absorption in vertical, frontal, lateral, and dorsal directions
- Resistance to penetration by sharp and pointed objects
- Chin strap strength: must release at a force of at least 500 N
- Chin strap elongation: maximum extension of 25 mm
- Helmet stability: must not slip off the head
EN 12492 applies to safety standards for climbing helmets or helmets used for working at heights. It also incorporates EN 397 requirements and additional features such as a secure chin strap to prevent the helmet from falling off.
EN 50365 – ELECTRICAL INSULATING HELMETS
Protects against electrical hazards and prevents dangerous electrical current from passing through the head.
Standard requirements:
- Must meet all EN 397 requirements
- Protection against AC voltage up to 1,000 V or DC voltage up to 1,500 V
- Helmets must not contain any conductive parts
- Ventilation openings (if present) must be designed to prevent accidental contact with live parts
EN 50365 includes all safety parameters of EN 397 while addressing electrical insulation properties. These helmets are designed for low-voltage environments where there is a risk of electrical shock. Unlike standard helmets, electrically insulating helmets do not have ventilation holes to prevent any electrical contact.
EN 812 – BUMP CAPS
Head coverings designed to reduce the risk of minor head injuries such as bumps and scratches.
Standard requirements:
- Shock absorption from static objects (e.g., low ceilings or hanging obstacles)
- Protection against penetration by sharp or pointed objects (e.g., protruding corners or edges)
- EN 812 is the only standard applicable to bump caps. It defines essential safety parameters to ensure adequate worker protection. Many industrial caps on the market differ in design, stitching, and visor length, but they must all comply with this standard.
HELMET LIFESPAN AND MARKINGS
Few people are aware that helmets have a limited usage period, which also affects how long they can be stored before use. Helmets have two key properties: service life and shelf life.
- Service life depends mainly on the material used and is determined by the manufacturer, typically 5 to 7 years.
- Shelf life is usually shorter than the service life and is also specified by the manufacturer.
- These details can be found on the label of each helmet.
EN 166 – Personal eye protection
EN 170 – Ultraviolet radiation filters
EN 172 – Industrial sun glare filters
EN 169 – Filters for welding and related techniques
EN 352-1 – Earmuffs
EN 352-2 – Earplugs
EN 352-3 – Hearing protectors attached to head or face protection devices
EN 352-4 – Hearing protectors with level-dependent attenuation
EN 352-6 – Hearing protectors with electronic communication systems
EN 352-8 – Hearing protectors with entertainment sound systems
HALF MASKS AND FULL-FACE MASKS
EN 136 – Respiratory protective devices: Full-face masks – Requirements, testing, and marking
EN 140 – Respiratory protective devices: Half masks and quarter masks – Requirements, testing, and marking
EN 405 – Filtering half masks with valves for gases and particles – Requirements, testing, and marking
EN 14387 – Gas and combined filters – Requirements, testing, and marking
EN 12491 – Filter devices with powered ventilation attached to helmets or hoods
EN 12492 – Filtering half masks with powered ventilation attached to masks, half masks, or quarter masks
EN ISO 21420 – General requirements and test methods for protective gloves
EN 388 – Gloves for mechanical risks
EN ISO 374-1 – Protective gloves against chemical risks
EN 374-5 – Protective gloves against hazardous chemicals and microorganisms
EN 455 – Medical gloves for single-use
- EN 455-1: Requirements and testing
- EN 445-2: Physical properties requirements and testing
- EN 455-3: Biological evaluation requirements and testing
- EN 455-4: Determination of shelf-life requirements and testing
EN 407 – Gloves for thermal risks
EN 511 – Gloves for protection against cold
EN 16350 – Gloves with electrostatic properties
EN 12477 – Gloves for welding, cutting, and related work
- Type A: Lower dexterity, higher protection
- Type B: Higher dexterity, lower protection
EN 10819 – Gloves for mechanical vibrations and shocks
The international standard defines basic and optional safety requirements for general-purpose safety footwear. It includes protection against mechanical hazards, slip resistance, thermal hazards, and ergonomic properties. The midsole protects against punctures from sharp objects.
Types of Protective Footwear:
EN ISO 20345 – Safety footwear (marked "S")
- Equipped with a protective toe cap
- Protects against impacts up to 200 J and compression up to 15 kN
EN ISO 20347 – Occupational footwear (marked "O")
- No protective toe cap
- Does not protect against impact and compression
Slip Resistance Testing:
- SRA – Ceramic tile flooring with sodium lauryl sulfate solution
- SRB – Steel flooring with glycerin
- SRC – Both ceramic tile flooring with sodium lauryl sulfate and steel flooring with glycerin
EN 14605, TYPE 3(B) protective clothing against liquid chemicals (splash).
EN 14605, type 4(b) protective clothing against liquid chemicals (splashing).
EN 13982-1, type 5(b) protective clothing against solid particles (dust - asbestos).
EN 13034, type 6(b) protective clothing against liquid chemicals (splashing).
EN 14126 Protective clothing against infectious particles.
EN 1073-2 protective clothing against radioactive contamination.
EN 1149-5 protective clothing with electrostatic charge dissipation.
EN ISO 14116 protective clothing against heat and flame.
EN ISO 11612 protective clothing against heat and flame
The performance requirements set out in this standard apply to garments that can be worn for a wide range of end uses where a garment with limited flame propagation characteristics is required and where the wearer may be exposed to radiant, convective or contact heat or splashes of molten metal.
Specific testing according to the standard:
- Dimensional change
- Restricted flame spread (A1 + A2)*
- Convective heat (B) - 3 levels
- Radiant heat (C) - 4 levels
- Molten aluminium spatter (D) - 3 levels
- Molten iron spatter (E) - 3 levels
- Contact heat (F) - 3 levels (temperature 250 °C)
- Heat resistance at 180 °C
- Tensile strength (minimum 300 N)
- Breaking strength (minimum 10 N)
- Bursting force
- Seam strength
EN ISO 11611 PROTECTIVE CLOTHING FOR USE IN WELDING AND RELATED PROCESSES
This International Standard specifies the minimum essential safety requirements and test methods for protective clothing for use in welding and related processes, excluding hand protection. The standard establishes two classes with specific performance requirements:
- Class 1 - Protection against less hazardous welding techniques and situations causing lower levels of spatter and radiant heat
- Class 2 - Protection against more hazardous welding techniques and situations causing higher levels of spatter and radiant heat
EN 61482 Protective clothing against the thermal hazards of electric arc.
EN 1149 protective clothing. Electrostatic properties. Part 5 - Performance and material design requirements.
EN 343
European standard specifying requirements and test methods applicable to materials and seams of protective clothing against the effects of precipitation (e.g. rain, snowflakes), fog and moisture. Waterproofness and water vapour resistance are the basic properties to be tested.
Meaning of the markings:
- X - Waterproof level, where there are three classes. Class 3 is the highest level of protection against water.
- Y - Breathability level, where there are three classes. Class 3 is the highest level of breathable protection.
SUSTAINABILITY
Incorporating sustainable products into the portfolio is a key step towards building for the future. Products with the Lyreco Sustainable Choice label have minimal environmental impact, are socially responsible and contribute to economic development. Incorporating sustainable products and services into our portfolio helps reduce our carbon footprint and protect the planet.
Code of Ethics
Since its founding in 1926, Lyreco has been guided by the values of precision, respect, enthusiasm and agility. They are embodied and guided by all our employees. Moreover, they share them with all our business partners.
At Lyreco, we uphold these values every day by promoting ethical and compliance principles in all of our practices. Lyreco's Code of Ethics reflects our long-standing commitment to integrity. It ensures the trust and confidence of our customers as well as our employees and partners.
Need advice from our experts?
Our team of experienced specialists is ready to answer your questions and help you solve your problems. Whatever the issue you're dealing with, you can count on our support.