Respiratory, hearing and eye protection testing and certification

As market leaders in the testing and certification of respiratory products, we work with some of the best known manufacturers in this field to help bring their products to market. Our team of testing experts are based at our center of excellence Kitemark House, and our recently refurbished testing laboratories contain state of the art test rigs.

We can help you to gain European market access as all respiratory equipment must undergo type examination using a Notified Body such as BSI before CE Marking can be affixed. To differentiate your products we can also help you to gain BSI Kitemark certification, one of the best known independent marks of quality.

Our testing capabilities include:

• Breathing resistance
• Filter penetration (solids and liquids)
• Total inward Leakage (TIL)
• CO2 build up
• Flammability
• Dust clogging
• Field of vision
• Mechanical strength and performance testing

Advances in the technology of respiratory products mean that they may now incorporate headwear, eyewear or hearing protection and some products may also incorporate electronic devices. We can provide a complete testing solution for these requirements to help you be compliant and with your product development requirements.

Respiratory products we can test include:

• Half/quarter masks
• Gas filters & combined filters
• Particle filters
• Filtering half masks to protect against particles
• Powered hoods and helmets
• Powered air for full/half masks
• Valved combined filtering half masks
• Full face masks - class 1, 2, or 3
• Self-contained breathing apparatus
• Fresh air hose for use with face masks
• Continuous flow compressed airline breathing apparatus
• Self contained breathing apparatus escape masks
• Self contained open-circuit compressed air breathing apparatus with escape hood

Excessive noise is prevalent in many industries as well as personal pursuits. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 places the level at which employers must provide hearing protection and hearing protection zones at 85 decibels (average/daily exposure). The level at which employers must make a workers' risk assessment and provide information and training is now 80 decibels. There is also a ceiling of 87 decibels (taking into account hearing protection) above which workers should not be exposed.

We can test a wide range of hearing protection equipment to ensure compliance with the Personal Protective Equipment Directive 89/686. We can also provide BSI Kitemark certification for these products to help you demonstrate the quality and differentiate your products.

Ear protection products we can test include:

• Ear-muffs
• Ear-plugs
• Ear-muffs on safety helmets
• Level dependent ear-muffs
• Active noise reduction ear-muffs
• Ear-muffs with electrical audio input
• Level dependent ear-plugs

The PPE Directive (89/686/EEC) for CE marking usually classifies eyewear as that of intermediate design and is graded according to the level of protection it provides.

Eye protection products we can test include:

• Personal Eye-protection
• Welding Filters
• Ultraviolet Filters
• Infrared Filters
• Sun Glare Filters for industrial use
• Welders Eye and Face Protection
• Mesh Face Screens
• Sunglasses and Sun Glare Filters
• Visors for Vehicle Users
• Swimming Goggles
• Racket Sports – Squash Players Eye Protection