4 classes in EN 381
The norm prescribes four classes that correspond to the chain speed with which the tests have been done:
Class 0 : 16 m/s
Class 1 : 20 m/s
Class 2 : 24 m/s
Class 3 : 28 m/s
EN 381-5: Leg protectors
This part of European standard EN ISO 11393 specifies the demands for leg protection wear.
It defines three types (or designs):
Type A
The chainsaw protective clothing of type A and type B are mainly intended to be used for forestry work by professional lumber jacks who have been trained and informed.
Type A (or front protection) covers each leg partly (180°) and 5 cm to the interior part of the right leg and 5 cm the exterior part of the left leg.
Protection starts at max. 5 cm from the bottom of the leg and ends at min. 20 cm above the crotch.
For types A and B, the protection must be fixed permanently on the sides of the protective padding. The fixing of the protection must resist a force of min. 200 N. Class 0 (16 m/s) is not applicable to the EN 381-5 standard.
Type B
Type B is identical to type A, but has an extra 5 cm of protection to the interior part of the left leg.
For types A and B, the protection must be fixed permanently on the sides of the protective padding. The fixing of the protection must resist a force of min. 200 N. Class 0 (16 m/s) is not applicable to the EN 381-5 standard.
Type C
The chainsaw protective clothing of type C are intended to be used by people who normally don’t work with chainsaws or in exceptional situations.
Type C covers each leg all around (360°) protection. The protection starts at max. 5 cm from the bottom of the leg and ends at min. 20 cm above the front of side of the crotch and at min. 50 cm under the back side of the crotch.
EN 381-7: Protective gloves
This part of European standard EN 381 specifies the demands for chainsaw protective gloves.
It describes 2 designs:
Design A
Standard EN 381-7 design A for gloves describes a protection surface on the back of the hand.
The protective surface must be minimum 110 mm wide and minimum 120 mm high at the highest point (without the fingers).
Design B
Standard EN 381-7 design B for gloves describes protection on the back of the hand and 4 fingers.
The protective surface must be minimum 110 mm wide and minimum 190 mm high from the base to the highest point.
EN 381-9: Protective gaiters
This part of European standard EN 381 specifies the demands for protective gaiters.
The protective gaiters must be worn on top of safety boots that are certified to EN ISO 20345.
Because safety boots have a steel nose, there may be a gap in the chainsaw protective covering surface, but it mustn’t exceed more than 14 mm from the front end of the boot. The minimum height must be 200 mm and distance gaiter-ground maximum 25 mm.
EN 381-11: Upper body protection
The protected area in EN 381 is the upper part of the body. Two types can be distinguished:
Type A
In contrast to chainsaw trousers where 3 designs are possible, there is just 1 design for the conception of chainsaw jackets in order to be conform to the standard.
On both the front and backside of the jacket, the standard defines a minimum surface of protective inlay on the shoulders, arms and chest.
On the front side of the sleeves, the protective inlay must cover a minimum of 80% of the total surface and the non-protected surface from the end of the sleeves mustn’t exceed 70 mm.
Type B
Type B jackets have additional full front protection.
Chainsaw jackets are more and more used for working on servicing platforms, occasional use of the chainsaw or in exceptional and dangerous working circumstances.
Basically, conception is the same as a normal standard jacket, but there is added protection of the abdomen.
SIP Protection
More standards and certifications to discover
EN ISO 11393
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