4 classes in EN ISO 11393
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 ISO 11393-2: 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 to 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 ISO 11393 standard.
Type B
Type B is the description of an entirely new style: the Chainsaw Protective Chaps.
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 ISO 11393 standard.
Type C
The chainsaw protective clothing of type C is 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 the side of the crotch and at min. 50 cm under the back side of the crotch.
EN ISO 11393-4: Protective gloves
This part of European standard EN ISO 11393 specifies the demands for chainsaw protective gloves.
It describes 2 designs or types:
Design A
The EN ISO 11393-4 standard 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
The EN ISO 11393-4 standard design B for gloves describes a 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.
Two types can also be distinguished
Type A: protection on left and right hand
Type B: Protection on left hand only
EN ISO 11393-5: Protective gaiters
This part of European standard EN ISO 11393 specifies the demands for protective gaiters.
The protective gaiters must be worn on top of safety boots that are certified to the EN ISO 20345 standard.
As 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 the distance between the gaiter and the ground must be maximum 25 mm.
Protective gaiters are allowed in class 1,2 and 3. Class 0 is no longer allowed.
EN ISO 11393-6: Upper body protection
The protected area in EN ISO 11393-6 is the upper part of the body. Two designs can be distinguished:
Design A
The two type A images show the design of a chainsaw protective jacket according to standard EN ISO 11393-6:2019.
On both the front and back side 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 must not exceed 70 mm.
Design B
The two images show the design of a chainsaw protective jacket according to standard EN ISO 11393-6:2019 with additional full front protection.
Chainsaw jackets are more and more used for working on servicing platforms, for occasional use of the chainsaw or in exceptional and dangerous working circumstances.
Basically, conception is the same as a normal standard jacket but protection of the abdomen was added.
SIP Protection
Chainsaw rig
Even before the first Chainsaw Standard EN 381 was published in 1995, we had already developed our own test rig. After more than 250 trials with different materials and fabric combinations, we introduced the world’s first 6-layer blocking material compliant with EN 381.
In recent years, we have further invested in a state-of-the-art test rig, equivalent to those used by Europe’s most demanding laboratories. This enables us to continuously develop higher-performing fabrics, more comfortable garments, and enhanced levels of protection.
In recent years, we have further invested in a state-of-the-art test rig, equivalent to those used by Europe’s most demanding laboratories. This enables us to continuously develop higher-performing fabrics, more comfortable garments, and enhanced levels of protection.
More standards and certifications to discover
EN ISO 20471
EN ISO 20471 is the standard for high visibility PPE and has three different classes, depending on the traffic speed, location and darkness.
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EN 17353
EN 17353 is the standard for medium risk situations in daylight conditions or dark with headlights. There are 3 types.
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EN ISO 17249
EN ISO 17249 is the standard for chainsaw protective boots, which are always also safety boots (EN ISO 20345) that have extra chainsaw protection.
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PPE regulation
All companies in the PPE industry must comply with the 2016/425 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) regulation.
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KWF Certification
Many of our products have KWF quality labels. Find out more about those labels and the German KWF Competence Centre in this article.
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Test methods
Testing is needed to certify our products and to maintain our high quality. Read more about the different test methods used.
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