Using a welding protective helmet, fresh air system or handshield can minimise risks to the welder’s eyes, face and respiratory tracts. But certification and choosing the right product are essential. You can only reliably prevent a risk that you are not aware of if you ensure the right quality and most importantly the continuity of the production processes. The various certification symbols provide information about how the product is tested once and/or periodically for safety.
  

  
  
All personal protective equipment used in Europe must hold CE certification. The term personal protective equipment (PPE) includes welding helmets, handshields and breathing protection systems. This certification confirms compliance with the specified minimum statutory requirements laid down in the directive governing personal protective equipment (Directive 89/686/EEC).
Certificates bearing the words «EC type approval» enable a product to be labelled with the CE symbol in Europe. This confirms that the manufacturer has satisfied the above directive. Once tested, the product offers unlimited use.
     
  


  
Labels stating «ECS-tested» and «ECS - geprüfte Sicherheit» or «DIN-geprüft» and «DIN - geprüfte Sicherheit» confirm that a product has been tested in line with DIN standards. Unlike the case with the CE symbol, manufacturers using one of these symbols are voluntarily subject to regular monitoring of their internal quality system, measurement equipment and end products and therefore ensure a consistently high-quality product. Products with certificates bearing the words «test notice» are entitled to feature the symbols shown on the left.
     
  
  
Australian/New Zealand Standard (AS/NZS) The so-called Australian Standardsmark Licence entitles a product to bear the corresponding test symbol and is similar to DIN. Once this certificate has been gained, products are again subject to periodical, usually annual, auditing by the Australian SAI Global certification body.
     
  
  
ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standards provide for self-certification by the manufacturers of protection products. This means that the manufacturer himself checks that his products comply with the relevant standards and approves satisfaction of the standard’s requirements for third parties. Conformation of compliance with these standards by an independent test institute is also possible for greater product confidence.
  
  
  
GOST-R, Russian certification The GOST-R certificate is similar to European CE certification and allows products to be sold in Russia.