Personal protective equipment - Knee protectors for work in the kneeling position - Part 1: Test methods

This document specifies the test methods for knee protectors intended to protect the knee while working in a kneeling position.
This document does not apply to knee protectors that are medical devices or are intended for sports and motorcycles.

Persönliche Schutzausrüstung - Knieschutz für Arbeiten in kniender Haltung - Teil 1: Prüfverfahren

Dieses Dokument legt die Prüfverfahren für Knieschützer fest, die zum Schutz des Knies während des Arbeitens in kniender Haltung vorgesehen sind.
Dieses Dokument ist nicht anwendbar für Knieschützer, die ein Medizinprodukt sind oder für Sport und Motorräder vorgesehen sind.

Équipements de protection individuelle - Protecteurs de genoux pour le travail à genoux - Partie 1 : Méthodes d'essai

Le présent document spécifie les méthodes d’essai relatives aux protecteurs de genoux destinés à protéger les genoux lors du travail à genoux.
Le présent document ne s’applique pas aux protecteurs de genoux qui sont des dispositifs médicaux ou sont destinés aux sports et aux motos.

Osebna varovalna oprema - Ščitniki za kolena za delo v klečečem položaju - 1. del: Preskusne metode

General Information

Status
Published
Publication Date
21-May-2024
Current Stage
6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
Start Date
22-May-2024
Due Date
28-Mar-2021
Completion Date
22-May-2024

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SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2024
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 14404:2005+A1:2010
Osebna varovalna oprema - Ščitniki za kolena za delo v klečečem položaju - 1. del:
Preskusne metode
Personal protective equipment - Knee protectors for work in the kneeling position - Part
1: Test methods
Persönliche Schutzausrüstung - Knieschutz für Arbeiten in kniender Haltung - Teil 1:
Prüfverfahren
Équipements de protection individuelle - Protecteurs de genoux pour le travail à genoux -
Partie 1 : Méthodes d'essai
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 14404-1:2024
ICS:
13.340.50 Varovanje nog in stopal Leg and foot protection
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 14404-1
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
May 2024
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 13.340.50 Supersedes EN 14404:2004+A1:2010
English Version
Personal protective equipment - Knee protectors for work
in the kneeling position - Part 1: Test methods
Équipements de protection individuelle - Protecteurs Persönliche Schutzausrüstung - Knieschutz für
de genoux pour le travail à genoux - Partie 1 : Arbeiten in kniender Haltung - Teil 1: Prüfverfahren
Méthodes d'essai
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 20 June 2022.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2024 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 14404-1:2024 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Test methods . 6
4.1 General . 6
4.2 Preparation of the test specimens . 6
4.3 Examination . 6
4.4 Penetration resistance . 9
4.5 Force distribution . 10
4.6 Peak transmitted force (“Impact test”) . 14
4.7 Restraint testing . 16
4.8 Water resistance . 17
4.9 Bend test for interoperable knee pad . 18
4.10 Ergonomic testing . 18
4.11 Compliance of straps . 20
Bibliography . 21

European foreword
This document (EN 14404-1:2024) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 162 “Protective
clothing including hand and arm protection and life jackets”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by November 2024 and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by November 2024.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document, together with EN 14404-2 to EN 14404-6, supersedes EN 14404:2004+A1:2010.
EN 14404 "Personal protective equipment — Knee protectors for work in the kneeling position" is split into
6 parts:
— Part 1: Test methods;
— Part 2: Requirements for wearable knee protectors (type 1);
— Part 3: Requirements for the individual combination of knee pads and garments (type 2);
— Part 4: Requirements for the combination of interoperable knee pads and garments (type 2);
— Part 5: Requirements for knee mats (type 3);
— Part 6: Requirements for kneeling systems (type 4).
With the splitting of the standard, the following changes were made:
— definition of the protection zone;
— new combination of interoperable knee pads with interoperable garments (EN 14404-4);
— a bend test for interoperable knee pad was introduced;
— normative references were updated, further normative references were included;
— an uneven test surface and test was introduced;
— no more "UNISIZE" size; adjustment of size designation;
— additional markings were added.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North
Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United
Kingdom.
Introduction
Kneeling is a frequently occurring working position, but one which is problematic from an occupational
health viewpoint. Without knee protectors, workers can suffer immediate injuries from hard surfaces and
small stones and similar objects lying on the surfaces. However, no knee protector can ensure that
workers will not suffer medical complications if they are required to kneel for long periods.
It is important that knee protectors do not compromise venous drainage in the leg while kneeling or
standing up. Therefore, it is important that it is easy for workers to change position and to stand up to re-
establish a normal blood circulation at frequent intervals while wearing knee protectors.
Work in a kneeling position involves the risk of chronic diseases such as prepatellar bursitis and cartilage
injuries caused by continuous pressure on the knees. Knee protection is therefore recommended for all
work in the kneeling position. The protection should distribute forces evenly and prevent small hard
objects on the ground causing injuries. Many workers have pre-existing damage to their knees,
particularly to their cartilage from sports injuries and from previous work. These injuries will be made
worse by further kneeling. Wearing knee protectors cannot correct existing damage but should slow
down further damaging effects.
Work in a kneeling position can expose the skin of the shins, knees and thighs to toxic and corrosive
materials normally kept off the body while walking and standing by waterproof or water-resistant
footwear. Knee protectors and trousers for use with such wet materials and particularly wet cement,
should take this into account and provide adequate protection.
For working in a kneeling position, four types of knee protectors exist:
— wearable knee protectors (type 1),
— knee pads in combination with garments (type 2),
— knee mats (type 3), and
— kneeling systems (type 4).
1 Scope
This document specifies the test methods for knee protectors intended to protect the knee while working
in a kneeling position.
This document does not apply to knee protectors that are medical devices or are intended for sports and
motorcycles.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 863, Protective clothing - Mechanical properties - Test method: Puncture resistance
EN 14404-2, Personal protective equipment - Knee protectors for work in the kneeling position - Part 2:
Requirements for wearable knee protectors (type 1)
EN 14404-3, Personal protective equipment - Knee protectors for work in the kneeling position - Part 3:
Requirements for the individual combination of knee pads and garments (type 2)
EN 14404-4:2024, Personal protective equipment - Knee protectors for work in the kneeling position -
Part 4: Requirements for the combination of interoperable knee pads and garments (type 2)
EN 14404-5, Personal protective equipment - Knee protectors for work in the kneeling position - Part 5:
Requirements for knee mats (type 3)
EN 14404-6, Personal protective equipment - Knee protectors for work in the kneeling position - Part 6:
Requirements for kneeling systems (type 4)
EN ISO 4014, Hexagon head bolts - Product grades A and B (ISO 4014)
EN ISO 5084, Textiles - Determination of thickness of textiles and textile products (ISO 5084:1996)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions in EN 14404-2, EN 14404-3, EN 14404-4,
EN 14404-5 and EN 14404-6 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
4 Test methods
4.1 General
Measuring instruments unless otherwise specified shall be accurate to ±2 % of the pass/fail level of the
characteristic being measured.
The test specimen shall at least attain the required requirement value.
4.2 Preparation of the test specimens
4.2.1 Condition atmosphere
Knee protectors (and garments) shall be conditioned for at least 24 h at a temperature of (20 ± 2) °C and
a relative humidity of (65 ± 5) % prior to testing.
4.2.2 Testing atmosphere
The tests shall be carried out at (20 ± 2) °C or within 30 min after removal from the conditioning
atmosphere.
4.3 Examination
4.3.1 Visual and tactile examination
Knee protectors shall be examined visually and by hand to locate any hard or sharp edges, seams, buckles,
or other items that might injure the user or others during normal use (innocuousness). The marking of
the orientation needs to be checked, if applicable.
4.3.2 Sizes and dimension
The dimensions of the product, the defined zone of protection, the restraint systems and settings shall be
measured with suitable measuring tapes or other devices. Curved areas shall be determined in their
unwound length and width within the inner edges of the knee protector. The shape of the minimum
protection zone is shown in Figure 1 (top view). The results shall be recorded in the test report.
All sizes shall be examined to determine whether their construction appears to provide similar protection
throughout the required zone of protection. Areas with seemingly reduced protection shall be marked
for the mechanical test so that tests occur there.
Key
l1 length of the zone of protection
l width of the zone of protection
r1 radius of curvature of a proximal (upper) corner of the zone of protection
r2 radius of curvature of a distal (lower) corner of the zone of protection
a) wearable knee protector (type 1)
b) knee protector (type 2)
c) knee mat (type 3)
Figure 1 — Shapes of the zones of protection of knee protectors
...

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