PERSONAL PROTECTION TRAINING: What is a PPE standard ?

Standardization produces reference documents to bring solutions to technical and sales problems.
It's a tool to build:

economic growth
trade, free movement of goods
transparency
public policies

The CEN at European level and ISO at international level are 2 different institutions. In 1991, they reached an agreement in Vienna, revised in 2001.The aim of the agreement was to harmonize both systems under ISO leadership. That's why we have more and more standards which are EN/ISO equivalences .
On the european territory, the "new approach" directives were agreed in 1985, and the harmonized standards now give presumption of conformity to general requirements of the directive.

There are 2 european directives for PPEs:

Directive for end users : 89/656 (use of PPEs marked CE)
Directive for manufacturers : 89/686 (conception and placing on the market of products marked CE)

The definition of PPE in the directive is : ...any device or appliance designed to be worn or held by an individual for protection against one or more health and safety hazards.

Article 8 of the directive defines 3 categories of PPEs. Those categories define the documentation which must be linked to the product, and the level of tests to be reached.

categoryI : minor risks (superficial lesions)
category II : intermediate risks
category III : mortal risks or irreversible lesions

For each family of protection, there is a standard for general requirements (ex. EN420 for gloves). For category II and III, the manufacturer can choose to pass specific tests in specific standards in order to be able to put his product on the market and prepare his sales arguments.
Those tests are done by Notified Bodies than can be chosen in a european list of certified laboratories. According to the results of the tests, the NB can deliver a CE Type Examination, can validate the user's manual and the technical file of the product. It will then have a specific marking and will be sold with its user's manual. The end user can also ask for the technical data sheet and the Certificate of Conformity.
For products category III an annual quality control of the production will also be done by a NB (CE marking + 4 numbers).