Motorcycle Clothing Certification: A GuideMotorcycle Clothing Certification: A Guide What is “Certified Clothing”? Certified motorcycle clothing meets specific safety standards and has been tested and approved by an authorized laboratory. These garments are labeled to indicate their level of protection against abrasion and cuts. When Did the Certification Requirement Go into Effect? European Regulation 2016/425 mandated that all motorcycle clothing manufacturers must produce and sell only certified garments from April 21, 2019. Which Items Require Certification? Only items with protective housings require certification. This includes jackets, suits, and motorcycle pants. Gloves and boots have separate certification standards (EN 13594 and EN 13634, respectively). Can Non-Certified Clothing Be Produced? No, it is illegal to produce or sell non-certified motorcycle clothing. Manufacturers are subject to heavy penalties if they violate this law. Risks of Buying Non-Certified Clothing There are no legal risks for consumers who purchase non-certified clothing. However, these items may be available at discounted prices as they are phased out of the market. Is It Mandatory to Wear Certified Clothing? No, there is currently no obligation in Italy to wear certified motorcycle clothing. However, discussions about potential future regulations are ongoing. Can Clothing Be Certified Before 2019? Yes, the previous standard EN 13595 allowed for the certification of motorcycle clothing, but it was not widely adopted by manufacturers. Safety Ratings Certified clothing is categorized into different safety classes: * AAA: Highest safety rating, offering the most protection but also being heavier and less comfortable. * AA: Suitable for touring and provides good safety levels. * A: Designed for urban use and short commutes, offering less protection but more comfort. * B: Similar wear resistance to class A, but no CE protection. * C: Minimal protection, only suitable for falls from a standstill.
Certified safety
2019 was an important year for motorcyclists and motorcycle clothing manufacturers. The latter are forced to certify their products, which must therefore be subjected to a series of specific tests. The subject is complicated, below we answer the most common doubts.
What does “certified leader” mean?
This means that the garment must have a label stating that a specialised laboratory has subjected it to a series of tests to assess its resistance to abrasion and cuts and thus ultimately the extent to which it protects the wearer.
Since when has this regulation been in effect?
European Regulation 2016/425 clearly states that from 21 April 2019, all manufacturers of motorcycle clothing may only produce and market certified clothing.
Which items need to be certified?
All articles equipped with housings for protection: so jackets, suits and motorcycle pants. Gloves and boots, on the other hand, already have other specific certifications: EN 13594 and EN 13634 respectively.
Can non-certified garments be produced?
No, the law is very clear. Anyone who produces and sells motorcycle clothing must “certify” it, otherwise it is illegal and risks heavy financial penalties. However, all manufacturers have complied with the law in a timely manner and the 2019 clothing collections that are now being distributed are all regularly “certified”.
What is the risk if I buy non-certified clothing?
The consumer is not at risk, because the regulations only concern producers. In fact, this situation could even be beneficial: non-certified items will probably be offered with increasingly “heavier” discounts as the season progresses.
Is it mandatory to wear certified clothing?
No, in Italy there is no obligation to wear motorcycle clothing, certified or not. There is talk of rules that will be included in a future revision of the Road Traffic Code, similar to what is happening in France, where it is mandatory to wear approved gloves. However, at the moment these are only hypotheses.
Was it possible to certify motorcycle clothing before 2019?
Yes: the “old” standard EN 13595, in force since 2002 and replaced by prEN 17092 (in the last approval phase), allowed the certification of motorcycle suits, jackets, vests and trousers. However, few certified garments came onto the market, at least not from Italian manufacturers, both because there was no obligation to certify clothing and because the standard required quite demanding tests and the garments were heavy and uncomfortable to wear.
Is the safety of a class AAA garment better than that of a class C garment?
Yes: an item labeled “Class AAA” is much safer than an item labeled “Class C”. It’s just like the labeling system for household appliances (a Class AAA refrigerator uses less energy than a Class B refrigerator), except that in this case we’re talking about safety. In the box next to this text we explain the different classes.
What do the different classes mean?
The label must clearly show the certification class of the garment. There are five classes: here are the characteristics of each.
Class AAA These are the most “professional” garments, offering the most protection. But they are also the heaviest and, by necessity, the least comfortable to use.
Class AA In this category we find the best touring clothing, leather jackets and trousers with reinforcements and protections. The guaranteed safety is certainly of a good level.
Class A These are garments intended for urban use and short distance commuting. They offer less protection than garments in previous classes, but are lighter and more comfortable to wear in everyday use.
Class B In this class we find clothing with a wear resistance equal to that of level A garments, but there is no CE protection.
Class C protection is limited: it is no coincidence that these garments are called “protection containers”. They protect against impact, thanks to the protections, but not against wear. In short, they are only good for falls from a standstill!
