CE Certification

What is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

Motorcycle clothing is classed as “Personal Protective Equipment” (PPE). Anyone who sells PPE in the UK and in Europe can only sell their products if examination has been conducted and certification issued.

Garments need to pass the technical specification for protective garments for motorcycle riders and satisfy the Basic Health and Safety requirements of the PPE Regulation 2016/425.

HYPER Race Leathers are UKCA and CE certificated to EN 17092-2:2020 in accordance with EU Regulation 2016/425 and Regulation 2016/425 on personal protective equipment, as amended to apply in GB Essential Health and Safety Requirements (Annex II of EU Regulation 2016/425) for category II products.

Declaration of Conformity

View HYPER Race Leathers Declaration of Conformity for motorcycle suits.

CE testing methods

The EN 17092 requires garments to be assessed and measured in line with the PPE regulation. After testing, the garment will be allocated a Class (AAA, AA, A, B or C) and a certificate will be issued. Class AAA is the highest level of protection, against the highest level of risks.

Some of the tests carried out include:

Impact Abrasion Resistance

This test is to ensure the garment is, and remains protective in the event of a slide. This test measures how long the material used in the garment could slide along a road surface before being worn away, exposing the rider’s skin to injury. Any hole detected which is larger than 5mm results in a failed test.

Seam Strength

Seam strength is tested on the structurally strong seams. It measures the force necessary to rip the seam open.

Tear Strength

This test is to ensure that the materials used do not tear easily, from a pre-existing tear. Each material is tested with a pre-slit specimen that is pulled apart from either side.

Burst Strength

In this test, a blade is dropped from a set height and the level of penetration is recorded. This test ensures a sharp object won’t penetrate too far through the garment.

Innocuousness

To ensure that the chemicals used in making the materials within the product are not harmful or damaging to the wearer or the environment. These tests ensure that harmful chemicals are also not present, and that the pH of the materials is deemed safe enough to not cause skin irritation.

Performance Levels

Performance levels defined in European Standard EN 17092-1:2020 defines five classifications of motorcyclists’ clothing:

• EN 17092-2:2020 — Class AAA garments. The highest level of protection, against the highest level of risks. Some common examples are: one-piece or two-piece suits.
• EN 17092-3:2020 — Class AA garments. The second highest level of protection, against the risks of the greatest diversity of riding activities.
• EN 17092-4:2020 — Class A garments. The third highest level of protection. Some common examples are: garments, designed to be worn by them self or to be worn over other clothing by riders in extremely hot environments.
• EN 17092-5:2020 — Class B garments. This class is for specialised garments, designed to provide the equivalent abrasion protection of Class A garments but without the inclusion of impact protectors.
• EN 17092-6:2020 — Class C garments. This class is for specialised non-shell garments, designed only to hold one or more impact protectors in place, either as an undergarment or as an over-garment. Class C garments are designed to provide impact protection for areas covered by the impact protector(s) and they do not offer complete minimum abrasion and impact protection.

HYPER leather motorcycle suits achieve a Class AAA – the highest level of protection, against the highest level of risks.

How do I know a garment is CE certified?

1. HYPER Race Leathers come with a label with both the UKCA and CE markings and have been tested and certified to EN17092-2:2020.
2. HYPER Race Leathers will also have a Class AAA rating on the label. Class AAA is the highest level of protection.
3. The motorcycle symbol indicates the item is for use while riding a motorcycle.

Protection / Armour

There are two levels of protection, Level 1 and Level 2. Level 2 protectors provide higher impact and shock absorption and all HYPER motorcycle suits come with Level 2 CE armour.

Level 2 CE Approved internal armour on the:

• Shoulders
• Elbows
• Back
• Hips
• Knees

Protection provided by HYPER motorcycle leather suits

HYPER's suits are designed to combat the hazards encountered during normal riding on a motorcycle and when the rider is involved in a road traffic accident. The clothing is designed and constructed so that it should remain in place on the wearer, and reasonably intact on impact with the road surface; thus, it should usually prevent any skin contact with the road and therefore minimise mechanical impact injuries to the rider.

This clothing cannot provide protection from more serious injuries, although it may assist in reducing the severity of some such injuries.

Hazards against which some protection is provided

• Reduction in the severity of contusions and fractures, with the prevention of some fractures and joint damage.
• Prevention of most laceration and abrasion injuries that occur when a rider slides on the road surface after falling off.
• Reduction in the severity (or prevention) of muscle stripping and de-gloving injuries to the lower leg.
• Likely prevention of contamination of open fractures by road dirt.

Hazards against which this garment cannot provide protection

• Massive penetrating injuries on parts of the body.
• High energy impacts on the chest or abdomen, and severe bending forces such as when the torso impacts may be against soft or hard ground, or objects such as trees, vehicles, posts or rails
• Severe bending, crushing and torsional forces which occur if the leg becomes trapped between the motorcycle and another vehicle.
• Strikes against stationary objects.

Whilst certain types and levels of accident protection can be provided by clothing, protection against all hazards is IMPOSSIBLE.

Garment cleaning

Do not machine wash or dry clean these products. Never use solvent or chlorine bleach or cleaning agents that contain chlorine bleach. These substances rapidly break down the materials and reduce the level of protection offered.

The pigmented leather garments should only be wiped clean with a very gentle solution of soapy water whereas the non-pigmented leather garments should only be wiped clean with a soft fabric or sponge. Too much detergent can cause leather to deteriorate and strip it of dyes, resulting in a blotchy, discoloured appearance.

Submerge the towel (soft cloth – rough fabrics may leave scratches on soft leather if you’re not careful) or sponge in the soapy solution. Wring out the excess liquid. The towel or sponge shouldn’t be sopping wet, just damp. If it’s too wet, the water can soak into and saturate the leather, potentially causing even more damage. Run the damp towel or sponge in long, smooth motions rather than forcefully scrubbing. Pay particular attention to water spots, discoloured patches and places where dirt or oil have built up on the leather. Clean the entire garment, re-wetting the towel when needed.

Clean off the soap and pat the garment dry. Wipe the garment again, this time using clean water to clear away any soap residue. Make sure there’s no standing water remaining on the garment. With a dry towel, pat the leather until it is completely dry. Hang the garment up in a closet and allow it to finish drying. Direct heat can be very bad for leather, especially if it has just been moisturised, so don’t dry the garment in a machine or use a blow dryer.