If your job requires you to spend a lot of time kneeling down, wearing knee protectors is essential for protecting the comfort and safety of your knees. Excessive kneeling puts pressure through your knees and could lead to overexertion, inflammation, or injury.
The EN 14404 safety standard sets the requirements for knee protectors that are to be used as personal protective equipment (PPE) when kneeling at work.
The EN 14404 standard
EN 14404 is a European standard that specifies the requirements for knee protectors worn as PPE for work tasks that require kneeling.
Under EN 14404, there are four types of knee protectors that can be worn when working. These knee pads will also have performance rating from 0-2 to determine the suitability of the knee protectors for various conditions.
Regardless of the knee pad type or performance level, EN 14404 certified knee protectors should offer comfort and protection for workers who frequently kneel when carrying out their work duties.
EN 14404:2004 + A1:2010
EN 14404:2004 + A1:2010 is the latest version of this safety standard. The 2010 amendment was introduced to update the requirements of the knee protectors.
Changes made during this amendment include:
- A performance level 0 can now be achieved for the penetration test for knee protectors that make work more comfortable but do not provide protection
- The width requirement for knee protector straps reduced from 40mm to 30mm, reducing the likelihood of the straps sitting in the back of the knee
- For knee protectors that claim ‘one size fits all’, a waist girth of 1,000mm is used in replacement of the original 1,200mm
The following revisions to EN 14404 are currently undergoing approval and are due for publication:
- EN 14404-1:2022 - Personal protective equipment - Knee protectors for work in the kneeling position - Part 1: Test methods
- EN 14404-2:2022 - Personal protective equipment - Knee protectors for work in the kneeling position - Part 1: Test methods
- EN 14404-3:2022 - 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 14404-4:2022 - 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 14404-5:2022 - Personal protective equipment - Knee protectors for work in the kneeling position - Part 5: Requirements for knee mats (type 3)
- EN 14404-6:2022 - Personal protective equipment - Knee protectors for work in the kneeling position - Part 6: Requirements for kneeling systems (type 4)
EN 14404 requirements
EN 14404 defines four types of knee protectors that may be used as personal protective equipment when kneeling.
|
Type of knee protector |
Description |
|
Type 1 |
Knee protectors are independent of other clothing and fastened around the leg by straps |
|
Type 2 |
Knee protectors are held in pockets on trouser legs or permanently attached to trousers, with the position of the knee pad either fixed or adjustable |
|
Type 3 |
Knee protectors are in the form a kneeling mat or pad, designed to be placed on the floor as the user moves around |
|
Type 4 |
Knee protectors are incorporated into other devices with additional functions such as a standing aid or a kneeling seat, designed for use for one or both knees |
For each of these types of knee pads to be certified to EN 14404 standards, they must undergo vigorous test methods.
EN 14404 knee protectors are subjected to peak transmission force testing and penetration resistance testing. There are also several requirements for protective coverage, restraint, and ergonomics, with further tests carried out to assess the knee protector performance in line with these requirements.
The results from these test methods are then used to determine the performance level of the knee protectors. Knee protectors certified to EN 14404 standards can have a performance level of 0-2, with level 2 knee protectors offering the highest level of protection.
|
Knee protector performance level |
Description |
|
Performance level 0 |
Knee protectors offer no verified penetration protection. These knee protectors should only be used when working on flat surfaces. |
|
Performance level 1 |
Knee protectors offer penetration protection by objects smaller than 1 cm (e.g. small stones). These knee protectors are suitable for use on flat or uneven floor surfaces and can resist a force of 100 ±5 N. |
|
Performance level 2 |
Knee protectors offer penetration protection for more extreme surfaces. These knee protectors are suitable for use on flat or non-flat surfaces in severe conditions and can resist a force of at least 250 ±10 N. |
Knee protectors that have been certified to EN 14404 will be marked with an EN 14404 pictogram to denote the knee protector type and performance level.
