Nothing is more distressing than hearing about another motorcycle accident on the radio during commute time. And many times, good protective clothing is the only thing standing between the motorcyclist and serious injury. So the BS EN 1621 series on motorcyclists’ protective clothing (specifically against mechanical impact) is a welcome addition to the standards literature. The newest release? BS EN 1621-2, titled “Motorcyclists’ protective clothing against mechanical impact. Motorcyclists’ back protectors. Requirements and test methods.”
The BS EN 1621 series was developed for harmonization with 89/686/eec, the Personal Protective Equipment Directive. The four parts so far are:
- BS EN 1621-1, Motorcyclists’ protective clothing against mechanical impact. Motorcyclists’ limb joint impact protectors. Requirements and test methods
- BS EN 1621-2, Motorcyclists’ protective clothing against mechanical impact. Motorcyclists’ back protectors. Requirements and test methods
- BS EN 1621-3 (currently still in draft format), Motorcyclists’ protective clothing against mechanical impact. Part 3: Motorcyclists’ chest protectors — Requirements and test methods
- BS EN 1621-4, Motorcyclists’ protective clothing against mechanical impact. Motorcyclists’ inflatable protectors. Requirements and test methods
The protective devices covered by this series can be separate items, as well as protective elements incorporated into clothing. The new Part 2 provides requirements for back protectors intended to be worn in normal traffic situations. It includes test methods, as well as requirements for sizing, ergonomics, and labeling (as well as additional information to be included with the device).
Perhaps the most interesting of the series is Part 4 on inflatable protectors. These are mechanically activated protection devices for partial or full protection. They may be part of a garment or part of a restraint system. You’ll find performance requirements in the standard, as well as (again) sizing, ergonomics and labeling. And remember, these types of protectors must be mechanically activated to be covered by this document.
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