Introduction

Motorcyclists’ protective jackets, trousers, one-piece suits, two-piece suits, impact protector ensemble garments and other protective garments (hereinafter: “garments”) are intended to give some amount of protection to riders without significantly reducing the ability of the rider to control the motorcycle. In addition, they are designed to provide adequate protection against the risks against which they are intended to protect, such as a fall from a motorcycle or another accident. Additional, particular, hazards encountered during a motorcycle accident may include: impact with and abrasion from the riding surface, impacts with the rider’s motorcycle, conflicting vehicles, and other objects. Motorcyclists’ protective garments are not intended to and cannot prevent traumas caused by high-energy impacts, traumas caused by severe forces of bending, twisting, torsion, flexion, or crushing as the result of striking an object, traumas caused by extreme abrasion, traumas caused by extreme movements, or traumas caused by massive penetrations. No protective garments can offer complete protection against all injuries. The principle of this standard is to define the basic performance requirements considered essential for motorcyclists’ protective garments, in order for them to offer useful, classes of protection to riders according to the risks they may encounter, in the situations described above, during various riding activities and in various riding environments. This standard does not cover risks caused by extreme weather conditions. Where additional protective features are claimed (e.g. high visibility), the assessment of said protective features will be done with reference to the appropriate additional standards.

Motorcycling encompasses a diverse range of riders participating in a diverse range of activities. While all motorcyclists face similar fundamental risks when involved in an accident or a fall from a motorcycle, the type and degree of risk or hazard that a motorcyclist will encounter and the class of protection that they will need is closely linked to the riding activity, the riding environment, and the nature of the accident. In addition, because each motorcyclist participates in their chosen riding activity in different ways, within specific riding activities motorcyclists are also exposed to varying levels of risk and, therefore, require varying classes of protection. The elements that are a part of the fundamental design and functionality of a particular type of motorcyclists’ protective garment, while appropriate and minimally constraining or limiting when used in a specific environment for a specific riding activity, may, on the other hand, present unacceptable constraints and liabilities in other riding environments and for other riding activities, such as increased penalties of weight, decreased range of motion and/or heat stress, and therefore, may not be acceptable for use by all riders during all motorcycle activities. This series of standards has been developed to encompass a large range of motorcycle disciplines and motorcyclists’ activities, each with their own particular risks and appropriate classes of protection, to ensure that the best possible protection of an appropriate type is available for riders during their riding activities.

This standard is a part of a series of standards including also EN 17092‑2, EN 17092‑3, EN 17092‑5, and EN 17092‑6, which together describe the requirements for motorcyclists’ garments, according to the various classes of protection offered and EN 17092‑1, which specifies the test methods to assess the conformity of said garments to the requirements of the applicable product standard of the EN 17092 series.

Classes of motorcycle protective garments and the principle of risk category zoning

Classes of Protection

Garments designed to provide protection for motorcycle riders are tested according to the class of protection they afford. The performance requirements for the classes of protection are detailed by specific standards as follows:

Garments designed to provide protection for motorcycle riders are tested according to the class of protection they afford. The performance requirements for the classes of protection are detailed by specific standards as follows:

— EN 17092‑2 — Class AAA garments

offer protection from impact and abrasion, using materials and construction that meet higher requirements than for garments covered by parts 3, and 4 of this standard series.

Class AAA garments may have limiting ergonomic, weight and thermal penalties for some riding activities.

Some common examples are: one-piece or two-piece suits.

— EN 17092‑3 — Class AA garments.

offer protection from impact and abrasion, using materials and construction that meet higher requirements than for garments covered by part 4 of this standard series and lower requirements than for garments covered by part 2 of this standard series.

Class AA garments generally offer protection, against the risks of the greatest diversity of riding activities, and they may have lower ergonomic and weight penalties than Class AAA garments.

Some common examples are: garments designed to be worn by themselves or to be worn over other clothing.

— EN 17092‑4 — Class A garments.

Offer a minimum necessary degree of protection from impact and abrasion, using materials and construction that meet lower requirements than for parts 2 and 3 of this standard series.

Class A garments are expected to have the least ergonomic and weight penalties.

Some common examples are: garments, designed to be worn by themselves or to be worn over other clothing by riders in warm environments.

— EN 17092‑5 — Class B garments.

This class is for specialized garments, designed to provide the equivalent abrasion protection of Class A garments but without the inclusion of impact protectors.

Class B garments do not offer impact protection and it is recommended that they be worn with, at least, EN 1621‑1 shoulder and elbow impact protectors, in the case of a jacket, or EN 1621‑1 knee impact protectors, in the case of trousers, in order to offer complete minimum protection.

Some common examples are: modular garments suitable to be combined with other garments providing impact protection.

— EN 17092‑6 — Class C garments.

This class is for specialized non-shell, impact protector ensemble garments, designed only to hold one or more impact protectors in place, either as an undergarment or as an overgarment.

Class C garments are designed to provide impact protection for areas covered by the impact protector(s) only and they do not offer complete minimum abrasion protection and may not offer complete minimum impact protection.

Class C garments are designed to offer supplemental impact protection only. It is intended that Class C garments be worn in combination with Class AAA, AA, A or B garments to enhance the protection Class AAA, AA, A or B garments offer.

Some common examples are: modular garments suitable to be combined with other garments providing impact and abrasion protection or only abrasion protection.

This standard contains the requirements for Class A garments.

Risk category zoning

The performance requirements of the various aforementioned standards for motorcyclists’ protective garments are, in turn, based on specific performance requirements for the garments’ “risk category zones”. Risk category zones are defined according to the likelihood that the area of the garment included in the zone will be subject to mechanical stress, in the event of an accident. There are three zones, as follows:

— Zone 1 – the areas of motorcyclists’ protective garments that have a high risk of damage e.g. impact, abrasion, and tearing.
— Zone 2 – the areas of motorcyclists’ protective garments that have a moderate risk of damage e.g. abrasion and tearing.
— Zone 3 – the areas of motorcyclists’ protective garments that have a low risk of damage e.g. abrasion and tearing.

BS EN 17092-4:2020

Protective garments for motorcycle riders - Class A garments. Requirements

Current, Under Review

Published:

31 Mar 2020