EN 17092 explained: CE standards for motorcycle clothing, armour and gloves

Why motorcycle clothing is PPE

In the EU, clothing sold to protect motorcyclists is personal protective equipment (PPE) under Regulation (EU) 2016/425, which has applied since 21 April 2018. Riding jackets, trousers, suits and gloves normally fall into Category II: before a product can carry the CE marking, its design has to pass an EU type-examination by a notified body, and production then has to match the certified type.

Great Britain works from the same rules: Regulation 2016/425 as assimilated into UK law, with its own UKCA marking and UK approved bodies, and the government has extended recognition of the CE marking for PPE indefinitely. This guide describes the position as of October 2026 — check the current rules for your market before committing to a programme.

EN 17092: the five garment classes

EN 17092 is the European standard series for motorcyclists' protective garments — jackets, trousers and suits. Published in 2020, it replaced EN 13595. Part 1 sets the test methods; parts 2 to 6 set the requirements per class:

• AAA (EN 17092-2) — the highest requirements for abrasion, tear and seam strength. Impact protectors at the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees are required.
• AA (EN 17092-3) — the same protector positions, with lower abrasion, tear and seam requirements than AAA.
• A (EN 17092-4) — the lightest class with impact protectors; hip protectors are optional.
• B (EN 17092-5) — abrasion protection equivalent to class A, but without impact protectors.
• C (EN 17092-6) — garments that hold impact protectors in place, with no minimum abrasion protection; designed to be worn under or over a garment of another class.

What the tests look at

The class is awarded to the finished garment, not its outer material. The garment is divided into zones, and the areas most likely to hit the ground first face the toughest requirements. Testing covers, in general terms:

• Impact abrasion — material from each zone is slid against an abrasive surface and must not wear through to the layer closest to the body beyond a set limit.
• Seam and closure strength — seams, zips and other structural closures must hold under load.
• Tear strength — the materials must resist a tear spreading.
• Dimensional stability — the garment must stay within set limits after cleaning.
• Protector positioning — impact protectors must sit over the joints they are meant to cover.
• Restraint and ergonomics — sleeve restraint and jacket-to-trouser connections are tested where relevant, and fit and movement are assessed on a wearer.

Pass values and the next revision

Exact pass values sit in the standard text, sold by national standards bodies. Revision projects for parts of the series were registered in 2026, so confirm with your notified body which edition applies when testing starts.

EN 1621: armour levels 1 and 2

Armour is tested separately from the garment. EN 1621-1 covers limb-joint protectors (shoulder, elbow, hip, knee and lower leg); EN 1621-2 covers back protectors. Each protector is struck in an impact test and the force passed through it is measured. Level 1 and level 2 are both passes; level 2 lets less force through.

A garment can combine any class with either level — a class AAA suit with level 1 armour is common. The garment is certified with the protectors it was tested with, so switching armour later can mean the certificate has to be reviewed.

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EN 13594: motorcycle gloves

Motorcycle gloves are certified under EN 13594 (current edition 2015). Level 1 is the basic level, balancing protection with fit and dexterity; level 2 applies stricter requirements, notably for abrasion and cut resistance. Knuckle impact protection is shown by the KP marking, which appears only when the knuckle protection has been tested and passed — a glove with a hard knuckle shell but no KP marking has not had it certified.

Labels, notified bodies and the certificate

A certified product carries a label with the CE marking, the manufacturer's name and address, model identification, size, the standard and part number, the class (or level, for gloves and armour) and the motorcycle rider pictogram. It must come with user information in the language of the country of sale and the EU declaration of conformity, or a link to it.

A notified body is an independent certification organisation designated under the regulation and listed, with its four-digit number, in the EU NANDO database. It tests the type, reviews the technical documentation and issues an EU type-examination certificate, valid for a maximum of five years. Changes that may affect conformity — materials, armour, construction — must be reported to it and can require new tests.

Who is responsible

Under Regulation 2016/425, the manufacturer is whoever makes PPE, or has it designed or manufactured, and markets it under their own name or trademark. For a private-label riding jacket that is the brand on the label, not the factory that sewed it. The brand holds the certificate and technical documentation, signs the declaration of conformity and answers to market surveillance authorities. An importer has its own checking duties.

What to plan for in development

Build certification into the programme from the first sketch, not after sample approval:

1. Decide the class and the market first — AAA, AA, A, B or C; EU, UK or both. It drives the materials, the panel layout and the armour pockets.
2. Choose materials with test data — leather type and thickness, or textile shell and any abrasion-resistant lining. Material reports help, but the class is awarded to the finished garment.
3. Source certified armour — protectors that already hold EN 1621-1 or EN 1621-2 certification at the level you want, with pockets designed so they stay in position.
4. Freeze the design before testing — test samples must match production, and changes after certification may need retesting.
5. Budget time and money for testing — fees, test garments in several sizes and possible re-tests vary by body, class and number of styles, and the notified body sets the testing timeline. Ask for a quote early.
6. Keep production consistent — the same materials, armour and construction as the certified type, checked lot by lot.

LOMERAQ's position

We cut and sew motorcycle riding jackets, suits, trousers and gloves to your specification, with armour pockets, from a minimum of 25 units per order. We do not claim CE certification or any EN 17092, EN 1621 or EN 13594 rating for our products.

If your market requires a standard, state it in the RFQ with your testing route — the notified body or lab you intend to use — and we confirm what can be supported before quoting: materials, armour sourcing, garments for testing and keeping bulk consistent with the tested type. The certificate stays with you, as the brand placing the product on the market.