Getting an EN 17353 product onto the EU market means passing EU type-examination by a notified body, because enhanced visibility equipment is Category II PPE under Regulation (EU) 2016/425. The process is predictable if the product is designed to the standard from the start. Most delays come from samples that do not match the technical file.
This guide walks through the certification route step by step, based on the standard and on our own experience certifying Type B1 reflectors, Type B2 slap wraps and arm bands, and a children’s harness.
The route at a glance
| Step | Who | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Define type, sizes and intended use | Manufacturer | Product specification |
| 2. Design to EN 17353 and source tested materials | Manufacturer | Samples and material data |
| 3. Prepare the technical file | Manufacturer | Drawings, materials, labels, instructions, risk assessment |
| 4. Testing and EU type-examination (Module B) | Notified body and its laboratory | Test report and EU type-examination certificate |
| 5. Production control (Module C) | Manufacturer | Consistent production matching the certified type |
| 6. EU Declaration of Conformity and CE mark | Manufacturer | Signed DoC, CE-marked product |
1. Before you contact a laboratory
Decide the exact EN 17353 type (A, B1, B2, B3, AB2 or AB3), the size range and the claimed number of washes. These choices decide which tests apply and how many samples are needed. A size range that crosses 140 cm user height, for example, needs both the children’s and the adult area checks.
Many laboratories will look at product photos first and tell you whether the design can fit EN 17353 at all. That is worth doing for unusual products such as stickers, pet items or LED accessories, which often fall outside the standard.
2. The technical file
A notified body will typically ask for:
- Product description and intended use, including the EN 17353 type.
- Technical drawings with dimensions and the placement of fluorescent and retroreflective material.
- A bill of materials with supplier names and article numbers, plus available material test data.
- Size chart according to EN ISO 13688, for garments.
- Draft marking, labels and pictograms.
- Draft user information, including the mandatory sentences of EN 17353 clause 9.
- Risk assessment and the list of applicable essential health and safety requirements.
3. What gets tested
Depending on the type, testing covers:
- Design: areas on the smallest size, distribution (40% front and back, 10% each side), encircling bands, gaps, element sizes, and for B1 the active area, thickness and cord length.
- Colour: chromaticity and luminance of fluorescent material, colour after Xenon exposure, and colour fastness for A and AB products.
- Retroreflection: full photometric tables on new material, plus performance after abrasion, cold folding, temperature variation and rainfall, and for garments after washing or dry cleaning. Rigid B1 reflectors are drop-tested at −30 °C and immersed in water.
- General requirements of EN ISO 13688 for garments: innocuousness, sizing, marking and information.
4. Samples
Send production-equivalent samples, not prototypes made from different materials. Laboratories usually need several finished items per size tested, plus extra material for the destructive exposure tests. Ask for the exact sample list in the quotation, because shortages are a common cause of delay.
5. Time and cost factors
Notified bodies generally quote per project. Published prices are rare. The cost depends mainly on:
- The type: a single B1 reflector is simpler than an AB3 garment with colour fastness and wash testing.
- The number of sizes, colours and variants. For B1 families, the smallest model in the lowest-performing colour can represent the family.
- The claimed wash count: 50 washes takes far longer than the default 5.
- Whether existing material test reports can be accepted.
Plan several weeks from complete samples to certificate, and longer if wash testing is extensive or a redesign is needed.
6. After the certificate
The EU type-examination certificate is valid for a maximum of five years and must be kept up to date. Under Module C, the manufacturer ensures that production matches the certified type. Any change to materials, design, printing or the standard edition should be reviewed with the notified body before it reaches the market. For the UK, the certificate can be supplemented with UKCA conformity assessment through a UK approved body.
FAQ
Can I use my material supplier’s EN 17353 report?
It helps, but it does not replace finished-product assessment. Areas, placement, printing, marking and instructions are product-specific.
Does every colour need testing?
Fluorescent colours each need colour testing. For B1 families, testing can focus on the lowest-performing colour.
What changed with A1:2025?
Mainly the AB2/AB3 split and area tables. Ask your notified body whether existing certificates need updating.
Conclusion
EN 17353 certification is a Category II PPE route: technical file, testing, EU type-examination, then DoC and CE marking. The fastest projects decide the type early, design to the numbers, use tested materials and send samples that are identical to production.
This article provides general information, not legal advice. Requirements and procedures should be confirmed with the notified body you work with.