At 200 bar and above, PPE isn’t optional – it’s the law

At water pressures of 200 bar and above, the risk to health and safety becomes significant. That’s why European law makes certified protection mandatory. The PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 clearly states that any work at 200 bar and above requires CE-certified protective clothing. It’s not just about compliance – it’s about saving lives. And while the regulation applies within Europe, the risks – and the need for PPE – are the same everywhere in the world.

The highest risk category

High-pressure water poses a significant risk to health and safety. When a water jet penetrates the skin, it can cause deep tissue injuries, severe infections, and damage to blood vessels and nerves. In the most serious cases, injuries can lead to amputation or even death. That’s why, under the European PPE Regulation, high-pressure water jetting is classified under the highest risk category, alongside hazards such as electric shock, chemical burns, and bullet wounds.

According to European health and safety legal framework, all risks should be eliminated or reduced at the source before using personal protective equipment. In high-pressure water jetting, the pressure itself remains a hazard, making protective clothing the final and critical safety barrier. PPE complements – but never replaces – other safety measures.

 

 

What CE-certification really means

A Regulation is a binding EU law that applies directly and uniformly in all member states without the need for national implementation. The PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 was introduced to ensure that all personal protective equipment placed on the European market provides reliable protection against serious risks to health and safety. According to the Regulation, all work involving pressures of 200 bar (2,900 psi) or above requires certified protective clothing. The Regulation sets out the legal framework for how PPE must be designed, tested, and manufactured to provide reliable protection against high-pressure risks.

The CE-certification is proof that a product conforms to all applicable provisions. For PPE intended for high-pressure water jetting, it also means that the product is in conformity with the PPE Regulation. The CE-mark isn’t a marketing label – it’s a legal safeguard that confirms the product has been independently tested, verified, and approved to meet Europe’s strict safety and quality requirements.

 

 

To obtain CE-certification for high-pressure water jetting PPE, protective garments must go through a two-step assessment process. First, the design is tested and certified by a Notified Body in an EU Type Examination (Module B). Then, through ongoing quality assurance of the production system (Module D), conformity to the approved type is ensured. This system guarantees traceability, consistency, and proven performance.

The CE-mark is therefore not just a symbol – it is evidence that the product continuously meets the stringent safety standards established in European law.

Responsibilities of employers, operators, and host companies

While the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 defines the legal requirements for CE-certified protective clothing, Directive 89/391/EEC and Directive 89/656/EEC set out the employer’s obligations: to assess risks, eliminate or reduce them at the source, and select suitable PPE for the remaining identified hazards. Together, they form the foundation of Europe’s safety framework for protecting workers – but the real responsibility lies with those who put it into practice every day.

 

Employers must:

  • Assess risks before work begins and eliminate or reduce them at the source.
  • Select suitable PPE for the remaining identified risks and hazards.
  • If the work pressure is 200 bar or more:
    provide CE-certified PPE free of charge to all exposed workers.
  • Ensure that PPE is properly maintained, cleaned, and replaced when needed.
  • Train operators in the correct use, inspection, and storage of PPE.
  • Create working conditions that make it possible to use PPE safely and effectively.

 

 

Operators must:

  • Use the PPE provided, correctly and for its intended purpose.
  • Follow all instructions and training on how to wear, adjust, and maintain PPE.
  • Inspect PPE before each use and immediately report any damage, defect, or malfunction to the employer.
  • Cooperate in risk assessments and work processes to minimize risks.

 

Host companies* must:

  • Verify that contractors comply with all applicable regulations, including the use of CE-certified PPE.
  • Provide and maintain safe conditions for high-pressure work – such as barriers, safety zones, and established safety routines.
  • Coordinate health and safety efforts when multiple companies work at the same location.


* A host company refers to the organisation that owns, operates, or is responsible for the site where high-pressure water jetting is carried out – such as refineries, pulp and paper mills, power plants, and other industrial facilities.

Beyond Europe – because risks know no borders

Legislation may use complex language, but its purpose is simple – to protect people. For employers, the message is clear: if your team works with water pressures at or above 200 bar, you are legally obligated (within the EU) to provide CE-certified protective clothing.

While the use of CE-certified PPE is a European legal requirement, the health and safety risks addressed by the Regulation are universal. Water at 200 bar poses the same risks in Stockholm as in Singapore, Sydney, or Seattle. The physics don’t change – and neither should the protection. The Regulation may be European, but its purpose is global: to prevent life-changing injuries wherever high-pressure work is done.

Across the world, more and more companies are voluntarily adopting CE-certified PPE. Not because they have to, but because they know safety doesn’t stop at national borders. In an industry where a slip, a pinhole leak, or a minor mistake can have life-changing consequences, CE-certified PPE provides safety and confidence – for operators, employers, and clients alike.

 

 

 

At TST Sweden, we believe every operator deserves the same high level of protection – no matter where they work. Our CE-certified PPE is developed to handle pressures from 200 bar up to 3 000 bar, built on decades of research, development, testing, and operator feedback. Each garment we design is the result of innovation, quality, and a clear purpose – to save lives and ensure water jet operators around the world return home safely to their loved ones after a day’s work.

Quick facts

  • For pressures of 200 bar and above, the use of PPE is required by European legislation
  • The PPE must be CE-certified in accordance with the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425
  • CE-marking ensures verified protection through independent testing
  • Employers are responsible for providing CE-certified PPE and ensuring correct use
  • Risk assessments must always precede high-pressure work
  • Training, inspection, and maintenance are essential to ongoing safety
  • The European safety standard saves lives – everywhere in the world

 

Want to know more?

Read the full legislation here:

Q&A

PRESSURE LIMITS

Do high-pressure water jetting operations above 200 bar require CE-certified protective clothing?
Yes. The binding European legislation PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 requires CE-certified protective clothing for all work involving high-pressure jets. In the European Commission’s official Guide to Application of Regulation (EU) 2016/425, high-pressure jets are defined as water pressures starting from 200 bar (2,900 psi) and above.

Is a water pressure of 200 bar dangerous?
Yes. According to the European Commission’s Guide to Application of Regulation (EU) 2016/425, the limit for skin penetration is around 80 bar. This means that at 200 bar – more than twice that pressure – a water jet can easily penetrate the skin and cause severe internal injuries.

Why is 200 bar the critical limit for PPE specially designed and CE-certified for high-pressure water jets?
According to the European Commission’s Guide to Application of Regulation (EU) 2016/425, high-pressure jets are defined as work where the pressure is 200 bar or more. At these levels, normal work clothing no longer provides sufficient protection. PPE must therefore be specially designed and certified to protect against the severe injuries that can occur from high-pressure water jets used in professional applications.

Does the 200 bar rule apply to all types of water jetting?
Yes. The PPE Regulation makes no distinction between different working methods. The requirement applies to all work involving high-pressure jet of 200 bar or higher – whether manual, robotic, or automated.

 

CE-CERTIFICATION

Must PPE for high-pressure jets be CE-certified?
Yes. All protective clothing and equipment used for high-pressure water jetting within the EU must be CE-certified.

What does CE-certification mean?
CE-certification confirms that a product meets EU safety, health, and environmental protection standards and has been independently tested and approved according to the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425.

Who performs CE-certification?
Certification is carried out by a Notified Body – an independent organisation authorised to assess and certify products before they are placed on the market. For PPE, a Notified Body verifies that the equipment meets the safety and quality requirements set out in the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425, before it can be CE-certified and sold within the EU.

How can I check if the high-pressure jet PPE is CE-certified?
Look for the CE-mark on the product, followed by a four-digit code identifying the Notified Body, and make sure an EU Declaration of Conformity is available.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES AND COMPLIANCE

Who is responsible for ensuring compliance with PPE requirements?
Employers have the main responsibility, but operators and host companies also share duties to ensure safe working conditions.

Is training on how to use PPE correctly required by law?
Yes. Employers are legally required to provide workers with information, instruction, and training on how to use PPE safely and correctly.

Directive 89/391/EEC (the Framework Directive) establishes the general duty to provide health and safety training, while Directive 89/656/EEC specifies that employers must demonstrate the proper use of PPE and ensure it is used whenever risks cannot be eliminated at the source.

Together, these Directives make PPE training a clear legal obligation for all employers within the EU.

What happens if non-certified PPE is used?
Using non-certified PPE within the EU is illegal. It may lead to fines, legal consequences, or serious injuries if an accident occurs.

What other safety measures are required besides PPE?
PPE is the final safety barrier. Risks must first be reduced at the source through technical controls, safety procedures, barriers, and proper training.

What requirements does the PPE Regulation place on Distributors of PPE?
Distributors must verify that the PPE they make available on the market bears the CE-mark, includes the required documentation (User instructions and EU Declaration of Conformity), and is stored and transported in a way that maintains its compliance. They must also take corrective action or withdraw products from the market if non-compliance is suspected.

What requirements does the PPE Regulation place on Manufacturers of PPE?
Manufacturers must ensure that all PPE is designed, tested, and produced in accordance with the essential health and safety requirements of the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425. They must carry out conformity assessment procedures, affix the CE mark, provide the EU Declaration of Conformity, and maintain technical documentation for at least ten years.

 

 

 

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Which legal framework defines the responsibilities of employers and manufacturers regarding PPE for high-pressure work?
The European Union has an extensive legal framework to protect the health and safety of workers. Key legislation includes Directive 89/391/EEC (the Framework Directive) and Directive 89/656/EEC, which require employers to assess risks before work begins, eliminate or reduce them at the source, and select suitable PPE for the remaining identified risks and hazards.

In high-pressure water jetting – defined as work involving pressures of 200 bar and above – the pressure itself remains a hazard, making specially designed PPE the final and critical safety barrier.

To ensure that such PPE provides verified protection, the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 requires that all PPE intended to protect against high-pressure jets is CE-certified. This means it has been independently tested, verified, and approved by a Notified Body to meet Europe’s strict safety and quality requirements.

In other words, while Directives such as 89/391/EEC and 89/656/EEC place obligations on employers to identify and manage risks and to provide workers with suitable PPE, the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 places obligations on manufacturers and suppliers to ensure that the PPE intended for use at 200 bar and above, and sold within the EU, meets the European safety standards.

What is Directive 89/391/EEC and Directive 89/656/EEC?
Directive 89/391/EEC is the EU’s Framework Directive on the implementation of measures to improve the safety and health of workers at work. Directive 89/656/EEC sets out the minimum health and safety requirements for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by workers.

Together, they form two key pillars of the European Union’s legislation on occupational health and safety. While the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 defines how protective equipment must be designed, tested, and certified, these directives define how it must be used in the workplace.

What is an EU Directive?
An EU Directive is a type of legislative act issued by the European Union (EU) that sets out goals or results that all member states must achieve, but it allows each country to decide how to implement those goals through its own national laws.

What is an EU Regulation?
An EU Regulation is a binding legislative act that applies directly and uniformly across all member states of the European Union (EU) – without needing to be implemented into national law.

What is PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425?
It is the European law that defines the design, testing, and certification requirements for all personal protective equipment (PPE) sold or used in the EU.

What is Category III in Regulation (EU) 2016/425?
It is the highest risk category of PPE, covering PPE designed to protect against very serious hazards – such as death or irreversible health damage – including high-pressure jets, electric shock, chemical burns, and bullet wounds.

What is the Guide to Application of Regulation (EU) 2016/425?
It is the European Commission’s official document that explains how to interpret and apply the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 correctly, helping manufacturers, employers, and authorities ensure compliance.

 

INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION

Does the PPE Regulation apply outside the EU?
The law itself applies within the EU, but many companies worldwide follow the same CE standards because the risks – and the need for protection – are universal.

Is CE-certified PPE relevant outside the EU?
Yes. While CE-certification is a legal requirement within the European Union, many companies around the world choose CE-certified PPE because the risks are the same everywhere. The CE-mark proves that the equipment has been independently tested to meet some of the world’s most demanding safety standards, making it trusted far beyond Europe.