Asphalte and protection
As riders we have all heard said: In a crash a motorcycle has no bodywork to protect you.
Yes it’s our bodies which take the impact. If we are well equipped then the protective gear may save us from serious injury. As we cannot ride in full armour plating protective inserts are added in ‘high risk zones’ elbows, shoulders, hips, knees and back.
The material chosen for the garment be it leather or textile, reduces the abrasion on the tarmac.
Different certifications exist depending on the part of the body to be protected.
Helmets: ECE 22-04 or ECE 22-05
Gloves: EN 13594
Boots and Shoes: EN 13634
Clothing : EN 17092
Impact Protectors: EN 162161 covers protection inserts for shoulders/Elbows/hips/Knees. EN 1621-62 for back protectors and 1621-3 for the chest.
The certification for jackets and all in one garments pr EN170092 is not compulsory which means that the manufacturer has no obligation to test the garments.
2Mile Six has chosen to have its garments tested and approved so that their safety can be compared with the well-known brands.
The EN 17092 certifcation in detail
Jackets, pants and one piece motorcycle suits once approved have a PPE certification, (Personal Protective Equipment) under the sport and leisure category. A European directive regulates PPE’s and specifies what should be on the accompanying paperwork.
The EN 17092 certification determines the tests necessary and the resistance expected from each level of classification.
AAA: Garments with a high level of protection
AA: Garments with an average level of protection
A: garments with a low level of protection
B: garments with a low level of protection against abrasion.
C: Garments without impact protection
Each product is tested for :
– The safety of the product and it’s components
– Ergonomy
– Resistance to abrasion and tearing
– Strength of the seams
– How supportive the garment is and its impact protectors
– Testing of the protectors and their certification.
Concerning chemical substances in the textiles, this is checked by the suppliers who abide by the OEKO-TEX certification and provide the certificates. They are regularly checked.
The resistance tests carried out on the garments are done after several washes to ensure that a garment remains protective over time.The protection requirements on clothing and parts of the body are divided into zones depending on the probability of that area hitting the ground first. The resistance expected from textiles varies according to the zone.
The abrasion tests are carried out differently to the old certification. The principal is to simulate the demands made on a garment when a rider measuring 1m75, weighing 75kg slides along the ground at different speeds. Depending on the initial speed and the state of the garment the textile will be graded with AAA ( very resistant) to A (less resistant)
The seams and fastenings are tested to ensure that they don’t snap or tear. The sleeves and legs should not ride up and expose the skin.
During the certification process it is the overall protection that the garment offers that is validated.