Reading an EU type-examination certificate: the EP1227 certificate

The certificate as an image

An EU type-examination certificate proves that the design of a product meets the essential health and safety requirements of Regulation (EU) 2016/425. For hearing protection as category III PPE, it is issued by a notified body (CE marking and category III).

Field by field

How the attenuation values arise

For each value the certificate gives a mean (subscript M), a standard deviation (subscript S) and the classified value. For these figures, each classified value equals the mean minus the standard deviation, rounded to whole decibels.

These are laboratory values for correct fit. For practice, DGUV Rule 112-194 in Germany provides a deduction of 9 dB for foam earplugs, and the UK HSE recommends a 4 dB real-world deduction; how to calculate with it is shown in SNR and H/M/L explained. The values of all models are under attenuation values. The certificate of an earmuff, with its particularities at low frequencies, is shown in Earmuffs: the EP906 type-examination certificate explained.

Page 2: the conditions

• The certificate applies to the product group as tested and to the production sites named in the manufacturer’s technical documentation.
• For category III products, CE marking depends on current compliance under module C2 or D. Products in ongoing manufacture must match the certified ones, and a declaration of conformity must be available.
• The manufacturer must inform SATRA of any changes to the product or the technical documentation.
• Where test results fall within the measurement uncertainty, the manufacturer must make sure through production control and tolerances that the product on the market meets the stated values.
• Where a translation exists, the English version is authoritative.

A second certificate: dispensers and refill bags

The disposable earplugs in dispensers and refill bags (EP250, EP251, EP500, EP501, EPR1227, EPRS1227) have their own certificate, 2777/13330-06/E02-01 of 25 August 2026, valid until 18 October 2029, under EN 352-2:2020+A1:2024. The classification is the same: SNR 37 dB, H 37, M 35, L 30 dB. More on the dispensers under dispensers.

Why there is more to it than the certificate

For hearing protection, conformity assessment runs in two steps. First the notified body examines the design, and the result is the certificate (module B). Then it is established that the products as manufactured conform to the certified design (module C2 or D). According to the Commission’s Blue Guide (section 5.1.5), the certificate for the second module must bear a later date of issue than the module B certificate, and both must be available before the product is first placed on the market.

Whoever places the product on the market takes the whole responsibility for the conformity assessment and needs both certificates and the full history of the product. The certificate must be assignable to the product without any doubt; according to the Blue Guide it need not necessarily be in the name of the person placing the product on the market. For EarProtect, DS SafetyWear Arbeitsschutzprodukte GmbH is also the certificate holder (field “Issued to” in the table above). Certificates are always issued by and in the name of the notified body (Blue Guide, section 5.2.2).

Checking body 2777 in NANDO

Whether the issuing body is notified for hearing protection is shown by the European Commission’s NANDO database. The entry satra Technology Europe Ltd gives the identification number 2777 and the address Bracetown Business Park, Clonee, Dublin 15, Ireland. Under Regulation (EU) 2016/425 it is listed there for, among others, “Equipment providing hearing protection” and “Protective Equipment against harmful noise”, with EU type-examination (annex V), quality assurance of the production process (annex VIII) and supervised product checks at random intervals (annex VII). That fits the details of the certificate (module B, plus C2 or D). Viewed on 18 October 2026. More on NANDO and the warning about voluntary certificates is in CE marking and PPE category III.

Further documents

Declarations of conformity, user instructions and data sheets are on the data sheets page. We answer questions about further certificates through the enquiry form.