EN 14404 – Knee protection for work in the kneeling position
In short: EN 14404 governs knee protection for jobs that involve kneeling permanently or frequently – tilers, floor layers, installers, fitters. The standard distinguishes four types and several performance levels. The most important point in practice: with knee protection trousers, trousers and pad are certified together. Trousers with knee pockets alone do not meet the standard – only with the pad tested for them.
Status of the standard: one standard became a series
Until 2024, EN 14404 was a single standard. It has now been replaced by a six-part series of standards that defines separate requirements for each type of knee protection.
| Part | Content | Harmonised |
|---|---|---|
| EN 14404-1 | Test methods | no – purely a test standard |
| EN 14404-2 | Wearable knee protectors (type 1) | yes |
| EN 14404-3 | Individual combination of pad and garment (type 2) | yes |
| EN 14404-4 | Combination with interoperable knee pads (type 2) | yes |
| EN 14404-5 | Kneeling mats (type 3) | no |
| EN 14404-6 | Knee protection systems (type 4) | yes |
Products certified to the previous edition EN 14404:2004+A1:2010 remain valid – a type-examination certificate does not lose its validity because the underlying standard is revised. For tenders this means: both editions may appear. What matters is that type and performance level suit the job – not which year of the standard is on the label.
The most important change in terms of content concerns the performance levels: level 1U was added to the previous 0 / 1 / 2 system, distinguishing between a flat and an uneven test surface.
The four types – and which one concerns you
Knee protection is marked with this pictogram. Under the new series, it is accompanied by the relevant part of the standard and the level – for example EN 14404-3:2024, level 1; existing garments certified to the previous standard still carry the format “EN 14404 type 2, level 1”. For type 2, the marking must state which pad the combination was tested with.
| Type | What it is | Typical for |
|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | Knee protectors worn on the leg independently of clothing – fastened with straps or hook-and-loop, for example | Occasional kneeling work, changing wearers |
| Type 2 | Pads that sit in knee pockets or other fixings on the garment – fixed or removable | The norm in workwear. At Kübler too. |
| Type 3 | Kneeling mats that are not worn on the body but laid down | Stationary work in one place |
| Type 4 | Knee protection systems with an additional function, such as a frame that helps with standing up, or a seat | Special applications |
Performance levels
| Level | Penetration resistance | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | no penetration resistance | Only for flat surfaces without unevenness |
| 1 | at least 100 N | The norm for construction and the trades |
| 1U | at least 100 N | New in the 2024 series of standards: same penetration value, pressure distribution tested on an uneven surface |
| 2 | at least 250 N | For difficult conditions |
The penetration value describes the force the pad withstands before a pointed object penetrates. For most construction and trade jobs, level 1 is the right choice – level 2 becomes relevant where sharp-edged rubble, screws or metal swarf on the floor are to be expected.
In the previous edition, level 1 also covered surfaces with unevenness. The new series separates this cleanly into a flat and an uneven test surface – hence the additional level 1U. Anyone seeing old and new markings side by side is therefore best advised to compare by the penetration value in newtons, not by the description of the ground.
Trousers and pad are a system
This is the point where most mistakes are made in practice. With type 2, it is not the trousers that are certified, nor the pad – but the tested combination of the two.
In practical terms this means three things:
- Knee protection trousers without pads are not knee protection. The pockets alone do not meet any standard. Anyone issuing trousers without pads has not covered the hazard – even if “EN 14404” is on the label.
- A third-party pad invalidates the certification. If it fits the pocket geometrically, that does not mean the combination has been tested.
- The right pad depends on the product line. We have two different ones – see below.
The two Kübler knee pads
| Art. 8108 9119 | Art. 8107 9120-99 (multi-standard) | |
|---|---|---|
| For | KÜBLER ACTIVIQ, KÜBLER ICONIQ, KÜBLER BODYFORCE, KÜBLER REFLECTIQ | KÜBLER PROTECTIQ |
| Material | Functional shaping, packed in pairs | Synthetic rubber, water-resistant |
| Dimensions | approx. 25 × 15 × 2 cm, universal size | approx. 25 × 15 × 1.7 cm, for all certified garment sizes |
| When washing | according to the manufacturer's instructions on the article | must be removed – before cleaning, washing, drying and ironing |
Important when reordering: pads wear out faster than the trousers and are consumables. Plan them into your stock – trousers without a usable pad are no longer knee protection trousers.
What matters in practice
Loaded from the top or from the bottom
Knee pockets come in both designs. Bottom-loading pockets hold the pad in position by the seam and do not let dirt in from above. Top-loading pockets are quicker to fill – an advantage if pads have to be removed regularly, for example with multi-standard garments in the laundry cycle.
Position determines the effect
A pad only protects where the knee actually rests. If the pocket sits too high or too low, the protection slips away when kneeling. That is why the pre-shaped knee section with movement zone is not a comfort feature, but a functional feature: it keeps the pad in place when the leg is bent.
CORDURA® at the point of wear
The knee is where work trousers wear through first. That is why our knee pockets are made of CORDURA® – and the colour of the reinforcement is documented, either tone-in-tone or in black for all colourways. When topping up stock, it is worth checking this so that reorders match visually.
Replaceable parts extend the service life
On our styles, knee pockets, pockets and zips are designed so that they can be replaced individually. In rental laundry, this determines the number of cycles – trousers with a worn-through knee pocket do not have to be withdrawn from service if the pocket can be replaced.
Interaction with other standards
- EN ISO 15797 – Industrial laundering: Particularly relevant because, depending on the type, pads have to be removed before washing.
- EN ISO 20471 – High visibility: Knee protection trousers in road construction and civil engineering usually carry both.
- EN ISO 11612 – Heat and flame: With multi-standard garments, the protective function determines which pad is permitted.
- EN 343 – Weather protection: For outdoor work, protection against wet is added.
Trousers with knee protection
43 styles from our collections are tested to EN 14404 – 27 waistband trousers, 15 bib and brace trousers and one coverall, six of them in women's cuts. Remember to order the matching pad as well.
Frequently asked questions
Are trousers with knee pockets enough as knee protection?
No. With type 2, it is always the combination of trousers and the pad tested for them that is certified. Without a pad inserted, there is no standard-compliant knee protection – regardless of what is on the label.
Can I put any knee pads into the pockets?
No. It is always a specific combination that is tested. A pad that fits geometrically is not automatically permitted. Which pad belongs to which line is stated on the article – we have two different ones.
What does the new level 1U mean?
It distinguishes the test surface in the pressure distribution test: level 1 is tested on a flat surface, 1U on an uneven one – the penetration resistance of at least 100 N is the same for both. This makes it possible to show more precisely which ground a knee protector is suitable for.
Do the pads have to come out for washing?
With the multi-standard pad Art. 8107, yes – explicitly before cleaning, washing, drying and ironing. With the standard pad, this depends on the information on the article. In textile service, this step should be set down in writing in the process.
Which performance level do I need?
For most construction and trade jobs, level 1. Level 2 with its higher penetration value is worthwhile where sharp-edged rubble, screws or metal swarf lie on the floor. Level 0 offers no penetration resistance and is only suitable for flat, clean surfaces.
Advice on knee protection
Trousers and knee pads
belong together.
We tell you which knee pad goes with your trousers, which performance level your work requires and how to make sure in textile service that the pads go back into the trousers after washing.
Last updated: July 2026