EN 1621-2, the back protector document

What it measures, and where the confusion starts

A defined impact, a sensor beneath the protector, and thresholds on the force transmitted. It is the same measurement principle as the limb standard, published as a separate document because the part of the body, the area and the requirements differ. The two are frequently quoted interchangeably in listings, and they are not the same document.

Type B and type FB

Coverage is classified separately. Type B covers the back over a defined area; type FB covers a larger area, extending to the shoulders and the lower back. Coverage is also sized, and the size decides whether a protector actually spans a given torso — one sized for a shorter back leaves the lower part uncovered.

The placeholder problem this standard exposes

A great many jackets ship with a foam pad in the back pocket rather than a certified protector. The pad keeps the pocket in shape and carries no marking. A certified protector carries the standard, the level, the type and a size printed on it, which makes the check a matter of looking rather than of asking.

Insert or harness

A protector can be an insert sized for a jacket pocket, or a separate garment on its own harness. The insert only works if the pocket holds it flat over the spine; the harness stays where it is put regardless of what is worn over it, at the cost of bulk and warmth. Both are certified against the same document.