Official links on rebreather laws and regulations in the European Union

[Sbiriguda]

I am not really interestead in rebreather diving (just a curiosity for me)
I think that many rebreathers approved in the Usa and other parts of the world are not approved in the European Union, most notably the Kiss rebreathers. Can someone link and official and reliable source on the laws and regulations of the EU for rebreathers?
Thanks

 

[tbone1004]

they must go through CE certification to be sold in the EU. If the mfg decides not to do that *it is VERY expensive*, then it can't be sold over there. Doesn't mean that the rebreather can't pass the testing, just means that the manufacturer hasn't deemed the market large/important enough to their business model to go through the expense and hassle of the testing and worldwide distribution. For KISS, I know Mike is swamped with the orders he has, so spending the thousands of dollars to get the rebreathers tested and dealing with international distribution *his rebreathers are essentially made to order*, just doesn't make sense.
Doesn't mean you can't dive one, just means you can't buy one there. I do know there have been KISS training courses conducted in the EU, so if you want one, just have to buy it from a US dealer. No different than any other non-ce certified gear

 

[joshk]

You can look up EN14143:2013 which is the current CE standard.

 

[Sbiriguda]

Thank you very much to both
I think the EN14143:2013 is now part of the standard linked below
Personal protective equipment - Growth - European Commission

 

[KevinNM]

Doesn't mean you can't dive one, just means you can't buy one there. I do know there have been KISS training courses conducted in the EU, so if you want one, just have to buy it from a US dealer. No different than any other non-ce certified gear

I have seen occasional comments in places that seem to say that the instructor legally has to be using a CE certified rebreather. Something about the rules for diving for pay. That might be a UK thing or just wrong.

 

[tbone1004]

I have seen occasional comments in places that seem to say that the instructor legally has to be using a CE certified rebreather. Something about the rules for diving for pay. That might be a UK thing or just wrong.

this was in France, so unsure if the UK has its own thing, who knows

 

[Sbiriguda]

Similar laws apply in Italy and the other UE countries, and it is likely also in the UK until the Brexit will be fully operational. Mostly local laws follow UE directives. As far as I know in Italy rebreather instructors can’t provide non CE approved devices. Also, a diving center that provides assistance including tanks refills etc. could be considered responsible if something happens to a rebreather diver who uses a non CE rebreather. Still, it is not clearly forbidden to use a Kiss rebreather and some people do that at their own risk

 

[broncobowsher]

Modifications also come into play. Change something, just lost the CE approval. Different wing, different 1st stage, etc. Because it is different than "as tested".

 

[KenGordon]

Modifications also come into play. Change something, just lost the CE approval. Different wing, different 1st stage, etc. Because it is different than "as tested".

It doesn’t matter if the user makes the changes. CE is a hard requirement for the sale of goods that is all. Local occupational health and safety organisations may insist that equipment used by workers confirms to those regulations, so in the UK, by the book, instructors and students should only use RBs which have CE. Since almost all UK RB instructors are working for themselves I think this is basically ignored.

You see non CE, pre CE and modified rebreathers all the time here.

CE gets picked on by the “‘elf ‘n’ safety gone mad” brigade, however they forget that it is what stops people selling tellys that toddlers can stick hair clips into and reach the live parts.

 

[taimen]

Seems complicated. Despite CE certification requirements, there is quite a lot of sales and training for non-ce units like XCCR going on in EU countries. Haven't really undersood how this is possible. "Don't ask don't tell" prehaps.