EN 16805:2015

Overview

EN 16805:2015 (CEN) - Diving equipment - Diving mask - Requirements and test methods - specifies safety, performance and testing requirements for diving masks that cover the eyes and nose and are used when the wearer is breathing underwater. Full-face and oro-nasal masks are explicitly excluded. The standard defines design and material expectations, required laboratory and practical test methods, marking and manufacturer information to support safe, reliable diving equipment.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and definitions
  • Applies to single-volume masks covering eyes and nose; defines lens, head strap, buckle, face seal and lens seal.
• Design and safety
  • No sharp projections, corners or edges; means to occlude the nasal passages for ear clearing; controls operable with protective gloves.
  • Materials (including anti-fog compounds) must not cause skin, eye or mucosal irritation.
• Lens requirements
  • No vision-distorting lenses; secure attachment and effective lens seal.
  • Impact resistance: assembled mask must withstand a 25.4 mm steel ball (66 g) dropped from 1.30 m without lens breakage.
  • Break pattern: progressive drop test from 3 m (up to ~5.3 m) - if the lens breaks, fragments must not exceed 3.6 g or 25 mm per fragment; granular spalling across the lens is acceptable.
• Head strap and attachments
  • Donning/doffing must be easy; when wet:
    • withstand 40 N for 10 s without slipping,
    • withstand 100 N for 10 s without detaching/slipping,
    • permanent linear deformation ≤ 5 % after 30 N pull for 10 s (measured 30 min after).
• Face seal
  • Smooth finish and reliable sealing to the wearer’s face.
• Test methods
  • Visual inspection, controlled temperature/humidity conditions, water tightness tests (mask filled to 20 mm depth, checked after 30 min), and practical performance with three qualified test subjects.
  • Practical tests include a 3 m dive, 1.5 m entry, underwater doffing/donning, clearing and ear equalization checks.
• Marking & documentation
  • Manufacturer ID, EN number and type mark; user instructions in the destination country language.

Applications and users

• Manufacturers and product designers use EN 16805:2015 to design and validate diving masks for safety and market compliance.
• Test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies apply the specified test methods for type testing and certification.
• Procurement specialists, dive operators, safety officers and training organizations rely on EN 16805 compliance to select PPE that meets European safety expectations.
• Useful for regulatory alignment (supports essential requirements of EU Directive 89/686/EEC, Annex II).

Related standards

• EN 16805:2015 sits within CEN/TC 136 (sports and recreational equipment). For full-face or specialized breathing apparatus, consult relevant CEN standards covering those product classes.