EN 1621-4 Is Being Revised – What‘s New in the 2025 Draft?

If you are developing inflatable airbag vests, you are likely already familiar with EN 1621-4:2013—the current European standard for inflatable protectors for motorcycle riders. But you may not yet know that this standard is undergoing a significant revision.

In August 2025, CEN (the European Committee for Standardization) published the draft prEN 1621-4:2025. The draft entered public consultation on 21 August 2025, with voting closing on 13 November 2025. The final version is expected to be published in 2026–2027, replacing the current EN 1621-4:2013.

This article outlines the five core changes in prEN 1621-4:2025, helping you understand the direction of the new standard.

Change 1: Inflation Time Test Method – From “Watching” to “Measuring”

This is the most significant change in this revision.

Current standard (2013): Inflation time is verified through high-speed camera visual observation, with a minimum recording speed of 200 frames per second.

New draft (2025): The inflation time test changes from the visual video observation method to an internal pressure detection method.

What does this mean?

The visual observation method relies on subjective judgment of video playback by test operators, which may lead to slightly different conclusions between different operators. The internal pressure detection method uses sensors to directly measure the pressure curve inside the airbag, making the process more objective, precise, and repeatable. For airbag products, this means more reliable test results and better consistency across different laboratories.

Change 2: Airbag Protectors Clearly Defined as “Independent Garments”

The new draft explicitly defines motorcycle airbag protectors as independent garments.

While airbag protectors are typically worn either under or over a jacket, they are now formally recognised at the standard level as a standalone piece of protective equipment, rather than merely an accessory to a jacket. This clarification helps define the boundary between EN 1621-4 and EN 17092—EN 1621-4 certifies the airbag protector itself, while EN 17092 certifies the outer garment.

Change 3: Clearer Functional Positioning of Airbag Systems

The new draft clarifies two functional modes for airbag systems:

  •  Standalone airbag mode: Relies solely on the inflated airbag for impact protection

  •  Combined mode: Airbag used in conjunction with rigid protectors (such as back protectors)

This distinction means that product designs require a clear position, which must be stated in technical documentation and product labelling.

Change 4: Declaration Requirements for Wearing Position

The new draft requires manufacturers to declare whether the airbag protector is intended to be worn under or over clothing.

This is a practical improvement. Currently, some airbag vests on the market are designed to be worn over a jacket (e.g., for track use), while others are designed to be worn under a jacket (e.g., for commuting). The new standard requires clear indication of the intended wearing position to help users use the product correctly.

Change 5: Comprehensive Improvements to Test Procedure Descriptions

The new draft introduces comprehensive improvements to test procedure descriptions, making the test methods clearer and more standardised. While the specific test items and metrics have not fundamentally changed, clearer descriptions help reduce operational differences between laboratories and improve the comparability of test results.

Implications for Airbag Product Design

From a design perspective, the changes in the new standard suggest several trends worth noting:

    • Increased precision in test methods means more rigorous validation is needed during product development. The internal pressure detection method provides more objective data, but also requires design teams to establish appropriate testing capabilities at an early stage.

    • Clearer functional positioning requires products to define whether they are standalone airbag mode or combined mode from the outset, which will affect airbag capacity, deployment logic, and integration with other protectors.

    • Clearer wearing position requirements remind design teams to consider compatibility with different garments—whether designed to be worn under or over a jacket, ergonomics and trigger reliability must be optimised accordingly.

Timeline Summary

Conclusion

The core changes in this revision of EN 1621-4 are the scientification of test methods (from visual observation to pressure measurement) and the clarification of product positioning (independent garment, functional modes, wearing position). These changes will make the certification of airbag products more objective and transparent.

Understanding these changes early can help inform better design decisions in the early stages of product development.

This article complements our previous guide on EN 1621-4. For the basic requirements of the current standard, please refer to our related article.

Acknowledgment: The content of this article is compiled based on information currently available from publicly accessible sources, including project summaries and change notifications published by CEN and its member bodies (such as DIN, BSI, etc.) regarding the prEN 1621-4:2025 draft. This information has not been verified against the full draft document, which is subject to copyright and available for purchase through official standards organizations. Should any discrepancies arise between the content presented here and the final published version of the standard, we will revisit and update this article accordingly after the official release.

Developing an inflatable airbag product and need to understand how prEN 1621-4:2025 may affect your design? HIGHVIEW‘s team can help you interpret the new requirements. You can also reach out directly via email at tee@highview.top.