Why is RESTUBE safety buoy not a Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)?

Here lies an important technical distinction: The fundamental requirement for a classic PPE item (such as a certified lifejacket) is that it protects passively and without any action on your part — keeping you afloat automatically, for example, in the event of unconsciousness. The RESTUBE Safety System was deliberately designed differently: it requires an active trigger in an emergency and your involvement (leaning over it). This is why it does not fall under Regulation (EU) 2016/425. Because the RSS is by definition not PPE, it cannot be certified as a lifejacket. But the safety buoy was never meant to be a lifejacket — rather, it's designed for situations where you need more freedom of movement and different forms of buoyancy. Our system meets the highest quality standards and opens up entirely new fields of application.

We like to compare this to avalanche airbag backpacks or the airbag in a car: these are life-saving innovations that took many years to receive their own standards, simply because they didn't fit into any existing category. The RESTUBE Safety System is designed for maximum freedom where a rigid vest would get in the way. It's a backup system that sets new standards for freedom of movement.

For further technical information on PPE and swimming aids, please refer to the DGUV (German Social Accident Insurance).