Kfzundlandtechnikmaaske: Medical Masks in Car and Farm Vehicle First Aid Kits Explained

Kfzundlandtechnikmaaske

Open the first aid kit in a car sold in Germany today and you’ll find something that wasn’t there a few years ago: two medical face masks. They sit next to the bandages, gloves, and emergency blanket. The change came from a new version of the German standard for vehicle first aid kits, DIN 13164, published in February 2022.

The search term Kfzundlandtechnikmaaske brings together three German ideas: Kfz (Kraftfahrzeug, or motor vehicle), Landtechnik (agricultural machinery), and Maske (mask). People use it when they want to know whether masks belong in the first aid kit of their car, van, truck, or tractor, and what the rules say. This guide answers those questions in plain English.

The Short Answer

What Does Kfzundlandtechnikmaaske Mean?

The word isn’t an official German term. It’s a mash-up of three words that people type together when searching:

• Kfz: Short for Kraftfahrzeug, the German word for motor vehicle. It covers cars, vans, trucks, and buses.
• Landtechnik: Agricultural technology, such as tractors, combine harvesters, and other farm machines.
• Maske: Mask. In this context, it means the medical face masks now found in vehicle first aid kits.

So when someone searches for Kfzundlandtechnikmaaske, they tend to want to know which masks belong in a vehicle first aid kit, whether the rules apply to farm vehicles, and where to buy compliant kits or refill packs.

The Background: DIN 13164

What Is DIN 13164?

DIN 13164 is the German standard that sets out what a car first aid kit must contain. It lists every item, how many of each are needed, and what size or quality they must be. The standard is written by DIN, the German Institute for Standardization.

Kits built to this standard are often called “Kfz-Verbandkasten” or “Verbandkasten B.”

Earlier Versions

Before 2022, the main editions were:

• January 1998
• January 2014

Both are still named in German road law, which matters for the legal question below.

The 2022 Update

The February 2022 edition made three main changes:

1. Added two medical face masks under DIN EN 14683, at least Type I.
2. Cut the triangular bandages from two to one.
3. Removed the smaller dressing cloth, keeping only the larger one.

There were also smaller text changes and updated references to other standards. The masks were added after the COVID-19 pandemic showed how important it is for first aiders to protect themselves and the injured person from infection. The same masks had already been added to two workplace first aid standards, DIN 13157 and DIN 13169, in November 2021.

What Kind of Mask Is Required?

The standard calls for medical face masks under DIN EN 14683. These are the surgical style masks you see in hospitals and doctors’ offices.

Important: These are not FFP2 masks. FFP2 respirators fall under a different standard, EN 149, and are designed to protect the wearer from particles in the air. Medical masks under EN 14683 are meant above all to stop the wearer from spreading germs, which makes them a good fit for a first aider leaning over an injured person.

If you want to go beyond the minimum, you can choose Type II or Type IIR masks. They still meet the standard because it calls for “at least” Type I.

Full Contents of a DIN 13164:2022 Kit

Here’s what a car first aid kit built to the 2022 edition contains, based on the overview published by BVMed, the German medical technology association:

The Legal Side: Is the Kfzundlandtechnikmaaske Mandatory?

This is the part that confuses many drivers, so let’s break it down.

The Standard vs the Law

A DIN standard is a technical rule. It becomes binding for drivers only when a law points to it. In Germany, that law is § 35h of the StVZO, the road vehicle licensing regulation.

As of the latest available text, § 35h StVZO refers to DIN 13164 in the January 1998 or January 2014 editions. It doesn’t name the February 2022 edition. That means:

• Manufacturers have had to build and sell kits to the 2022 standard since the transition ended on January 31, 2023.
• Drivers with a complete, unexpired kit built to the 1998 or 2014 edition are still within the law.
• Masks aren’t required by law for drivers right now, because the old editions don’t include them.

Several German news and legal sites, including bussgeldkatalog.org, have pointed this out. The ADAC also confirms that older kits may still be used and don’t need to be swapped or retrofitted. BVMed has noted that lawmakers plan to name the 2022 edition in § 35h at some point, with transition rules, but no date has been set.

Why Add Masks Anyway?

Even if the law doesn’t demand it yet, adding two masks to an older kit is a smart move:

• They protect you and the injured person.
• They cost very little.
• Your kit will already match the new rules when the law catches up.

You can buy medical masks in any pharmacy or drugstore and tuck two into your existing kit. Keep the sterile dressing packs sealed when you do.

Which Vehicles Must Carry a Kit?

§ 35h StVZO sets out who needs first aid material:

The material must be kept in a container that protects it from dust, moisture, fuel, and oil. In buses, the kits must be stored in marked places that are easy to spot.

What About Landtechnik? Tractors and Farm Machines

This is where the “Landtechnik” part of Kfzundlandtechnikmaaske comes in.

The Road Law Exemption

Under § 35h StVZO, tractors and work machines used in agriculture or forestry don’t have to carry a first aid kit for road traffic purposes. The same goes for single-axle machines like walking tractors.

Why You Should Carry One Anyway

The exemption covers road law only. On a farm, the picture looks different:

• Workplace safety rules apply. In Germany, employers must provide first aid material for their workers. That includes farms with employees. The rules come from accident insurance regulations, and farms fall under the SVLFG, the social insurance body for agriculture, forestry, and horticulture.
• Farm work is risky. Cuts, crush injuries, and burns from machines, chains, and hot engine parts are common.
• Help can be far away. Fields and forests are often a long drive from the nearest hospital.

For workplaces, the common standards are DIN 13157 (small company first aid kit) and DIN 13169 (large company kit). Both added medical face masks in November 2021, before the car standard did.

A Practical Setup for Farms

Make sure every kit includes medical masks, gloves, and an emergency blanket.

Fines and Inspections

Police Checks

If police find that your car has no first aid kit, or that it’s expired or incomplete, you can get a warning fine. Sources cite amounts between €5 and €10. The ADAC mentions up to €10.

The HU (TÜV Inspection)

During the general inspection, known as the Hauptuntersuchung or HU, a missing, incomplete, or expired kit counts as a minor defect. It won’t fail your car on its own, but you’ll need to fix it.

Expired Kits

Sterile items, like compresses and dressing packs, carry expiry dates. Most kits last around five years. Adhesive plasters lose their stickiness over time, and sterile items can’t be guaranteed sterile after the date. Whether a complete but expired kit can be fined is debated among legal experts, but replacing it is cheap and avoids any doubt.

How to Check Your Kit for a Kfzundlandtechnikmaaske

Take five minutes to look over your kit:

1. Find it. Know where it’s stored in your car. Many are under the trunk floor or in a side pocket.
2. Check the label. Look for “DIN 13164” and the edition year.
3. Check the dates. Look at the expiry date on the box and on sterile items.
4. Check the contents. Compare them with the list printed inside.
5. Add masks. If your kit is older and has no masks, add two medical masks.
6. Replace used items. If you’ve used anything, restock it right away.

Buying a New Kit With a Kfzundlandtechnikmaaske

When you shop for a new kit, look for:

• The DIN 13164:2022 label on the box
• Two medical face masks listed in the contents
• A sturdy, dust-tight case that fits your vehicle
• A clear expiry date
• A fixing strap or bracket if you plan to mount it in a tractor or work vehicle

Kits are sold at car parts stores, gas stations, pharmacies, drugstores, and online. Safety equipment suppliers, such as the retailer behind the reference article on this topic, also sell refill packs and workplace kits.

Other Countries

Rules differ across Europe. Austria and several Eastern European countries also require first aid kits in cars, while others only recommend them. If you’re driving abroad, check the local rules before you travel. Carrying a kit with masks is always a good idea.

Common Questions

Do I have to buy a new kit with masks? No. A complete, unexpired kit built to the 1998 or 2014 edition is still legal under § 35h StVZO.

Can I just add masks to my old kit? Yes. Add two medical face masks under EN 14683. Don’t open sealed sterile items while doing so.

Are FFP2 masks allowed instead? The standard names medical masks under EN 14683. FFP2 masks follow a different standard, so they don’t match the kit’s specification.

Does my tractor need a first aid kit? Not under road law, but workplace safety rules may require first aid material on farms with employees, and carrying one is a wise choice.

What’s the fine for not having a kit? A warning fine, often cited at €5 to €10.

How long does a kit last? Around five years, depending on the expiry dates of the sterile items.

Final Thoughts

The Kfzundlandtechnikmaaske question comes down to a simple point: the 2022 version of DIN 13164 added two medical face masks to vehicle first aid kits, and every new kit sold today includes them. The law for drivers hasn’t caught up yet, so older kits without masks remain legal as long as they’re complete and in date.

For farm vehicles and tractors, road law doesn’t require a kit, but farm safety rules and common sense do. Whether you drive a city car or a combine harvester, two masks, a pair of gloves, and a well-stocked kit can make a real difference when every second counts.

Key Takeaways

• Kfzundlandtechnikmaaske refers to the medical masks now included in German vehicle and farm machine first aid kits.
• DIN 13164:2022 added two medical face masks under EN 14683, at least Type I, from February 1, 2022.
• The transition period ended on January 31, 2023, and since then only kits with masks may be sold.
• § 35h StVZO still names the 1998 and 2014 editions, so masks are not yet a legal duty for drivers.
• Agricultural and forestry tractors are exempt under road law, but farm safety rules call for first aid material.
• A missing or expired kit can bring a warning fine of about €5 to €10 and counts as a minor defect at the HU.