Standards for gloves

Categories

Protective gloves are divided into 3 categories depending on the type and the risk or hazard that the gloves are intended to protect against:


Category 1 - gloves that can be used in low-risk situations

Examples of gloves in this category are household gloves for protection against washing, dishwashing, cleaning agents, and gloves for protection against hot objects or temperatures that do not exceed +50° C. Other gloves in this category may be for lighter work such as gardening or tasks where the risk of serious injury is low.


Category 2 - all types of gloves that are not classified as category 1 or 3

Gloves used in this category where the risk is not classified as low or very high. It is also required that the gloves are tested by an accredited testing institute and approved by a notified body. These gloves must be marked with a pictogram showing the glove's protective function. This category often includes gloves that protect against mechanical risks according to EN 388.


Category 3 - gloves that are intended to be used in a hazardous environment where there is a high risk of serious injury occurring.

Gloves in this category are used when there is a risk of a serious or permanent injury occurring, such as handling aggressive chemicals. For these gloves to be CE marked, they must be tested by an accredited testing institute, approved by a notified body, and have manufacturing control of the product or production carried out.

EN 420

This standard defines general requirements that apply to all protective gloves:

  • The gloves themselves should not pose a risk or cause harm to the user.
  • The glove material should have a pH value between 3.5 and 9.5.
  • The maximum allowable chromium content (hexavalent chromium) in leather gloves is 3mg/kg.
  • The manufacturer should inform about the presence of substances in the glove that are known to cause allergies.
  • The sizes of the gloves are standardized with respect to minimum length.

EN 388:2016

Protective gloves against mechanical risks.

According to this standard, properties such as abrasion resistance, cut resistance, tear resistance, puncture resistance, and impact protection are tested. In connection with the pictogram, four digits and alternatively two letters should be displayed. These characters indicate the glove's performance level.

  • The first digit shows abrasion resistance
  • The second shows cut resistance according to the coup test
  • The third shows tear resistance
  • The fourth shows puncture resistance
  • Letters A-F show cut resistance according to the TDM test ISO 13997
  • The letter P shows if the glove has impact protection

The meaning of each digit and letter can be found in our performance level table.

1. Abrasion resistance

The material is subjected to abrasion/grinding by sandpaper under a fixed pressure. The protective function is indicated on a scale from one to four depending on how many cycles are required before a hole is formed in the material. The higher the number, the better the abrasion resistance.

2. Cut resistance, coup test

Here, the glove's cut protection level is tested. A knife is passed over the glove material until it cuts through. The protection level is indicated by a number from 1 to 5. If the material dulls the knife, the test should instead be performed according to ISO 13997, see point 5.

3. Tear resistance

The force required to tear the glove material is measured. The protective function is indicated by a number from 1 to 4, with 4 indicating the strongest material.

4. Puncture resistance

The force required to puncture the material with a point is measured. The protective function is indicated by a number from 1 to 4, with 4 indicating the strongest material.

5. Cut resistance, TDM test ISO 13997

Here, the glove's cut protection level is tested if the material dulls the knife during the coup test. The result is reported here with a letter, A-F, with F indicating the highest protection level. When one of these letters is reported, it determines the glove's protection level instead of the number.

6. Impact protection

If the glove has impact protection, this is indicated by a P as the sixth and final character.

EN 388:2003

Protective gloves against mechanical risks.

According to this standard, four different properties are tested: abrasion resistance, cut resistance, tear resistance, and puncture resistance. In connection with the pictogram, four digits (or alternatively six characters) are displayed, indicating the performance level of the gloves.

  • The first digit indicates abrasion resistance.
  • The second digit indicates cut resistance.
  • The third digit indicates tear resistance.
  • The fourth digit indicates puncture resistance.

The meaning of each digit can be found in our performance level table.

1. Abrasion resistance

The material is subjected to abrasion by sandpaper under a fixed pressure. The protective function is given on a scale from 1 to 4 depending on the number of cycles required to create a hole in the material. The higher the number, the better the abrasion resistance.

2. Cut resistance

The number of times a knife is passed over the material at a constant pressure until it cuts through is counted. The result is given on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the highest level of protection.

3. Tear resistance

The force required to tear the glove material apart is measured. The protective function is given on a scale of 1-4, with 4 indicating the strongest material.

4. Puncture resistance

The force required to puncture the material with a point is measured. The protective function is given on a scale of 1-4, with 4 indicating the strongest material.

EN 13997

Determination of resistance to cutting with sharp objects.

  • An alternative test for cut protection recommended for high-performance cut-resistant materials.
  • A knife is cut through the material at a constant speed and increasing force.
  • The protection level is indicated by the number of Newtons, the force required to cut through 20mm of the material.

EN 374

Protective gloves against chemicals and microorganisms.

This standard specifies the requirements for gloves to protect the user against chemicals and/or microorganisms.

  • The shortest permissible length of the glove that is liquid-tight shall comply with EN420.
  • The glove is tested for leakage with air and/or water and assessed according to an accepted quality level, known as AQL level 1, 2, or 3, in the penetration test. This is tested on all chemical protective gloves, regardless of protection level.

See our AQL table.

  • To be classified as a full-fledged chemical protective glove, it must also withstand a breakthrough time of at least 30 minutes (class 2) for at least three of twelve specified chemicals.

This table provides a general overview of various glove materials that provide suitable protection against different types of chemicals.

  • If the minimum requirement for chemical protection is not met, the glove is instead classified as "Low chemical protection". It then meets the requirements for level 2 in the penetration test, AQL level.
  • Protection against "Microorganisms" is achieved if the glove achieves at least performance level 2 in the penetration test, AQL.

Please note that chemical protection tests are conducted in a laboratory environment and may not always reflect the actual use time in the workplace. It is therefore important to find out which glove is suitable to use and how long it provides protection in each work situation.

EN 511

Cold protection gloves.

This standard measures how well the glove withstands both ambient cold and contact cold. In addition, water penetration is tested after 30 minutes.

  • The first digit indicates how well the glove withstands ambient cold (performance level 0-4).
  • The second digit indicates how well the glove withstands contact cold (performance level 0-4).
  • The third digit indicates the glove's protection against water penetration (performance level 0 or 1, where 0 indicates "water penetration after 30 minutes" and 1 indicates "no water penetration after 30 minutes").

EN 407

Heat-resistant gloves.

This standard specifies requirements and test methods for protective gloves intended to protect against thermal risks such as heat and/or fire. There are two pictograms with clear distinctions between when the glove protects against flames and when it does not. The numbers displayed beside or below the pictogram indicate the gloves' performance for each test in the standard. The higher the number, the better the performance level. An "X" indicates that the protection level has not been tested.

1. Material flameability

The duration of time the material glows or burns after being ignited by a gas flame is measured. If this test has been conducted on the glove, this pictogram is used:

If the fire properties of the material have not been tested, this pictogram is used:

2. Protection against contact heat

The glove is exposed to temperatures between +100°C to +500°C. Then the time it takes for the inside of the glove to become 10°C warmer than it was initially (around 25°C) is measured. The time must be at least 15 seconds for approval.

3. Protection against open flame

This measures the time it takes to increase the temperature inside the glove by 24°C using a gas flame (80kW/m2).

4. Protection against radiant heat

The average time for heat penetration of 2.5kW/m2 is measured.

5. Protection against drops of molten metal

The test is based on the number of drops of molten metal that generate a temperature increase between the material and the skin by 40°C.

6. Protection against molten metal

A PVC film is attached to the back of the material to be tested. Then liquid iron is poured onto the material. The measurement is based on how many grams of molten iron are required to damage the PVC film.

Test Result measured in Result level
Nr 1 2 3 4
1 Afterburn time Seconds ≤ 20 ≤ 10 ≤ 3 ≤ 2
1 Afterglow time Seconds endless ≤ 120 ≤ 25 ≤ 5
2 Contact heat Temperature ° C after 15 seconds 100 ° 250 ° 350 ° 500 °
3 Open flame Seconds ≤ 4 ≤ 7 ≤ 10 ≤ 18
4 Radiant heat Seconds ≤ 5 ≤ 30 ≤ 90 ≤ 150
5 Drops of metal Number of drops ≥ 2 ≥ 15 ≥ 25 ≥ 35
6 Liquid metal Grams 30 60 120 200
≥ = greater than or equal to, ≤ = less than or equal to

EN 12477

Protective gloves for welders.

This standard describes how gloves should be designed to provide protection for the hand and wrist during welding and similar work.

  • Welding gloves should provide protection against splashes of molten metal, short-term exposure to open flames, radiation heat, contact heat, and mechanical protection.
  • Gloves are also assessed based on their design and purpose, where type A refers to gloves with slightly higher heat protection but lower flexibility and dexterity, and type B refers to gloves with slightly lower heat protection but higher flexibility and dexterity.

ASTM F2878-10

Resistant to penetration of hypodermic needle/cannula.

This method is used to determine the force required for a hypodermic needle or cannula to penetrate the protective material. The needles can have thicknesses of 21, 25, or 28 gauge. The protective function is indicated in Newtons..

ESD

Protection against electrostatic discharge - protection of electronics.

Materials are tested for vertical resistance between the hand and electrode.

  • What is measured is the resistance in the material, which should be as low as possible so that electrical charges pass through the material instead of being collected and then risking an electrostatic discharge that can damage nearby electronics.
  • The resistance in the material should be below 109Ω to be approved.

For adequate protection of electrical products, the ESD-labeled glove should be used together with other ESD equipment such as clothing, shoes, and wristbands, among others.

Food

Materials that comes into contact with food

  • Materials that comes into contact with food must not contaminate the food with harmful substances. This is regulated by Regulation 1935/2004, which governs the requirements for traceability and identification throughout the production chain.
  • The products must also be marked with the glass/fork symbol.
  • EU Regulation 2023/2006 requires the producer's quality assurance system for products that may come into contact with food.
  • Protective gloves with the glass/fork symbol meet the above requirements and can be used in contact with food.
  • The type(s) of food they are designed for are specified in the user manual that accompanies the product.

EN 455

Requirements for medical disposable gloves.

Standard that specifies requirements and testing methods for disposable gloves for medical use. Requirements and measurements include, among others:

  • tightness
  • size determination
  • strength and thickness
  • breaking strength before and after accelerated aging
  • biological safety.

EN 10819

Protective gloves for protection against vibration injuries in hands and arms. The standard aims to confirm the transmission of vibrations from a handle, through the glove, to the palm of the hand. The glove must also comply with EN420 and EN388. Gloves with anti-vibration materials that meet this standard can be expected to reduce (not completely eliminate) vibrations transmitted to the hand at frequencies above 150Hz.

Requirements to be labeled as an anti-vibration glove:

  • The thickness of the vibration-damping material in the palm should not exceed 8mm
  • The same vibration-damping material should be present in the palm, fingers, and thumb, covering the entire palm and full length of the fingers and thumb.
  • The thickness of the finger/thumb material should be equal to or 0.55 times thicker than the palm material.

EN 1082

Gloves and arm protectors made of chainmail material that protect against cuts and stabs from handheld knives when cutting towards oneself, for example in the slaughterhouse industry.