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European standards for hand protection - protective gloves: general requirements
EN 21420 General requirements and test methods - Protective gloves
✓ | Comfort and efficiency: dexterity, minimum sizes and lengths. | ✓ | Requirements for glove safety (pH and Chrome VI content in leather gloves). |
✓ | Marking of gloves and packaging (CE marking, pictograms, size, product code, brand name or manufacturer's name). | ✓ | Risk categories of gloves (I-minor risks, II-intermediate risks, III-complex risks). |
✓ | Comfort and efficiency: dexterity, sizes, minimum sizes and lengths. | ✓ | Definition 'for minor risks only'. |
Protection for: light and superficial mechanical work, handling diluted weak-action cleaning solutions, handling of small, slightly warm components (max. 50°C), winter outdoor activity with average temperatures (max. 0°C).
EN 420 2003 + A1:2009
This standard defines the requirements for gloves in terms of design, construction, cleaning, instructions, electrostatic properties, sizing, dexterity, transmission and water vapour absorption with markings and information.
PROTECTIVE GLOVES AGAINST MECHANICAL RISKS EN 388
In recent years, changes in the manufacturing process of protective gloves have meant that the well-established method of testing hand protection (EN388:2003), and in particular the test for assessing cut protection, is no longer good enough. While the old EN388: 2003 system with the numbering system from 1 to 5 was easily understood, the development of new cut-resistant materials combined with a push from industry to provide the highest possible level of protection has made it necessary to revise the method for testing hand protection.
EN388:2016+A1:2018 calls for an update of the standard and, in doing so, 2 tests (abrasion and cut) have been revised and 2 new tests (TDM cut resistance and impact resistance) have been included. EN388:2003 specifies the physical and mechanical aggression caused by abrasion, blade cutting, tearing and puncture. EN388:2016+A1:2018 updates the existing standard with this new test method for abrasion, TDM cut and impact resistance. EN ISO 13997:1999 (TDM test) records cut results as a Newton value - the force of the blade on the glove material required to cut the material 20 mm. The results are represented on an A-F scale.
EN 388 - PERFORMANCE LEVELS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
A | Abrasion resistance (no. of cycles) | 100 | 500 | 2000 | 8000 | - |
B | Blade shear strength (factor) | 1,2 | 2,5 | 5,0 | 10,0 | 20,0 |
C | Tear resistance (N) | 10 | 25 | 50 | 75 | - |
D | Resistance to perforation (N) | 20 | 60 | 100 | 150 | - |
Note: In the case of entanglement, it would be advisable for the tear resistance of the glove to be as low as possible so that the operator can be released easily. '0'= the glove did not pass the test / 'X'= the glove was not tested.
EN ISO 13997:1999 TDM - PERFORMANCE LEVELS | A | B | C | D | E | F | |
E | TDM shear strength test levels (N) | 2 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 22 | 30 |
F | Impact protection | Passed (P) or failed (unmarked) | |||||
"Gloves that have not been tested with the blade cut test (B) will have a letter "X" indicating that they have not been tested and only the result of the ISO 13997 cut test (E) will be displayed as shown in the glove markings"
EN 388 - REQUIREMENTS
P - PERFORMANCE LEVEL P
Impact resistance
Impact resistance properties 5J
E - PERFORMANCE LEVEL A-F
Side shear resistance
(TDM shear test) Measure average load to obtain shear moment
1 - PERFORMANCE LEVEL 1-4
d: PERFORATION RESISTANCE
Force required to pierce the specimen with a standard nail
4 - PERFORMANCE LEVEL 1-4
c: TEAR RESISTANCE
Maximum force required to tear the specimen
3 - PERFORMANCE LEVEL 1-5
b: CUTTING RESISTANCE (cutting test)
Number of cycles required to cut the sample at constant speed
1 - PERFORMANCE LEVEL 1-4
a: ABRASION RESISTANCE
Number of cycles required to damage the sample at constant speed
PROTECTION GLOVES AGAINST THERMAL HAZARDS (heat and/or fire) EN 407:2020
This standard specifies the performance of gloves against heat and fire. The pictogram uses 6 numbers:
PERFORMANCE LEVELS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
TEST | |||||
Behaviour | Time after flame (seconds) | ≤ 20 | 10 | 3 | 2 |
Time after glow (seconds) | No requirement | 10 | 3 | 2 | |
Contact heat | Contact temperature Tc (°C) | 100 | 250 | 350 | 500 |
Threshold time tt (seconds) | ≥ 15 | ≥ 15 | ≥ 15 | ≥ 15 | |
Convective heat | HTI heat transfer index (seconds) | ≥ 4 | ≥ 7 | ≥ 10 | ≥ 18 |
Small splashes of | Number of drops | ≥ 10 | ≥ 15 | ≥ 25 | ≥ 35 |
Large quantities of | Molten iron (g) | 30 | 60 | 120 | 200 |
This standard specifies the performance of gloves against heat and fire. The pictogram uses 6 numbers:
EN 407:2020 - REQUIREMENTS
2 - PERFORMANCE LEVEL P
f: RESISTANCE TO LARGE MELT METAL SHOTS
Amount of molten material required to bring the glove to a certain temperature
1 - PERFORMANCE LEVEL A-F
e: RESISTANCE TO SMALL CAST METAL SHOTS
Amount of molten metal splash required to bring the glove to a certain temperature
2 - PERFORMANCE LEVEL 1-4
d: RESISTANCE TO RADIANT HEAT
Time required to reach a certain temperature level
1 - PERFORMANCE LEVEL 1-4
c: CONVECTIVE HEAT RESISTANCE
Time during which the glove is able to delay the heat transfer of a flame
3 - PERFORMANCE LEVEL 1-5
b: RESISTANCE TO HEAT CONTACT FOR 15 SECONDS
Temperature (in a range between 100°C and 500°C) at which the glove user feels no pain (for a period of at least 15 seconds)
1 - PERFORMANCE LEVEL 1-4
a: RESISTANCE TO LIMITED FLAME PROPAGATION
Time during which the material remains ignited and continues to burn after the ignition source has been eliminated
B: RESISTANCE TO HEAT CONTACT FOR 15 SECONDS | ||
PERFORMANCE LEVEL | CONTACT TEMPERATURE | THRESHOLD TIME |
1 | 100°C | ≥15s |
2 | 100°C | ≥15s |
3 | 100°C | ≥15s |
4 | 100°C | ≥15s |
EN 16350:2014 Protective gloves: electrostatic properties
This European standard specifies a test method for the electrostatic properties of gloves. The test improves on EN1149 in that it requires a vertical resistance of less than 1.0x108 ohms. Gloves tested according to EN16350:2014 can be used in areas where there may be an increased risk of explosion, such as in a refinery.
EC Foodsafe (MOCA)
Framework Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 stipulates that materials or articles intended to come into contact with food must not
- constitute a danger to human health
- bring about an unacceptable change in the composition of foodstuffs;
- bring about a deterioration in their organoleptic characteristics.
All such materials or articles must be marked with the specific symbol attesting to their suitability for food contact.
IEC 61340-5-1:2016
Protection of electronic devices against electrostatic phenomena:
general requirements
This European standard specifies a test method for the electrostatic properties of gloves. The test improves on EN1149 in that it requires a vertical resistance of less than 1.0x108 ohms. Gloves tested according to EN16350:2014 can be used in areas where there may be an increased risk of explosion, such as in a refinery.
EN 511:206 Cold-resistant gloves
The European standard specifies requirements and test methods for gloves that protect against cold down to -50°C. This cold may be due to climatic conditions or industrial activity. REQUIREMENTS
1 - PERFORMANCE LEVEL 0-1
c - WATER PENETRATION
3 - PERFORMANCE LEVEL 1-4
b: CONTACT COLD RESISTANCE
3 - PERFORMANCE LEVEL 1-4
a: CONVECTIVE COLD RESISTANCE
EN 12477:2001+A1:2005
Protective gloves for welders
The European Standard EN 12477:2001+A1:2005 applies to protective gloves for use in manual welding, cutting and similar processes and sets minimum protection requirements based on the standards of EN 420, EN 388 and EN 407. Welding gloves are classified into two subcategories: Type A and Type B.
TYPE A: for other welding processes
TYPE B: when high dexterity is required, e.g. for TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding operations.
Performance levels for limited flame spread | ||
PERFORMANCE LEVEL | AFTER FLAME TIME S | AFTER GLOW TIME S |
1 | ≤ 15 | No requirement |
2 | ≤ 10 | ≤ 120 |
3 | ≤ 3 | ≤ 25 |
4 | ≤ 2 | ≤ 5 |
Performance levels for convective heat | |
PERFORMANCE LEVEL | HEAT TRANSFER INDEX HTI S |
1 | ≥ 4 |
2 | ≥ 7 |
3 | ≥ 10 |
4 | ≥ 18 |
Performance levels for radiant heat | |
PERFORMANCE LEVEL | HEAT TRANSFERt24 S |
1 | ≥ 7 |
2 | ≥ 20 |
3 | ≥ 50 |
4 | ≥ 95 |
Performance Levels for the Small Molten Metal Splash Test | |
PERFORMANCE LEVEL | Number of drops |
1 | ≥ 10 |
2 | ≥ 15 |
3 | ≥ 25 |
4 | ≥ 35 |
Performance levels for testing large quantities of molten metal | |
PERFORMANCE LEVEL | Molten iron (g) |
1 | 30 |
2 | 60 |
3 | 120 |
4 | 200 |
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