The European standard EN 388 describes the requirements, test methods and labelling of safety gloves against mechanical risks when carrying out work. The test methods laid down can also be applied to arm protectors (in other words, on parts of protective clothing that are not firmly connected to glove or protective clothing).

In the same way as the test results, the safety gloves are classified with a performance level in relation to each of the individual mechanical hazards. The relevant values (number from 0 to 5, with 4/5 being the best) can be seen next to the pictogram of the glove.

The mechanical risks and stresses and/or their test methods are defined in EN 388 as follows:

• Resistance to abrasion:
  To test the safety glove's resistance to abrasion, the material is treated with sandpaper under pressure. The number of cycles needed to abrade a hole in the material serves as a benchmark.
  (Highest performance level 4 = 8,000 cycles)
• Blade cut resistance (coupe test):
  To check the blade cut resistance of a safety glove, a rotating circular blade is used, which cuts through the glove at a constant speed. Comparison with a reference material serves as a benchmark and a resulting index.
  (Highest performance level 5 = index 20)
• Tear resistance:
  To check tear resistance, the material of the safety glove is firstly slit. The force needed to tear the material serves as a benchmark.
  (Highest performance level 4 = 75 Newtons)
• Puncture resistance:
  To test the puncture resistance, the glove is punctured with a nail (established dimension). The force used serves as a benchmark.
  (Highest performance level 4 = 150 Newtons) 
• Cut resistance, TDM test ISO 13997:   Shall be used in EN388:2016 for cut protection gloves where the cut material dulls the cutting knife during testing. A knife cuts with constant speed but increasing force until breakthrough of the cut protection material. Level of protection is given in Newton, the force needed for cut through at 20mm cut length. (Highest performance level F = 30 Newtons)
• Impact test: If the glove has an impact protection, this information is given by the letter P as the 6th and last sign. If no P sign, no impact protection is claimed.

Protection classes for cut protection gloves were previously assigned in Europe in accordance with standard EN 388:2003. Due to the continuous development of technical materials – so-called ‘high-performance fibres’ – it has become necessary to adjust the methods used to test and classify these products. These changes have been implemented in standard EN 388:2016.

Protection against mechanical hazards is symbolized by a pictogram followed by four numbers (performance levels) then two letters. Put simply, the higher the number, the higher the level of protection. The letter in the fifth position corresponds to the gram score recorded with TDM test method.

The rating scale from A to F will be awarded for each gloves test result, with A being the lower score and F being the highest score. The letter P in the six position (if applicable) is for gloves certified to provide impact protection. The letter F would indicate a fail result.  If there is an X in the place of a number, it means this performance metric was not tested. 

Chemical safety gloves must meet the requirements of European standard EN ISO 374-1. This standard has undergone fundamental changes in terms of certification.

Part 1 (Terminology and performance requirements for chemical risks) contains important modifications:

• Expansion of test chemicals from 12 to 18
• Omission of beaker glass for “water-resistant safety glove with low protection against chemical risks”
• Standardisation of types of gloves into type A, B or C
• Modification to labelling on the product: Pictogram of Erlenmeyer flask with differing number of letters for test chemicals depending on type

The European standard EN 407 regulates the minimum requirements and specific test methods for safety gloves in relation to thermal risks. Safety gloves certified in accordance with this standard protect the wearer from, for example, contact heat, radiant heat and small splashes from molten metal.

However, it does not concern the specific application of heat-resistant gloves, such as firefighting or welding. Heat-resistant gloves are intended to fulfil the following properties in accordance with EN 407:

• low flammability or flame spread
• low heat transmission (protective effect from radiant, convective and contact heat)
• high temperature resistance

Safety gloves are classified and tested in EN 407 in accordance with the following criteria:

• Protection from ignition:
  safety glove is exposed to a gas flame for 15 seconds. Then measurement of the time until the glove material ceases to burn/glow.
  (Highest performance level 4 = afterflame time 2 seconds, afterglow time 5 seconds)
• Protection from contact heat:
  temperature measurement (100 °C to 500 °C) against which the glove provides protection for 15 seconds without the inside of the glove heating up by over 10 °C.
  (Highest performance level 4 = + 500 °C)
• Protection from convective heat (gradually penetrating heat):
  time measurement, the length of time the glove can delay a temperature increase of the inside of the glove – by heat penetration from an open fire – of over 24 °C. 
  (Highest performance level 4)
• Protection from thermal radiation:
  safety glove is exposed to thermal radiation. Time measurement until a certain heat has penetrated the inside of the glove.
  (Highest performance level 4 = at least 150 seconds)
• Protection from droplets of molten metal:
  measurement of how many droplets of molten metal are needed to increase the temperature between the glove material and skin by 40 °C.
  (Highest performance level 4 = over 35 droplets)
• Protection from molten metal:
  measurement of how many grams of molten iron are needed to damage synthetic PVC skin (attached to the inside of the glove).
  (Highest performance level 4 = 200 grams) 
  
  In accordance with the test in EN 407, the safety gloves are classified with a performance level in relation to each of the individual thermal hazards (numbers from 1 to 4, with 4 being the best). What is important is that the glove must not come into contact with open fire if it does not fulfil performance level 3 in the fire resistance test.

Minimum requirements for safety gloves in relation to protection from cold are regulated in standard EN 511. The gloves certified under this standard are intended to protect the wearer from convective cold (penetrating cold) and contact cold (direct contact).

As with protection from thermal and mechanical risks, the safety glove is classified into different performance levels for individual aspects. The performance levels are indicated with a number from 1 to 4 next to the pictogram, where 4 is the highest level.

Determination of performance levels for safety gloves against cold:

• Convective cold:
  Measuring the quantity of energy needed to maintain the temperature of a heated hand model (30 to 35 °C) with a safety glove in relation to a constant room temperature. (Calculation of the thermal insulation properties based on the temperature of the hand model, room temperature and energy required to maintain the temperature.)
• Contact cold (Test in accordance with ISO 5085):
  Determination of thermal resistance of the safety gloves with a cold and a hot plate. The glove material is placed as an insulator between both plates and the change in the temperature gradient acts as a measurand (comparison with normative reference).

The glove can also be tested for water permeability in accordance with EN ISO 15383. If no water permeates into the glove over a 30-minute period, this test is deemed as passed (no specific performance levels).

For workplaces with a risk of fire and explosion, there is now a European standard, EN 16350:2014, which defines the test conditions and minimum requirements for the electrostatic properties of safety gloves:

• The contact resistance must be less than 1.0 × 108 ohms (Rv< 1.0 × 108 Ω).
• Test atmosphere: air temperature of 23 ± 1 °C, relative humidity 25 ± 5 %.

Important! Safety gloves with antistatic characteristics are only effective if the resistance between the wearer and the earth is less than 108 ohms. Our products are tested in accordance with EN 16350:2014 and are suitable for both product and work protection.

What should the user look out for?
The old classification in accordance with EN 1149-1:2006 is no longer permitted. The tested surface resistance only gives the charge transfer to the surface of the material and is not sufficient to guarantee effective protection.

What can gloves tested in accordance with EN 16350:2014 be used for?
Safety gloves that have been successfully tested in accordance with EN 16350:2014 can be used in workplaces with a risk of fire and explosion (e.g. refineries) and form an essential part in the earthing chain (glove – protective clothing – shoes – ground). In connection with electrostatic properties, the electrostatic discharge ("electrostatic discharge", or "ESD") is frequently considered in the area of product protection. Safety gloves tested in accordance with EN 16350:2014 can be used for all applications of ESD product protection.