Introduction
This guide helps you choose the most appropriate glove to use in your workplace environment and for your application. The nature of the hazard, the associated risk and the type of operation involved will affect the selection of gloves and it is essential that gloves are chosen that are designed for the specific application.
The three risk categories according to EN legislation
Category I: Gloves of simple design
For minimal risk only
For gloves of simple design offering protection from low level risks, e.g. janitorial gloves, manufacturers are permitted to test and certify gloves internally (i.e. there is no requirement for testing and certification by an independent body).
Category II: Gloves of intermediate design
For intermediate risk
Gloves designed to protect against intermediate risk, e.g. general handling gloves requiring good cut, puncture and abrasion performance, must be subjected to independent testing and certification by a notified body. Only these approved bodies may issue a CE mark, without which the gloves may not be sold. Each notified body has its own identification number. The name and address of the notified body that certifies the product has to appear on the instructions for use that will accompany the gloves. Gloves of this category are CE marked as follows:
Category III: Gloves of complex design
For irreversible or mortal risk
Gloves designed to protect against the highest levels of risk e.g. chemicals, must also be tested and certified by a notified body. In addition, the quality assurance system used by the manufacturer to guarantee homogeneity of production or the quality consistency testing of the final product must be independently checked. The body carrying out this evaluation will be identified by a number which must appear alongside the CE mark (in this case, 0493). Gloves of complex design are CE marked as follows:
Introduction
Standard EN420:2003
General requirements for protective gloves
This standard defines the general requirements for glove:
- Product and packaging information and marking
- Design and construction
- Fitness for the purpose
- Comfort and efficiency
- Innocuousness
- Storage
- Sizing
Standard EN374:2003
Gloves giving protection from Chemicals and Micro-Organisms
Gloves protecting against Chemicals and Micro-Organisms are tested via three methods:
EN374-1 (terminology and performance requirement)
EN374-2 (resistance to penetration)
EN374-3 (resistance to permeation by chemicals)
EN 374-1
The chemical resistant glove must be accompanied by a minimum three digit code. This code refers to the code letters of the chemicals for which a breakthrough time of at least 30 minutes has been obtained.
| Code | Chemical |
| A | Methanol |
| B | Acetone |
| C | Acetonitrile |
| D | Dichloromethane |
| E | Corbon disulpide |
| F | Toluene |
| G | Diethylamine |
| H | Tetrahydrofurane |
| I | Ethyl acetate |
| J | n-Heptate |
| K | Sodium hydroxide 40% |
| L | Sulphuric acid 96% |
EN 374-2
The micro-organism is to be used when the glove conforms to at least a performance level 2 for the penetration test.
| Performance level | Acceptable quality level unit |
|---|---|
| Level 3 | <0.65 |
| Level 2 | <1.5 |
| Level 3 | <4.0 |
EN 374-3
The low chemical resistant or waterproof glove is to be used for those gloves that do not achieve a breakthrough time of at least 30 minutes against at least three chemicals from the defined list, but which comply with the penetration test.
| Measured breakthrough time | Protection index |
|---|---|
| >10 minutes | Class 1 |
| >30 minutes | Class 2 |
| >60 minutes | Class 3 |
| >120 minutes | Class 4 |
| >240 minutes | Class 5 |
| >480 minutes | Class 6 |
Standard EN388:2003
Gloves giving protection from mechanical risks
This standard applies to all kinds of protective gloves in respect of physical and mechanical aggressions caused by abrasion, blade cut, puncture and tearing.
a. Abrasion resistance – Based on the number of cycles required to abrade through the sample glove.
b. Blade cut resistance – Based on the number of cycles required to cut through the sample at a constant speed.
c. Tear resistance – Based on the amount of force required to tear the sample.
d. Puncture resistance – Based on the amount of force required to pierce the sample with a standard-sized point.
| Test | Performance Level | ||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| a) Abrasion resistance (cycle) | >100 | >500 | >2000 | >8000 | – |
| b) Blade cut resistance (index) | >1.2 | >2.5 | >5 | >10.0 | >20.0 |
| c) Tear resistance (newton) | >10 | >25 | >50 | >75 | – |
| d) Puncture resistance (newton) | >20 | >60 | >100 | >150 | – |
Standard EN407:2004
Gloves giving protection from thermal hazards
The nature and degree of protection is shown by a followed by a series of six performance levels, relating to specific protective qualities.
a. Flammability resistance (performance level 0 to 4)
Based on the length of time the material continues to burn and glow after the source of ignition is removed. The seams of the glove shall not come apart after an ignition time of 15 seconds.
b. Contact heat resistance (performance level 0 to 4)
Based on the temperature range (100-500 째C) at which the user will feel no pain for at least 15 seconds. If an EN level 3 or higher is obtained, the product shall record at least EN level 3 in the flammability test. Otherwise, the maximum contact heat level shall be reported as level 2.
c. Convective heat resistance (performance level 0 to 4)
Based on the length of time the glove is able to delay the transfer of heat from a flame. A level of performance shall only be mentioned if a performance level 3 or 4 is obtained in the flammability test.
d. Radiant heat resistance (performance level 0 to 4)
Based on the length of time the glove is able to delay the transfer of heat when exposed to a radiant heat source. A performance level shall only be mentioned if a performance level 3 or 4 is obtained in the flammability test.
e. Resistance to small splashes of molten metal (performance level 0 to 4)
The number of molten metal drops required to heat the glove sample to a given level. A performance level shall only be mentioned if a performance level 3 or 4 is obtained in the flammability test.
f. Resistance to large quantities of molten metal (performance level 0 to 4)
The weight of molten metal required to cause smoothing or pinholing across a simulated skin placed directly behind the glove sample. The test is failed if metal droplets remain stuck to the glove material or if the specimen ignites.
Standard EN511:2006
Gloves giving protection from Cold
Protection against cold is expressed by a pictogram followed by a series of three performance levels, relating to specific protective qualities.
A. Resistance to convective cold (performance level 0 to 4)
Based on the thermal insulation properties of the glove which are obtained by measuring the transfer of cold via convection.
B. Resistance to contact cold (performance level 0 to 4)
Based on the thermal resistance of the glove material when exposed to contact with a cold object.
C. Penetration by water (0 or 1)
0 = water penetration.
1 = no water penetration.
All gloves must achieve at least performance level 1 for abrasion and tear
Standard EN421:2010
Gloves giving protection from radioactive contamination and ionising radiation
The nature of protection is shown by a pictogram relating to the specific protective qualities.
- To protect from radioactive contamination, the glove has to be liquid proof and needs to pass the penetration test defined in EN374.
- For gloves used in containment enclosures, the glove shall pass in addition a specific air pressure leak test.
- Materials may be modelled by their behaviour to ozone cracking. This test is optional and can be used as an aid to selecting gloves.
To protect from ionising radiation, the glove has to contain a certain amount of lead or equivalent metal, quoted as lead equivalence. This lead equivalence must be marked on each glove
