Standards and labels

• EN 407:2004

  EN 407:2004 is a European standard that specifies the safety requirements for protective gloves for thermal risks. It sets rules for the design, construction, and testing of gloves that protect users from heat and fire. Testing includes measurements of contact heat, convective heat, radiant heat, small splashes of molten metal and flame resistance. The standard also includes requirements for labeling and instructions for use. This standard is an updated version of EN 407:1994 and it's intended to protect the users against thermal risks, such as heat and flame, and to help them to choose a suitable glove for their specific application.

  Test results

  Burning Behaviour Level 4

  Level 4 requires the material to have an afterflame time of no more than 2 seconds and an afterglow time of no more than 5 seconds after exposure to flame. This level offers substantial protection for handling or exposure to fire, suitable for environments where there is a significant risk of intense and immediate contact with flames.

  Heat Contact Level 1

  The standard EN 407:2004 on Protective gloves against thermal risks, including the testing for contact heat at Level 1, is designed to assess the protection level of gloves when exposed to thermal hazards. A Level 1 result on the contact heat resistance indicates basic protection where the glove can delay the transfer of heat from a contact source at 100°C for at least 15 seconds before the inside of the glove reaches a temperature increase of 10°C. The test method involves placing the outer surface of the glove in contact with a hot probe of defined dimensions and temperature, while the rate of temperature rise of a calorimeter on the inside of the glove is measured. This measurement provides a straightforward metric for assessing the thermal protection offered by the glove at low-level exposure. Practically, gloves rated at Level 1 for contact heat are suitable for environments where exposure to thermal risks is minimal and not excessively severe, making them adequate for certain low-risk industrial, laboratory, or handling applications where brief contact with warm objects is common.

  Heat Convection Level 3

  EN 407:2004 is a European Standard that specifies the requirements and test methods for protective gloves intended to protect against thermal risks, including heat from convection. The standard classifies the level of protection gloves provide against different forms of heat and fire. For the test result "Level 3" under EN 407:2004 in the category of Heat Convection, this level indicates that the glove provides moderate protection against convective heat. Specifically, it signifies that the glove can withstand a heat transfer index (HTI) of 10 to 20 seconds before the user would begin to feel pain from a heat source, offering substantial protection in environments where exposure to moderate levels of convective heat occurs.

  Molten Metal Resistance Level 4

  EN 407:2004 is a European standard that sets performance criteria for protective gloves to safeguard against thermal risks, including the extreme conditions posed by molten metals. Molten Metal Resistance Level 4 indicates the highest level of protection available under this standard, meaning the gloves can effectively withstand substantial amounts of molten metal without penetration that could lead to burns or other injuries. This level signifies that the gloves can handle at least 200 grams of molten iron, ensuring that the metal does not penetrate through the glove material during testing. The test involves pouring this quantity of molten iron onto the glove and evaluating its capacity to prevent the molten metal from reaching the skin. Gloves meeting Level 4 are essential for extreme industrial environments, such as those in heavy foundries, cast iron manufacturing, and other sectors where workers are regularly exposed to high volumes of molten metal. This robust level of protection is critical for ensuring the highest safety standards, helping to prevent serious injuries in some of the most hazardous work conditions.

  Metal Splash Resistance Level 2

  EN 407:2004 is a European standard designed to determine the protective capabilities of gloves against thermal risks, including the specific hazard of molten metal splashes. The Metal Splash Resistance Level 2 means that the gloves offer a moderate level of protection against molten metal splashes. The testing for this level involves exposing the glove material to a specified number of droplets of molten metal to see if the glove can prevent the metal from sticking or penetrating the material. Level 2 requires that the gloves withstand at least 15 droplets of molten metal without the metal penetrating the glove to a degree that could harm the wearer. This level of protection is suited for tasks in environments where there is a risk of more frequent or larger molten metal splashes, such as in more intensive welding operations or in foundries. Gloves with Metal Splash Resistance Level 2 provide a higher degree of safety, helping to prevent burns and injuries from hotter and possibly more frequent splashes of molten material.

• EN 388:2016

  EN 388:2016 is a European standard for measuring the performance of protective gloves against mechanical risks (abrasion, cut, tear, and puncture). The standard includes test methods and performance requirements for gloves to be considered compliant. Test results are reported using a series of four numbers, each representing the performance level achieved in one of the tests.

  Test results

  Puncture Resistance Level 2

  The standard EN 388:2016 includes an assessment of Puncture Resistance, where Level 2 signifies that the material has met specific criteria for resistance against puncture. The result of Level 2 in puncture resistance means that the protective glove or material can withstand a force of 60 to 100 newtons before being punctured. The test method used involves using a standardized steel puncture probe that is pushed against the material at a specified speed until it pierces through it. In essence, achieving a Level 2 puncture resistance under EN 388:2006 suggests that the protective equipment offers moderate protection against punctures, making it suitable for environments where there is a risk of encountering sharp objects such as needles, but are not excessively sharp or exert very high force.

  Tear Resistance Level 2

  EN 388:2016 is a European standard that sets criteria for testing the mechanical risks for protective gloves, including abrasion, cut, tear, and puncture resistance. The Tear Resistance Level 2 designation indicates that the gloves have a moderate level of resistance to tearing. The test for tear resistance involves subjecting a sample of the glove material to a force until it tears, and the force required to initiate and propagate the tear is measured. Gloves that achieve Level 2 tear resistance can withstand between 25 to 50 Newtons of force. This level of tear resistance is suitable for tasks where gloves might face moderate stresses that could cause tearing, such as general handling and light industrial work where sharp or jagged materials are handled less frequently. These gloves provide reliable protection and durability in scenarios where some degree of mechanical risk is present but not excessively severe.

  Abrasion Resistance Level 3

  EN 388:2016 is a European standard that provides guidelines for assessing the protection levels of gloves against mechanical risks, such as abrasion, cuts, tears, and puncture. The Abrasion Resistance Level 3 indicates a higher level of protection, signifying that the gloves can resist more intensive wear from rough materials. According to the standard, the abrasion resistance test involves rubbing the glove material against sandpaper under a specified pressure until it is worn through. Level 3 abrasion resistance requires that the gloves withstand 2000 to 7999 cycles of abrasion. This enhanced level of durability is appropriate for tasks involving more frequent or more intense contact with abrasive surfaces, such as construction work, woodworking, and handling building materials. Gloves with Level 3 abrasion resistance offer a robust barrier against wear, extending glove life and providing increased protection for the wearer’s hands, thus reducing the risk of injuries in more demanding work environments.

• EN 511:2006

  EN 511:2006 is a European standard that sets requirements for the protection against cold for gloves and mittens. It covers factors such as resistance to cold, water penetration and breathability. Testing must be done by a certified lab and must show that the product meets all requirements of the standard. Possible test results would include pass/fail for each requirement, as well as specific measurement data.

  Test results

  Cold Contact Level 1

  The standard EN 511:2006 specifies requirements for protective gloves that guard against cold environments. Cold contact performance Level 1 indicates a glove's level of protection against transmitted cold via physical contact with cold objects. For Level 1 specifically, the thermal resistance level must be above 0.025 but less than 0.050 m²°C/W. The test for this rating, known as the Contact Cold Test, involves placing the glove material on metal plates that have been pre-cooled to different specific temperatures. The temperature drop across the test sample is then measured to determine how effectively the glove insulates against cold. In practical terms, a glove achieving Level 1 in cold contact provides minimal thermal insulation, suitable for environments where exposure to slight cold is expected but not extreme cold conditions .