Glove Specifications Explained

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Specifications explained

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Glove Markings

To conform to European regulations all gloves must conform the the Personal Protective Equipment 89/686/EEC directive.

This page provides a brief summary of what the various glove markings mean in practice. While this will help in selecting the correct glove for a particular application, the actual conditions of use cannot be simulated. It is therefore the responsibility of the end user and not the manufacturer or retailer to ensure the glove is suitable for its intended use.

Category 1, Simple Design
	Typical Marking	Gloves in this category are for "minimal risk" where the risk of any injury if not wearing a glove is small and it's effects would be easily reversible.
Category 2, Intermediate Design
	Typical Marking	Gloves in this category are for areas of specific risk where there is a risk of injury. These gloves are type tested against European test standards by a notified body.
Category 3, Complex Design
	Typical Marking	Gloves in this category are for applications that can cause serious harm or irreversible side effects. These gloves are tested as for Category 2 gloves and must also be manufactured under an approved quality system or type tested on an annual basis.

Pictograms Explained Pictograms help to quickly identify a gloves suitability for specific purposes. Each symbol represents a different type of hazard and the numbers underneath indicate how well the glove performed in the tests, the higher the number the better the performance.
EN 388	Mechanical Hazards	Rating
	Abrasion resistance	0-4
	Blade cut resistance	0-5
	Tear resistance	0-4
	Puncture resistance	0-4
EN 374-2	Chemical & Micro-Organisms	Rating
	Resistance to penetration by micro-organisms. Rated as acceptable quality levels (A.Q.L.)
	Level 1	4/S4
	Level 2	1.5/GI
	Level 3	0.65/GI
EN 374-3	Chemical & Micro-Organisms	Rating
	Resistance to permeation by chemicals.
	Level 1	>10 mins
	Level 2	>30 mins
	Level 3	>60 mins
	Level 4	>120 mins
	Level 5	>240 mins
	Level 6	>480 mins

BS EN 374:2003 now states that a glove must have a breakthrough time of at least 30 minutes when tested for 3 chemicals from a list of 12 standard defined chemicals. The chemicals tested against are designated an identifying letter from A to L
A	Methanol
B	Acetone
C	Acetonitrile
D	Dichloromethane
E	Carbon Disulphide
F	Toluene
G	Diethylamine
H	Tetrahydrofurane
I	Ethyl Acetate
J	n-Heptane
K	Sodium hydroxide 40%
L	Sulphuric acid 96%

EN 407	Thermal Hazards (Heat and / or fire)	Rating
	Flammability	0-4
	Contact heat	0-4
	Convective heat	0-3
	Radiant heat	0-4
	Small splashes of molten metal	0-4
	Large splashes of molten metal	0-4
EN 511	Protection from cold	Rating
	Resistance to convective cold	0-4
	Resistance to contact cold	0-4
	Permeability to water	0-1
EN 388	Anti-static performance
	Pass or fail
EN 388	Impact Cut Resistance
	Pass or fail

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