This section provides a clear, practical guide to the main international standards for hand protection — so you can make confident, informed choices when selecting your gloves:

🧤 EN ISO 21420 — General Requirements

⚙️ EN 388:2016+A1:2018 — Mechanical Risks

🪓 ANSI/ISEA 105 — Cut Resistance

💥 ANSI/ISEA 138 — Impact Protection

🔥 EN 407:2020 — Thermal Risks

❄️ EN 511:2006 — Cold Risks

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What the Standard Covers

EN ISO 21420 sets the general requirements and test methods for all protective gloves.
It doesn’t define protection levels itself (that’s done by specific standards like EN 388 or EN 407), but it ensures that every glove on the market meets basic safety, comfort, and information requirements before being tested for specific risks.

In short:

EN ISO 21420 defines what every glove must meet to be safe, comfortable, trustworthy and correctly labelled. It’s the first step toward full CE certification for any glove type.

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Why It Matters When Choosing PPE

When you see EN ISO 21420 on a glove, it means:

✅ The glove is made from materials proven safe for skin contact
✅ It has been tested for ergonomic comfort and fit
✅ Its labelling and user information are complete and reliable
✅ It provides a consistent reference for all other EN glove standards

This standard guarantees that every performance test (cut, heat, chemical, etc.) is carried out on a glove that already meets fundamental safety and quality rules.

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Key Requirements at a Glance

Category	What It Covers	Why It Matters
Innocuousness	Materials must not harm the skin; pH, chromium VI, azo dyes, and nickel are checked.	Prevents allergic or toxic reactions.
Comfort and Fit	Glove sizing (from 5 to 12), dexterity tests, and water vapour transmission.	Ensures wearability and performance in real use.
Cleaning Instructions	The glove must not degrade or lose performance after washing (if washable).	Maintains safety after cleaning.
Electrostatic Properties	If relevant, gloves tested for static dissipation.	Important for electronics or explosive environments.
Labelling and Information	Clear manufacturer name, size, EN ISO 21420 pictogram, and instructions.	Helps users select and use gloves correctly.

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Typical Glove Applications

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What the Standard Covers

EN 388:2016+A1:2018 is the key European standard for mechanical protection in gloves.
It defines how gloves are tested and rated for resistance to abrasion, blade cuts, tearing, puncture, and — when relevant — impact protection.

In short:

EN 388 helps you understand how well a glove resists physical damage during work.

It applies to gloves designed to protect hands from mechanical hazards such as handling sharp or rough materials, tools, or machinery.

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Why It Matters When Choosing PPE

When you see EN 388 on a glove, it means:

✅ The glove has been tested in a laboratory for specific mechanical risks.
✅ The numbers and letters following the standard tell you how strong that protection is.
✅ It gives a clear, comparable system for selecting the right glove for each task.

This makes EN 388 essential for applications like construction, metalworking, warehousing, automotive assembly, and general handling.

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Key Test Areas and Performance Levels

Each EN 388 glove is tested for up to six mechanical properties, displayed as a series of numbers and letters after the standard reference:

Position	Test	Scale	Meaning
1st	Abrasion Resistance	1–4	Number of cycles needed to wear through the glove material. Higher = more durable.
2nd	Blade Cut Resistance (Coup Test)	1–5	Measures cuts by a rotating blade. Marked “X” if ISO test used instead.
3rd	Tear Resistance	1–4	Force required to tear the glove. Higher = stronger.
4th	Puncture Resistance	1–4	Force needed to pierce the glove with a point.
5th	Cut Resistance (ISO 13997)	A–F	Measured by straight blade under tension. Used for high-cut materials. Higher = better.
6th	Impact Protection (optional)	P or absent	“P” if passed EN 13594 impact test. Blank if not applicable.

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Example of Marking

How to read this example marking: EN 388:2016: 4X43F

• 4 → High abrasion resistance
• X → Coup cut test not applicable (because ISO test used)
• 4 → High tear resistance
• 3 → Good puncture resistance
• F → Highest ISO cut protection level
• (no “P”) → No impact protection claimed

💡 Tip:
If both cut tests are performed, the ISO (A–F) result is considered more accurate for modern high-performance fibers.

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Typical Applications

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Understanding Cut Protection Standards

Gloves are often tested for cut resistance using either the European EN 388 ISO 13997 test or the American ANSI/ISEA 105 standard. Both measure how well gloves resist cuts, but they differ in method, scale, and interpretation.

Both systems tell you how strong a glove is against cutting hazards. EN 388 ISO uses a straight blade under tension and rates performance from A to F, while ANSI uses a rotating circular blade and assigns performance levels from 1 to 9.

Important: Whilst both system measure glove cut resistance accurately, ANSI scale goes further and covers higher mechanical stress.

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Cut Level Comparison Table

EN ISO	Force (N)	ANSI Level	Cut Threshold (grams)	Notes
A	2–5 N	A1	200–499 g	Minimal cut protection
B	5–10 N	A2	500–999 g	Light cut protection
C	10–15 N	A3	1000–1499 g	Medium cut protection
D	15–22 N	A4	1500–2199 g	Moderate cut protection
E	22–30 N	A5	2200–2999 g	High cut protection
F	30+ N	A6	3000–3999 g	Very high cut protection
—	—	A7	4000–4999 g	Specialty/high-performance gloves
—	—	A8	5000–5999 g	Extreme protection
—	—	A9	6000+ g	Ultra/high-end protection

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Understanding Impact Protection

ANSI/ISEA 133-2020 is the American standard for hand and finger impact protection in gloves; it measures actual force reduction to your hand, not just padding thickness.
It measures how well gloves protect against blunt impact forces from dropping objects, tools, or machinery.

If a glove meets ANSI 133, it has impact-resistant padding or inserts that reduce the force transmitted to your hands.

This standard is widely used in construction, manufacturing, mining, and industrial maintenance, where hands are exposed to potential impact hazards.

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Connection to EN 388:2016

• EN 388:2016 includes an optional impact protection test for gloves.
• Gloves that pass the EN 13594 impact test are marked with “P” next to the EN 388 performance numbers, for example:
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Performance Levels

ANSI/ISEA Level	Max Transmitted Force (lbf)	EN 388:2016 Equivalent	Notes
0	>60 lbf	No “P”	No significant impact protection
1	50–60 lbf	Optional “P”	Minimal impact protection
2	40–49 lbf	Optional “P”	Light impact protection for general tasks
3	30–39 lbf	Optional “P”	Moderate impact protection
4	≤29 lbf	Optional “P”	High impact protection for heavy-duty tasks

Note: Whilst ANSI/ISEA 133 provides specific numeric thresholds for transmitted force, **EN 388:2016 “P” marking indicates the glove passed the impact test, but does not provide numeric force levels.

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What the Standard Covers

EN 407:2020 is the key European standard for protection against thermal hazards in gloves. It defines how gloves are tested and rated for resistance to Flame and contact heat, Convective heat, Radiant heat, and Small and large splashes of molten metal.

Gloves marked EN 407 protect your hands from burns, heat exposure, and molten metal splashes.
Often combined with EN 388 for gloves that require mechanical + thermal protection.

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Why It Matters When Choosing PPE

When you see EN 407:2020 on a glove, it means:

✅ The glove provides tested protection against heat and flame hazards
✅ You can match the performance level to the specific thermal risk in your workplace
✅ The glove has been lab-tested for flame resistance, contact heat, radiant heat, convective heat, and molten metal
✅ It helps ensure both safety and compliance in industrial or laboratory environments

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Key Test Areas and Performance Levels

Test Type	Description	Performance Levels
Flammability	Measures how quickly the glove ignites and stops burning.	0–4
Contact Heat	Measures time until pain threshold when touching a hot surface.	0–4
Convective Heat	Measures resistance to hot air or gas flow.	0–4
Radiant Heat	Measures resistance to heat radiated from flame or hot object.	0–4
Molten Metal – Small Drops	Resistance to splashes of small amounts of molten metal.	0–4
Molten Metal – Large Splashes	Resistance to splashes of larger amounts of molten metal.	0–4

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Thresholds for Each Test and Performance Level

Test Type	Level	Threshold / Criteria
Flammability	0	Ignites immediately or burns > 3 s
	1	Burns ≤ 3 s
	2	Burns ≤ 2 s
	3	Burns ≤ 1.5 s
	4	Burns ≤ 1 s
Contact Heat	0	≤ 60°C (time to pain < 15 s)
	1	100°C ≥ 15 s
	2	250°C ≥ 15 s
	3	350°C ≥ 15 s
	4	500°C ≥ 15 s
Convective Heat	0	< 2 s
	1	≥ 2 s
	2	≥ 7 s
	3	≥ 20 s
	4	≥ 50 s
Radiant Heat	0	< 10 s
	1	≥ 10 s
	2	≥ 15 s
	3	≥ 20 s
	4	≥ 40 s
Molten Metal – Small Drops	0	0 drops
	1	1–5 drops
	2	6–15 drops
	3	16–35 drops
	4	≥36 drops
Molten Metal – Large Splashes	0	< 15 g
	1	15–50 g
	2	51–100 g
	3	101–200 g
	4	>200 g

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Example of Marking

A glove meeting EN 407:2020 may be marked as: EN 407:2020 4 3 4 3 3 3

Position	Number	Meaning
1	4	Flammability – highest flame resistance
2	3	Contact Heat – can withstand 350°C for ≥15 s
3	4	Convective Heat – can withstand hot air ≥50 s
4	3	Radiant Heat – can withstand radiant heat ≥20 s
5	3	Molten Metal – Small Drops – tolerates 16–35 drops
6	3	Molten Metal – Large Splashes – tolerates 101–200 g

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Typical Applications

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What the Standard Covers

EN 511:2020 specifies requirements and test methods for gloves designed to protect against convective and contact cold, including gloves for wet or dry cold environments.

Gloves marked EN 511 reduce the risk of cold injuries, frostbite, and discomfort during work in low-temperature environments.

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Why It Matters When Choosing PPE

When you see EN 511 on a glove, it means:

✅ The glove has been tested for cold protection in standardized lab conditions
✅ You can compare gloves based on insulation and water resistance
✅ It helps ensure worker safety and compliance in cold industrial, outdoor, or refrigerated work environments

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Key Test Areas and Performance Levels

Test Type	Description	Performance Levels
Convective Cold Resistance	Measures thermal insulation against cold air.	0–4
Contact Cold Resistance	Measures thermal insulation when touching cold surfaces.	0–4
Water Penetration	Measures resistance to water penetration over time.	0–1

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Thresholds for Each Test and Performance Level

Test Type	Level	Threshold / Criteria
Convective Cold	0	<0.10 m²·K/W (lowest insulation)
	1	0.10–0.19 m²·K/W
	2	0.20–0.29 m²·K/W
	3	0.30–0.39 m²·K/W
	4	≥0.40 m²·K/W (highest insulation)
Contact Cold	0	<5°C temperature rise after 30 s
	1	5–9°C temperature rise
	2	10–14°C temperature rise
	3	15–19°C temperature rise
	4	≥20°C temperature rise (best insulation)
Water Penetration	0	Glove allows water penetration within 30 min
	1	No water penetration after 30 min

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Example of Marking

A glove tested to EN 511 may be marked as: EN 511:2020: 3 4 1

Position	Number	Meaning
1	3	Convective Cold – good insulation against cold air
2	4	Contact Cold – highest protection when touching cold surfaces
3	1	Water Penetration – fully resistant to water for 30 minutes

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Typical Applications