Guide For

EN Standard

EN standard for gloves

Keeping our hands safe is crucial for maintaining a productive and fulfilling life since they are vital tools we rely on. While some may overlook it, our hands are susceptible to various hazards like cuts, chemical burns, abrasion, crushing, and exposure to bio-hazards. This is where safety work gloves play a crucial role.

The EN standard for gloves encompasses a set of guidelines established by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). These guidelines are designed to ensure that gloves used across different industries, including healthcare, construction, manufacturing, and more, meet the necessary standards for quality, safety, and performance.

EN420 – General Requirement

Focusing on the general requirements and testing methods for glove design, construction, comfort, and labeling. It sets the baseline criteria that gloves must meet to ensure their overall quality and safety.

EN388 – Protection against mechanical

Focusing on the testing and classification of protective gloves against mechanical risks. It provides a standardized system for assessing and rating gloves’ performance in protecting against various mechanical hazards.

From left to right	Mechanical test	Performance rating
1	Abrasion test	1 to 4
2	Cut resistance (Coupe test)	1 to 5
3	Tear resistance	1 to 4
4	Puncture resistance	1 to 4
B	Cut resistance (TDM test EN ISO 13997)	A to F
P	Impact protection	P (Pass), F(Failed) , X(Does not tested)

EN374-5 Protection against micro-organisms

Focusing on the testing and certification of protective gloves against chemical and microorganism hazards. It specifically addresses the resistance of gloves to penetration by harmful chemicals and microorganisms.

Marking	Explanation of marking
	For glove offering protection against bacteria and fungi.
	For gloves protecting against bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Marking	Explanation of marking
	For glove offering protection against bacteria and fungi.
	For gloves protecting against bacteria, fungi and viruses.

EN374-1 Protection against chemical

Type of Gloves	Requirement	Marking
Type A	Breakthrough time ≥30 mins (level 2) against at least 6 type of chemicals.
Type B	Breakthrough time ≥30 mins (level 2) against at least 3 type of chemicals.
Type C	Breakthrough time ≥10 mins (level 1) against at least 1 type of chemicals.

Type of Gloves	Requirement	Marking
Type A	Breakthrough time ≥30 mins (level 2) against at least 6 type of chemicals.
Type B	Breakthrough time ≥30 mins (level 2) against at least 3 type of chemicals.
Type C	Breakthrough time ≥10 mins (level 1) against at least 1 type of chemicals.

List of test chemicals

Letter	Chemical	CAS	Classification
A	Methanol	67-56-1	Primary alcohol
B	Acetone	67-64-1	Ketone
C	Acetonitrile	75-05-8	Nitrile compound
D	Dichlormethane	75-09-2	Chlorinated hydrocarbon
E	Carbon disulphide	75-15-0	Sulphur containing organic compound
F	Toluene	108-88-3	Aromatic hydrocarbon
G	Diethylamine	109-89-7	Amine
H	Tetrahydrofuran	109-99-9	Heterocyclic ether compound
I	Ethylacetate	141-78-6	Ester
J	n-Heptane	142-82-5	Saturated hydrocarbon
K	Sodium hydroxide 40%	1310-73-2	Inorganic base
L	Sulphuric acid 96%	7664-93-9	Inorganic acid, oxidizing
M	Nitric acid 65%	7697-37-2	Inorganic mineral acid, oxidizing
N	Acetic acid 99%	64-19-7	Organic acid
O	Ammonia 25%	1336-21-6	Organic base
P	Hydrogen peroxide 30%	7722-84-1	Peroxide
S	Hydrofluoric acid 40%	7664-39-3	Inorganic mineral acid
T	Formaldehyde 37%	50-00-0	Aldehyde

Summary

It is important that to understand the each EN standard for gloves. Familiarizing yourself with the EN standard helps you assess and compare different gloves based on their quality, performance, and safety characteristics. You can make informed decisions and provide the best possible glove solutions, enhancing the value and reliability of your products for your customers.

For further information, please visit our blog where each standard has been covered in individual blog posts. Click on the topics you are interested in, such as EN388, EN374-5, and EN374-1, to explore more details on our blog and understand which gloves provide the best solution for your end users.