EN/EU STANDARDS
Learn about EN Standards to ensure your gear meets the highest safety and performance benchmarks.
CE Standards
The CE (Conformité Européene) standard is a set of regulations and requirements that govern the safety and performance of various products, including working gloves, within the European Union. The CE marking on a product indicates that it complies with the essential health, safety, and environmental protection standards defined by EU legislation.
For working gloves, the CE standard ensures that they meet specific criteria related to factors such as protection against mechanical risks (e.g., cuts, punctures), resistance to chemicals and microorganisms, thermal insulation, and ergonomics. Gloves that meet the CE standard have undergone rigorous testing and evaluation to demonstrate their compliance with these requirements.
By adhering to the CE standard, manufacturers ensure that their working gloves provide a certain level of protection and performance, giving users confidence in their safety and reliability. It is important to look for the CE marking when selecting working gloves, as it signifies that the product has been tested and meets the necessary standards for use in various industries and work environments.
EN388
EN 388 is a European standard that specifically focuses on the mechanical protection provided by working gloves. It assesses the gloves’ performance and resistance against various mechanical risks such as abrasion, cut, tear, and puncture.
The EN 388 standard assigns a numeric rating to gloves based on their performance in each of these categories. The higher the number, the greater the level of protection provided. For example, a glove with an EN 388 rating of 4543 signifies excellent resistance to abrasion (4), moderate resistance to cuts (5), good resistance to tear (4), and high resistance to puncture (3).
By using the EN 388 standard, employers, workers, and safety professionals can easily compare and select working gloves based on their specific mechanical protection needs. This standard ensures that gloves meet minimum requirements for different types of mechanical hazards, helping to reduce the risk of hand injuries in various industries and work activities.
It is important to note that while EN 388 focuses on mechanical protection, other standards may apply for gloves designed for specific hazards such as chemicals, heat, or electrical risks.
EN420
EN 420 is a European standard that sets out the general requirements for working gloves. It focuses on aspects such as ergonomics, sizing, comfort, and labeling of gloves to ensure their overall quality and safety.
The standard covers several key areas, including:
- Sizing and Fit: EN 420 provides guidelines for glove manufacturers to ensure that their products come in a range of sizes that fit properly. Proper sizing is essential for comfort, dexterity, and overall hand protection.
- pH Value and Allergenicity: The standard includes requirements for the pH value of glove materials to ensure they are non-irritating to the skin. It also addresses potential allergenic substances, such as latex, to minimize the risk of allergic reactions.
- Dexterity and Flexibility: EN 420 specifies criteria to assess the gloves’ dexterity and flexibility, considering factors such as finger movement and grip performance. This ensures that the gloves allow for proper hand movement and control.
- Marking and Information: The standard mandates that gloves must be properly labeled with essential information, including the manufacturer’s name, glove size, and any applicable warnings or instructions for use.
By conforming to the EN 420 standard, glove manufacturers ensure that their products meet these general requirements, promoting comfort, safety, and usability for the wearer. When choosing working gloves, it is advisable to check for the EN 420 marking to ensure they comply with these essential guidelines.
EN407
EN 407 is a European standard that focuses on the performance of gloves in protecting against thermal hazards. It assesses the gloves’ resistance to heat, fire, and other related risks. The standard assigns a specific rating to gloves in several key areas related to thermal protection.
The performance levels assessed in EN 407 include:
- Burning behavior: This measures the time it takes for a glove to ignite and continue to burn once exposed to a flame.
- Contact heat resistance: It evaluates the glove’s ability to withstand contact with heated surfaces and provides a rating based on the duration of heat resistance.
- Convective heat resistance: This assesses the glove’s ability to withstand heat transfer through convection, such as exposure to hot air or gases.
- Radiant heat resistance: It measures the glove’s ability to protect against radiant heat sources, such as intense heat radiation.
- Resistance to small splashes of molten metal: This assesses the glove’s resistance to small splashes of molten metal and assigns a rating based on the number of splashes it can withstand.
- Resistance to large splashes of molten metal: This evaluates the glove’s resistance to larger splashes of molten metal and provides a rating based on the number of splashes it can withstand.
By conforming to the EN 407 standard, glove manufacturers ensure that their products meet the necessary requirements for thermal protection. This helps users in industries such as welding, foundries, and other environments with thermal hazards to select gloves that provide the appropriate level of protection against heat and flames. When choosing gloves for thermal hazards, it is important to look for the EN 407 marking to ensure they comply with the relevant standards.
CUT LEVELS
Cut levels, often referred to as cut resistance levels, are a standardized system used to assess and classify the level of protection provided by gloves against cuts and lacerations. The cut level of a glove indicates its resistance to a defined cutting hazard, such as a sharp blade or edge.
The most commonly used cut resistance classification system is the EN 388 standard, which assigns gloves a rating from 1 to 5 based on their performance in a cut resistance test. The higher the number, the greater the level of cut protection provided by the glove.
Here is a general breakdown of the EN 388 cut levels:
- Cut Level 1: Provides the lowest level of cut resistance. Suitable for tasks with minimal cut hazards.
- Cut Level 2: Offers low to moderate cut resistance. Suitable for light-duty tasks involving some sharp objects.
- Cut Level 3: Provides moderate cut resistance. Suitable for medium-duty tasks involving sharp objects and materials.
- Cut Level 4: Offers high cut resistance. Suitable for heavy-duty tasks with significant cut hazards.
- Cut Level 5: Provides the highest level of cut resistance. Suitable for tasks involving highly sharp objects or materials.
It’s important to note that different standards or testing methods may use slightly different cut level systems. However, the higher the cut level, the greater the level of protection against cuts and lacerations. When selecting gloves for tasks involving cut hazards, it is essential to consider the appropriate cut level based on the specific risks and requirements of the task at hand.Cut levels, often referred to as cut resistance levels, are a standardized system used to assess and classify the level of protection provided by gloves against cuts and lacerations. The cut level of a glove indicates its resistance to a defined cutting hazard, such as a sharp blade or edge.
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