Protective gloves are one of the essential pieces of equipment used to protect workers. To assess a glove’s protective performance and safety level, it is important to refer to the applicable protective glove standards. Let’s explore these standards in detail with Thien Bang.
International Protective Glove Standards You Should Know
Currently, protective gloves are manufactured and evaluated according to various standards, depending on the region and the type of hazard they are designed to protect against. Below are some of the widely recognized standards applied in different countries.
European Protective Glove Standards (EN)
EN 420 – General Requirements for Protective Gloves
EN 420 is an international standard covering general requirements for protective gloves, including size, flexibility, durability, sweat absorption and permeability, moisture, and softness.
The standard also addresses requirements for glove materials, including the elasticity and flexibility of materials such as rubber, nitrile, neoprene, polyurethane, and vinyl.
Compliance with EN 420 helps manufacturers ensure the quality and safety of protective gloves, allowing users to work more safely and effectively in occupational environments.
EN 388 – Protection Against Mechanical Risks
EN 388 is a standard used to evaluate the ability of protective gloves to protect against mechanical risks such as abrasion, cuts, tears, punctures, and impacts. It is an important standard for gloves used in work environments where there is a risk of hand injuries.
The tests under EN 388 include:
- Abrasion resistance: Measures the durability of gloves when exposed to friction against rough surfaces. It is rated from 1 to 4, with 4 representing the highest level of protection.
- Cut resistance: Evaluates the glove’s ability to withstand cutting forces from sharp objects such as knives and scissors. The traditional cut test is rated from 1 to 5.
- Tear resistance: Evaluates the ability of glove materials to withstand pulling and tearing forces, rated from 1 to 4.
- Puncture resistance: Evaluates the glove’s resistance to penetration by sharp objects such as needles and nails, rated from 1 to 4.
In addition to the existing ratings, EN 388 was updated in 2016 to include a cut resistance test based on ISO 13997. From November 2016, the standard was updated to EN 388:2016, introducing two important criteria:
- TDM ISO 13997 test: Uses a cutting blade with progressively increasing force to determine the force required to cut through the glove material. Results are measured in Newtons (N) and classified from A to F, with F representing the highest cut resistance level.
- Impact protection: Gloves that meet the impact protection requirement are marked with the letter “P” on the label. If this symbol is absent, the glove has not been rated as meeting the impact protection requirement.
EN 374 – Protective Gloves Against Chemicals and Microorganisms
EN 374 specifies the requirements and protection levels for gloves used when handling hazardous chemicals and microorganisms. Depending on chemical resistance and breakthrough time, gloves are classified into three types:
- Type A: Resistant to at least 6 chemicals, with a protection time of ≥ 30 minutes.
- Type B: Resistant to at least 3 chemicals, with a protection time of ≥ 30 minutes.
- Type C: Resistant to at least 1 chemical, with a protection time of ≥ 10 minutes.
EN 407 – Protective Gloves Against Thermal Risks
EN 407 evaluates the protection provided by gloves when working with heat, flames, molten metal, and thermal radiation. Protection levels are classified from 1 to 4, with higher levels indicating greater thermal resistance.
The main criteria include:
- Resistance to flammability: Evaluates the glove’s ability to limit flame propagation after exposure to an ignition source.
- Contact heat resistance: Gloves are tested at 100°C, 250°C, 350°C, and 500°C to evaluate how long they can maintain protection when in direct contact with a hot surface.
- Convective heat resistance: Evaluates the glove’s ability to limit heat transfer through hot air, with protection levels from 1 to 4 based on heat transfer time.
- Radiant heat resistance: Evaluates protection against radiant heat, commonly encountered near furnaces, metalworking operations, or intense heat sources.
- Resistance to small splashes of molten metal: Measures the number of molten metal droplets the glove can withstand before heat reaches the inner side. Test levels range from 5 to 35 droplets.
- Resistance to large quantities of molten metal: Evaluates protection against larger amounts of molten metal, with test quantities ranging from 30 to 200 g, depending on the protection level.
EN 511 – Protective Gloves Against Cold
EN 511 is a European standard for protective gloves used in cold environments. It evaluates the glove’s ability to protect hands from low temperatures and helps reduce the risk of frostbite and heat loss.
EN 511 evaluates three main criteria:
- Resistance to convective cold: Evaluates the glove’s thermal insulation when exposed to cold air. It is classified from 0 to 4, with a higher level indicating better insulation.
- Resistance to contact cold: Evaluates the glove’s ability to retain warmth when it comes into direct contact with a cold surface. It is classified from 0 to 4.
- Water resistance: Evaluates the glove’s ability to prevent water from penetrating the inside, rated 0 – not water-resistant or 1 – water-resistant.
American Protective Glove Standards (ANSI/ISEA)
ANSI/ISEA 105 – Industrial Protective Glove Standard
ANSI/ISEA 105 evaluates several protective properties of industrial gloves, including cut, abrasion, puncture, and chemical resistance. Protection levels vary depending on the specific test, helping users select gloves according to the hazards involved.
- Cut resistance: Classified from A1 to A9, with A9 representing the highest cut resistance level.
- Abrasion resistance: Classified from 0 to 6, based on the number of abrasion cycles the material can withstand.
- Puncture resistance: Classified from 0 to 5, based on the force required to penetrate the glove material.
- Chemical resistance: Evaluates resistance to specific chemicals based on breakthrough time and material degradation.
ANSI/ISEA 138 – Impact-Resistant Protective Gloves
ANSI/ISEA 138 evaluates the ability of gloves to protect the back of the hand and fingers against impact forces. Gloves are classified into three protection levels based on the force transmitted through the protective material:
- Level 1: Average transmitted force ≤ 9 kN.
- Level 2: Average transmitted force ≤ 6.5 kN.
- Level 3: Average transmitted force ≤ 4 kN.
Level 3 provides the highest impact protection under ANSI/ISEA 138.
Canadian Protective Glove Standards (CSA)
CSA Z96: A standard for protective gloves against mechanical hazards, similar to EN 388, but using testing methods specific to Canada.
Australian/New Zealand Protective Glove Standards (AS/NZS)
AS/NZS 2161: A standard for protective gloves against mechanical hazards, based on EN 388 with additional requirements for testing, performance, and labeling.
Vietnamese Protective Glove Standards
In Vietnam, protective gloves are assessed according to various Vietnamese Standards (TCVN), some of which are developed based on corresponding international ISO standards. Notable standards include:
TCVN 8838-2:2011 (ISO 13999-2:2003) – Protective Gloves Against Cuts
Specifies requirements for gloves designed to protect hands from knives, cutting blades, and sharp objects, making them suitable for applications such as food processing and mechanical work.
TCVN 12326-4:2025 (ISO 374-4:2019) – Protective Gloves Against Dangerous Chemicals and Microorganisms
Provides a method for determining the degradation of glove materials when exposed to chemicals, helping assess whether the glove can maintain its protective properties.
TCVN 14267:2025 (ISO 23388:2018) – Protective Gloves Against Mechanical Risks
Evaluates the ability of gloves to protect hands against mechanical hazards during work, including abrasion, cutting, tearing, and puncture.
Conclusion
This article has summarized the key protective glove standards applied in different countries. Understanding these standards can help you select the right gloves, avoid choosing unsuitable products, and reduce the risk of non-compliance with occupational safety requirements.
Thien Bang has more than 16 years of experience in supplying occupational safety products and is recognized as a reputable provider of protective equipment in Vietnam. In particular, Thien Bang offers a wide range of high-quality protective gloves to meet different working conditions and user requirements.
Contact Thien Bang today for product consultation, quotations, and preferential policies.
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- Northern Vietnam: 0981.056.066 – 0961.203.270
- Southern Vietnam: 0966.831.477 – 0986.720.134