EUROPEAN LEGAL STANDARDS FOR GLOVES
- EN 420: 2004
It’s a general requirement for manufacturing most type of protective gloves and correct use of PPE. It includes the general construction of Gloves, Ergonomics, Dexterity, Sizing, Product marking, Packaging information & Fluid & Electrostatic properties.
- EN 388:2003 GLOVES FOR MECHANICAL RISKS
It is a European standard required for evaluating mechanical risks and hazards for hand protection.A glove must be EN 388 certified if to be sold in Europe. To pass this standard four tests are adopted as under.
Performance level
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
Abrasion resistance (Cycles)
|
100
|
500
|
2000
|
8000
|
X
|
Blade cut resistance (Index)
|
1.2
|
2.5
|
5.0
|
10.0
|
20.0
|
Tear resistance (Newton)
|
10
|
25
|
50
|
75
|
X
|
Puncture resistance (Newton)
|
20
|
60
|
100
|
150
|
X
|
- The “X” indicates the test has not been performed.
- 3. EN 388: 2016 GLOVES FOR MECHANICAL RISKS.
As compared to that of EN388:2003 the following amendments are made compulsory:
- 1. Abrasion Resistance:
Klingspor PL31B & grain 180 Model tests are made compulsory which are different as prescribed in 2003 (grit100) for measuring higher abrasive capacity.
- 2. Cut Resistance:ISO 13997 International Cut Resistance Standard
The new update of EN 388:2003 standard has added another test method and made compulsory to measure cut resistance using ISO 13997 standard which uses TDM-100(Tomdynamometer) machine. This test is performed in addition to EN388:2003 test. To avoid confusion with numerical levels of EN 388:2003, the result is indicated from alphabetical letters A to Fas below
Performance Level
|
A
|
B
|
C
|
D
|
E
|
F
|
Load applied (Newton)
|
2
|
5
|
10
|
15
|
22
|
30
|
The ISO 13997 standard ensures more realistic results as that of EN388:2003 test though the “Coup” test of EN 388:2003 will still be used and the results will be shown for level (1-5) and the results remain conform to the CE certifications.
- EN 12477: PROTECTIVE WELDING GLOVES.
It is the European standard required for manufacturing protective gloves for welding purpose. EN 12477 describes the test methods applied for protective gloves used for metal welding, metal cutting, contact with small or large splashes of molten metal, contact with flames, contractive & contact heat or UV radiation from arc welding and other similar processes. These gloves are designed to protect the hand and the forearm of workers at workstation. Based on their performance, protective gloves are classified into two classes.
Class A Gloves: These Protective gloves are used in workstations where high level mechanical or heat protection is required with low level of dexterity.
Class B Gloves: These gloves are used in welding procedures where low level of mechanical or heat protection is required but the dexterity level is high.
- 5. EN 407:2004 HEAT PROTECTION GLOVES.
This European standard is used to calculate the levels against thermal / Fire Hazard. To attain these standard following tests are performed.
- 1. Burning Behavior Test(After Flame and Glow Time)
In this test the ignition time and how long the material glow or burns after it catches fire is measured. This also measures the time taken by material to extinguish after being vertically ignited using four performance levels. In case, after 15 seconds of ignition if the seam comes apart, the gloves fails the test.
|
Performance Level
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
After Flame Time (Seconds)
|
<20
|
<10
|
<3
|
<2
|
After Glow Time (Seconds)
|
X
|
<120
|
<25
|
<5
|
- 2. CONTACT HEAT
This test is performed for determination of Thermal protection against contact heat by placing the sample glove on a pre heated probe with a temperature increasebetween 100 to 500 degree Celsius to measure the rise of temperature inside the glove from the beginning time.The temperature is recorded for at least 15 seconds. The glove must withstand for increasing temperature of maximum 10 degree Celsius for an approval.
Performance level
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
100
|
250
|
350
|
500
|
- 3. CONVECTIVE HEAT
Convective heat measures that how long it takes to increase the temperature inside the glove from the top of the cuff to the back of hand and palm when placed against heat.
- 4. RADIENT HEAT
This measures the average time permeation time taken by the back of the hand to transfer heat inside the gloves when exposed to a defined heat source. This test ensures that the glove material can resist the heat transfer for a designated time period.
- 5. SMALL MOLTEN METAL SPLASHES
This test is based on the number of droplets required to heat the gloves samples to a required level from the back to the palm of the gloves. This test is performed in a closed chamber by dropping the molten splashes of metal to increase the temperature of 40 degree Celsius inside the gloves and the lowest mean number of four tests is recorded.
- 6. LARGE SPLASHES OF MOLTEN METAL
This test determines the thermal resistance of sample against the large quantity of molten splashes by placing a PVC foil above the sample. The molten splashes are poured over the sample to check the quantity of splashes required to damage the simulated skin. If the splashes remain stuck, ignite or punctures the glove then the sample will score 0 and the test is considered fail.
Performance level
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
A
|
Burning Behavior
|
After Fame Time (Seconds)
|
<20
|
<10
|
<3
|
<2
|
After Glow Time (Seconds)
|
x
|
<120
|
<25
|
<5
|
B
|
Contact Heat (Threshold Time) (Temp/ Seconds)
|
100
|
250
|
350
|
500
|
|
>15
|
>15
|
>15
|
>15
|
C
|
Convective Heat (Heat Transfer Time in Seconds)
|
>4
|
>7
|
>10
|
>18
|
D
|
Radiant Heat (Transfer Time) (Seconds)
|
>7
|
>20
|
>50
|
>95
|
E
|
Small drops of molten metal (no. of Drops)
|
>10
|
>15
|
>25
|
>35
|
F
|
Larger drops of molten Metal (Grams)
|
30
|
60
|
120
|
200
|
- 7. EN511: COLD PROTECTION GLOVES
In cold it is extra important to protect hands from cold burn. According to EN 511 standard the are typically designed to protect hands against convective and contact cold up to -50 degree Celsius. This standard mainly is mainly conducted to find the convective cold resistance, contact cold resistance and water permeability of the gloves.
Performance levels
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
Convective cold
|
L<0.10
|
0.10
|
0.15
|
0.22
|
0.30
|
Contact cold
|
R<0.025
|
0.025
|
0.050
|
0.100
|
0.150
|
Waterproofing
|
Fail
|
Pass
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
