Our comprehensive portfolio of established solutions adheres to the updated ANSI/ISEA classification levels and the EN 388 standard, ensuring an AVES solution for every protection requirement.
HAND PROTECTION
UNDERSTANDING STANDARDS
ANSI
EN388
EN374
Understanding these standards is paramount, as they provide a globally recognized framework for evaluating the performance and protective capabilities of our equipment. By adhering to these classifications, we ensure our customers can confidently select the precise level of protection required for their specific applications.
ENSURING SAFETY: NAVIGATING THE EN388 STANDARD
These numbers show the score that your gloves have been given for each of the hazards tested.
You can identify an EN 388 rated glove by viewing the below symbol on the back of the gloves, in the packaging or in the conformity statement.
TESTS
Abrasion Resistance
Cut Resistance
Tear Strength
Puncture Resistance
TDM TEST
Impact Protection
PURPOSE & METHODS
The material is subjected to abrasion by a sandpaper under a determined pressure.
The protection level is indicated on a scale of 1 to 4 depending on the number of turns required until a hole appears in the material. The higher the number, the better its resistance to abrasion.
The cut protection is tested. A knife is passed over the material until it cuts through.
The protection level is given by a number between 1 and 5, where 5 indicates the highest cut protection.
The force required to tear the glove material apart is measured.
The protection level is indicated by a number between 1 and 4.
Based on the amount of force required to puncture the material with a tip.
Scale from 1 to 4.
A knife cuts with constant pressure using different weight loads; measures the force required for cut-through.
If the glove has impact protection, this is given by the letter P as the 6th and last digit.
If no, then nothing is shown.
CHOOSING SAFE GLOVES: AN OVERVIEW OF ANSI/ISEA STANDARDS
The ANSI/ISEA 105 standard, developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), provides a comprehensive framework for classifying and testing hand protection, such as gloves, based on their performance against various hazards.
This standard assists manufacturers and users in selecting appropriate gloves for specific workplace risks.
Measured using the ASTM F2992-15 test method with the TDM-100 machine, this classification assigns gloves a cut level from A1 to A9, indicating the weight in grams needed to cut through the material. Higher levels correspond to greater cut resistance.
Evaluated based on the number of cycles a glove can endure against an abrasive surface before wear-through occurs. Ratings range from Level 0 (less than 100 cycles) to Level 6 (over 20,000 cycles), with higher levels signifying enhanced durability.
Assessed by the force required to penetrate the glove material with a standard probe. Levels span from 0 to 5, with higher numbers indicating stronger resistance to punctures.
Gloves are tested for their ability to withstand ignition, burning behavior, and conductive heat resistance, ensuring protection against thermal hazards.
Cut Level
Puncture Level
Abrasion Level
Conductive Heat Resistance
PROTECTING AGAINST CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL HARZARDS: AN OVERVIEW OF EN 374
A European standard that specifies the requirements for gloves intended to protect the wearer from chemicals and/or micro-organisms. It’s a crucial standard for ensuring safety in various industries where exposure to hazardous substances is a risk.
Terminology and performance requirements for chemical risks
Permeation
Penetration
Degradation
This measures how long a chemical takes to pass through the glove material at a molecular level. Gloves are classified based on breakthrough times for a specific list of test chemicals. The standard defines different protection types (A, B, and C) based on the number of chemicals and the minimum breakthrough times achieved
This assesses the glove’s resistance to chemicals and micro-organisms passing through pores, seams, or other imperfections in the glove material. Gloves must pass an air and water leak test to meet this requirement.
This measures the change in the physical properties of the glove material after contact with a chemical. This can include swelling, cracking, softening, hardening, or changes in appearance. The degradation results must be reported in the user instructions.
This part specifies the requirements for gloves protecting against bacteria and fungi. If a glove also claims protection against viruses, it must undergo an additional test according to ISO 16604. Gloves that pass these tests are marked with a specific pictogram, and if they protect against viruses, the word “VIRUS” will be displayed under the pictogram.
