Glove Protection Standards and Rating Guide

Protective glove symbols represent certified performance standards. These ratings indicate the level of protection a glove provides against specific workplace hazards.

Understanding them helps ensure the correct glove is selected for the task, improving safety, compliance and operational efficiency.

Cut Resistance (Mechanical Risks)
EN388 & ANSI

EN 388 measures protection against mechanical risks such as abrasion, blade cut, tear, puncture and impact.

A typical EN 388 rating appears as a series of numbers and letters, for example: 1101XX.

Each character represents performance in a specific category:

^{A rating of 1101XX indicates basic resistance to abrasion and blade cuts, minimal tear protection and basic puncture resistance. TDM cut resistance and impact protection were not tested.}

1	Abrasion (1–4)	Resistance to surface wear
1	Blade Cut – Coup Test (1–5)	Resistance to repeated blade contact
0	Tear (1–4)	Force required to tear the material
1	Puncture (1–4)	Resistance to sharp object penetration
X	TDM Cut (A–F)	Resistance to a straight blade under pressure
X	Impact (P or blank)	Certified impact protection (pass/fail)

Higher numbers and letters indicate greater protection. X means the test was not conducted.

Practical Guide:

Cut Level A / 1 – General handling and low-risk tasks
Cut Level C / 3 – Sheet metal and moderate cut risk
Cut Level E / 5 – Glass handling and high cut environments

If cut hazards are present, always prioritise the TDM rating (A–F) as it provides more consistent results under higher force.

For higher cut risk tasks, view our range of Cut Resistant Gloves certified to EN 388 standards.

Chemical Resistance
EN374-1

EN ISO 374-1 indicates resistance to hazardous chemicals.

Gloves are classified into three types based on the number of chemicals tested and breakthrough time.

^{A Type A rating with letter codes JKL indicates resistance to Sodium Hydroxide, n-Heptane and Sulphuric Acid for at least 30 minutes}

Type A	Type A	Protects against at least six chemicals for at least 30 minutes
	Type B	Protects against at least three chemicals for at least 30 minutes
	Type C	Protects against at least one chemical for at least 10 minutes
JKLOPT	Letter Codes	Each letter (A–T) identifies a tested chemical group.

Always confirm the letter codes align with the chemicals listed in your Safety Data Sheet, as resistance can vary depending on concentration, temperature and exposure time.

EN ISO 374 Reference Chemicals

Under EN ISO 374-1, gloves are tested against 18 standard reference chemicals. Each chemical is assigned a letter code (A–T).

Common examples include:

Code	Chemical Name
A	Methanol
B	Acetone
C	Acetonitrile
D	Dichloromethane
E	Carbon Disulphide
F	Toluene
G	Diethylamine
H	Tetrahydrofuran
I	Ethyl Acetate
J	n-Heptane
K	Sodium Hydroxide (40%)
L	Sulphuric Acid (96%)

Always Verify Chemical Compatibility

Chemical resistance varies depending on concentration, temperature, exposure time and whether contact is splash or immersion.

Before selecting a glove, confirm the letter codes shown align with the chemicals listed in your Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

If uncertain, seek technical advice to ensure appropriate protection is specified.

For chemical handling applications, explore our Chemical Resistant Gloves tested to EN ISO 374 standards.

Bacteria, Fungi and Virus Resistance
EN374-5

This standard confirms the glove has passed penetration testing for microorganisms.

Certification ensures:

No air or water leakage through seams or pores
Resistance to bacteria and fungi
Optional virus protection (if marked accordingly)
Suitable for hygiene-critical and food production environments where contamination control is essential.

Heat and Thermal Resistance
EN407

EN 407 measures resistance to heat-related risks including flame exposure and molten metal splashes.

A typical rating appears as six digits, for example: 422241.

Each digit (1–4) represents performance in:

^{A rating of 422241 indicates strong flame resistance and protection against small molten metal splashes, with moderate heat protection and limited resistance to large splashes.}

4	Flammability	Duration the glove resists catching fire or burning.
2	Contact Heat	Maximum surface temperature the glove can endure for 15 seconds without melting or holing.
2	Convective Heat	Insulation against hot air or steam.
2	Radiant Heat	Resistance to radiant or infrared heat sources, such as ovens or furnaces.
4	Small Drops of Molten Metal	Protection against splashes of small molten metal particles.
1	Large Drops of Molten Metal	Protection against splashes of molten iron or aluminium.

Higher scores indicate stronger resistance.

For temperature-controlled or extreme environments, view our H eat and Cold Resistant Gloves.