Know Your Gloves
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Understanding NEW EN388 Mechanical Standards.
The EN388 testing procedure for gloves, measures performance against different mechanical hazards.
ABRASION RESISTANCE (A):
Ability of the glove material, to withstand contact from an abrasive spinning disc. This test measures protection against abrasive surfaces, as well as demonstrates the durability and longevity of the glove. RATINGS 1-4.
COUP CUT RESISTANCE (C):
Ability of the glove material, to withstand a cutting wheel slicing through after a number of cycles. This test measures the cut resistance of the glove material, which relates to the level of protection provided by the glove. RATINGS 1-5.
TEAR RESISTANCE (T):
Ability of the glove material, to withstand force required to break the glove in a stretch test. This test measures the strength of the glove under stress, of which higher levels can sometimes become a hazard if caught in machinery. RATINGS 1-4.
PUNCTURE RESISTANCE (P):
Ability of the glove material, to withstand force from a sharp probe to break through. This test measures protection against puncture hazards, acting as a barrier of resistance against injury. RATINGS 1-4.
Due to the ability of cut-resistant materials to dull the blade during the Coup Cut test, in 2016, the EN388:2016 Mechanical Risks Standard for gloves was redesigned to include additional tests for cut and impact resistance:
ISO CUT RESISTANCE (S):
Ability of the glove material, to withstand a single motion cutting blade slicing through under force. This test also measures the cut resistance of the glove material, without being impacted by the dulling blade effect of the Coup Cut test. This additional test also relates to the level of protection provided by the glove. RATINGS A-F.
IMPACT RESISTANCE (I):
This option test relates to gloves with additional protective properties on the palm, back of hand, or across the knuckles. It is a flat Pass (P) or Fail (F) test method that determines if sufficient force is prevented from travelling through the glove. RATINGS P or F.
The ISO Cut test and Coup Cut test are quite different in the way they are administered. They are both applied using different methods and as a result are not directly linked. Therefore, a result from either test does not automatically qualify a result in the other, however below is a rough guide:
