Protective glove regulations

 

This Regulation establishes the requirements as to the design and manufacture of the personal protective equipment which is to be marketed in order to guarantee the protection of users' health and safety and to establish the standards on the free circulation of PPE within the Union.

The new Regulation stresses the need for improving product traceability so as to facilitate the work of the market surveillance authorities.

It introduces a series of new responsibilities for manufacturers, importers, and distributors.

EU type certificates are issued for a maximum period of 5 years.

EC certificates will continue to be valid until 21st April 2023.

According to the risk they guard against and following the Regulation, personal protective equipment can be divided into three categories:

 

• Category I. Of simple design against minimal risks with gradual effects which may be perceived in time and without danger to the user. They can be manufactured without being subjected to an EU type examination (self-certification by the manufacturer or its agent). Marking: name, brand, and anagram of the manufacturer or its authorised representative, model, size, and EC Examples: gardening gloves, gloves giving protection against diluted detergent solutions

 

• Category II. Of intermediate design. They do not fulfil the conditions of the previous category and are not designed in the same way or for the risk magnitude of Category III. They are certificated by a Notified Body. Marking: name, brand, and anagram of the manufacturer or its authorised representative, model, size, and EC + harmonised standard(s) + pictogram(s) and performance levels. Example: gloves giving protection against mechanical hazards in industry in general.

 

• Category III. Of complex design. They afford limited protection over time against for example chemical attacks or ionising radiations; intervention equipment in hot environments (of 100º C or over) and equipment providing protection against electrical hazards. They are certified by a Notified Body and their manufacture is subject to the manufacturer's implementing an EC quality guarantee system under which it is obliged to add to the glove's marking the nº of the notified body carrying out the quality control. Examples: gloves of insulating material for electrical work, protective gloves for firefighters... 

This is a reference standard to be used with the specific standards on protective gloves; it cannot be applied in isolation to certify protective gloves.

It establishes the requirements for the production and designing of the gloves, innocuousness, the resistance of the materials to water penetration, comfort and efficiency, and the marking and information supplied by the manufacturer.

It is also applicable to gloves and arm protectors permanently joined to hermetic suits and also to mittens and muffs.

The performance levels are based on the results of laboratory tests, which do not necessarily reflect the actual conditions in the workplace.

Differentiated tests for the transmission of water vapour in leather gloves and textiles

 

Size	Circunference mm	Lenght mm
4	101	<160
5	127	<160
6	152	160
7	178	171
8	203	182
9	229	192
10	254	204
11	279	215
12	305	>215
13	329	>21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This standard is applied to all types of protective gloves designed to provide protection from mechanical hazards caused by abrasion, cutting by blades, perforation, tearing, and impact when applicable. This standard can also be applied to arm protectors other than gloves or clothing.

Gloves complying with the requirements for perforation resistance may not be suitable for protection against very sharp objects such as hypodermic needles. The tests will be carried out in the area of the palm with less protection.

When on carrying out the cutting test the glove blunts the blade it will be necessary to carry out the cutting test according to ISO 13997; this value will be the reference to take into account. This level will be indicated in the last performance value.

An impact protection test can be carried out on request. If the test is passed the letter P is added to the marking.

SIt specifies the test methods, general requirements, thermal protection performance levels, and marking for gloves affording protection against heat and/or fire. It must be used for all gloves which protect the hands from heat and/or flames in one or more of the following forms: 

. . . . . . . . .fire
 . . . . . . . . contact heat
 . . . . . . . . convective heat
 . . . . . . . . radiant heat
 . . . . . . . . Small splashes or large masses of molten metal

 

It is important to point out that product tests will determine only performance levels and not protection levels.

They must reach at least performance level 1 of resistance to tearing.

For contact heat performance levels 3 or 4 at least level 3 of reaction to the flame must be reached.

The performance level for convective and radiant heat and small splashes of molten metal must only occur if level 3 or 4 of reaction to the flame has been reached.

If the performance level of reaction to the flame is 1 or 2, it should be indicated that the glove must not come into contact with a naked flame

PERFORMANCE LEVELS			1	2	3	4
A	Inflammability	Post inflammation	≤20"	≤10"	≤3"	≤2"
		Post incandescence	Sin requis.	≤120"	≤25"	≤5"
B	Contact Heat	15 seconds to	100°C	250°C	350°C	500°C
C	Convective Heat	Heat transmission (HIT)	≥4"	≥7"	≥10"	≥18"
D	Radinat Heat	Heat transmission (t3	≥7"	≥20"	≥50"	≥95"
E	Small spatters of molten heat	N° of drops needed to obtain a temperature rise to 40°C	≥10"	≥15"	≥25"	≥35"
F	Large masses of molten metal	Grams of molten iron needed to cause a superficial burning	30	60	120	200

 

 

 

 

Levels of performance based on the lowest values of the results of the tests

Minimal mechanical resistance requirements (minimum level 1 -10N- for resistance to tearing - EN 388)

Greater length for protective gloves against metal splashes                                                              

 

HAND SIZE	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
MINIMUM GLOVE LENGHT	290	300	310	320	330	340	350	360	370

 

It defines the requirements and test methods for gloves affording protection against convective or conductive cold to a temperature of –50 ºC. This type of cold may be associated with climatic conditions or an industrial activity. The specific values of the various performance levels are determined in accordance with the demands of each hazard or special area of applicatio

 

WARNING: The product tests are carried out in order to determine performance levels and not to determine protection levels. The products are Category III PPE. There are Category III gloves but they are not covered by the standard.

The pictogram will only be awarded if Level 1 of resistance to convective cold or contact cold is obtained

This glove type must comply with at least Level 1 of resistance to abrasion and resistance to tearing of standard EN 388. For levels of resistance to convective cold and contact cold higher than 1 the gloves must reach at least Level 2 of resistance to abrasion and tearing in accordance with standard EN 388. If the opposite is true it will be allocated performance level 1.

 

UNE-EN 511:2006. HAZARDS DUE TO THE COLD
Performance Levels			1	2	3	4
A	Resistance to cold convective	Thermal Insulation  (ITR) en m2 °C/W	≥0,10	≥0,15	≥0,22	≥0,30
B	Resistance to contact cold	Thermal resistance (R) en m2 °C/W	≥0,025	≥0,050	≥0,100	≥0,150
C	Impermeability	Level 1: impermeable at least 30'

 

Protective gloves for welders protect the hands and wrists during the processes of welding and related tasks. These are Category II gloves.

Protective gloves for welders give protection against small drops of molten metal, short-duration exposure to a limited flame, convective heat, contact heat, and the UV radiation emitted by the arc. In addition, they provide protection against mechanical attacks.

 

Protective gloves for welders can be divided into 2 types:

•  Type A : Less skill and better performance (recommended for MIG welding).).

•  Type B : More skill and less performance (recommended for TIG welding).

 

 

	CONDITIONS MINIMALES
PROPERTY	Nº RULE	TYPE A	TYPE B
Abrasion resistance	EN 388	2 (500 cycles)	1 (100 cycles)
Blade cut resistancet	EN 388	1 (index 1,2)	1 (index1,2)
Tear resistance	EN 388	2 (25 N)	1 (10 N)
Puncture resistance	EN 388	2 (60 N)	1(20 N)
Fire behaviour	EN 407	3	2
Contact heat resistance	EN 407	1 (T4 contact 100ºC)	1 (T4 contact 100ºC)
Convective heat resistance	EN 407	2 (HTI ≥ 7)	-
Resistance to small splashes of molten metal	EN 407	3 (25 drops)	2 (15 drops)
Dexterity	EN 420	1 (diameter >11 mm)	4 (diameter >6,5 mm)

 

 

SIZE	MINIMUM GLOVE LENGTH (MM)
6	300
7	310
8	320
9	330
10	340
11	350

 

 

 

This standard establishes the requirements for gloves intended to protect the user against chemical products and/or microorganisms and is divided into the following parts:

 

ISO EN 374-1:2016:	Terminology and necessary requirements for chemical hazards.
EN 374-2:2014	Determination of the resistance to penetration.
EN 16523-1:2015	(Replaces Standard 374-3). Determination of resistance to the permeation of chemical products in continuous contact
EN 374-4:2013	Determination of the resistance to degradation by chemical products.
ISO EN 374-5:2016	Terminology and necessary requirements for hazards from microorganisms.

 

All gloves are from Category III and can be divided into three types:

 

Les Protective gloves against viruses, bacteria, and funguses must have no leaks and will bear the microorganism pictogram.

Protective gloves against viruses are tested according to ISO 16604 and will bear the word VIRUS in the pictogram.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PERMEABILITY RESISTANCE LEVELS*

MEasured penetration time	Performance levels
> 10	Category 1
> 30	Category 2
> 60	Category3
> 120	Category 4
> 240	Category 5
> 480	Category 6

** Time it takes a chemical to penetrate the glove

 

 

LIST OF CHEMICAL PRODUCTS

CODE	Chemical product	Nº CAS	Class
A	Methanol	67-56-1	Primary alcohol
B	Acetona	67-64-1	Ketone
C	Acetonitrilo	75-05-8	Organic compound containing nitrile groups
D	Dichlorometane	75-09-2	Chloriated paraffin
E	Carbon disulfide	75-15-0	Organic comppund containing sulphuru
F	Toluen	108-88-3	Aromatci hydrcarbon
G	Diethylamine	109-89-7	Amine
H	Tetrahydrofuran	109-99-9	Heterecycic Compound and Ether
I	Ethyl acetate	141-78-6	Ester
J	n-Heptano	142-85-5	Aromatic hydrocarbon
K	Sodium hydroxide 40 %	1310-732	Inorganic base
L	Sulphuric acid 96 %	7664-93-9	Inorganic mineral acid
M	Nitric acid 65 %	7697-37-2	Inorganic mineral acid, oxidant
N	Acetic acid 99 %	64-19-7	Organic acid
O	Ammonium hydroxide 25 %	1332-21-6	Organic base
P	Hydrogen peroxide 30 %	7722-84-1	Peroxyde
S	Hydrofluoridic acid 40 %	7664-39-3	Inorganic mineral acid
T	Formaldehyde 37 %	50-00-0	Aldehyde

 

Gloves designed for providing protection against the risks which may arise owing to the use of hand-operated chainsaws.

Currently all chainsaws have been designed for right-handed users and therefore all the designs and requirements of protective clothing are conceived assuming that they will be used with the right hand. The protection may not be suitable for left-handed users. They are Category III PPE.

No personal protective equipment can guarantee 100% protection against cutting by hand-operated chainsaws. It is however possible to design personal protective equipment which provides a certain degree of protection by applying various functional principles including the following:

 

•  Slipping of the chain

On contact with the chain the latter does not cut the material.

 

•  Entrapment 

The chain drags the fibres of the material as far as the driving opinion and blocks the movement of the chain.

 

•  Braking of the chain

The fibres of the material are highly resistant to cutting and absorb rotational energy so as to check the speed of the chain.

 

Generally more than one principle can be applied.

 

This standard defines two glove designs (A and B) according to the different protective areas they cover. In accordance with this we have: (tables)

 

EN 381-7:1999. CUTTING BY CHAIN SAW
Class 0	16 m/s
Class 1	20 m/s
Class 2	24 m/s
Class 3	28 m/s

 

 

EN 381-7:1999. CUTTING BY CHAIN SAW
MINIMUM PROTECTION LEVELS AGAINST MECHANICAL RISKS (UNE-EN 388)
Abrasion	2
Blade cut	1
Tear	2
Puncture	2

Gloves and mittens of insulated material will be classified according to their type and their special properties as indicated in the following tables. All gloves are Category III.

 

UNE-EN 60903. ELECTRICAL RISKS
Class	Operating Voltage(Kv)	Minimum withstand voltage (Kv)	Test voltage (Kv)
00	0,5	5	2,5
0	1	10	5
1	7,5	20	10
2	17	30	20
3	26,5	40	30
4	36	50	40

 

 

UNE-EN 60903. ELECTRICAL RISKS
CLASSIFICATION BY SPECIAL PROPERTIES
Category	Resistance
A	Acid
H	Oil
Z	Ozone
R	Acid, Oil, Ozone, Mechanical (highest level)
C	At very low temperatures

Standard EN 421:2010 specifies the requirements and test methods for gloves affording protection against ionising radiation and radioactive contamination. This standard is applicable to gloves which protect the hands and various parts of the arms and shoulders. It is also applied to the gloves permanently placed in confinement enclosures. They are Category III PPE.

Efficiency of attenuation and uniformity of the distribution of the protective material

The efficiency of the material of the gloves in absorbing radiation is normally expressed as the equivalent thickness of lead. In the case of gloves subject to this standard the following equivalent thicknesses of lead are specified (in mm): 0; 0.05; 0.1; 0.15; 0.2; 0.25; 0.3; 0.35; 0.4; 0.45; and 0.5.

The equivalent thickness of lead must be measured. According to an agreement between the manufacturer and the user, gloves can
be manufactured with other equivalent thicknesses of lead.

This standard fulfils the requirements for gloves worn in areas where flammable or explosive zones exist or where these may arise.

It specifies the test methods for gloves with electrostatic dissipation so as to minimise the risk of explosion. The use of quick opening and closing systems such as Velcro is not permitted.

Samples are taken of 10x10 cm from the palm of the hand. If there are separate layers they will be tested as a whole. If the glove consists of different materials all of them will be tested. The test procedure is that of standard EN 1149-2: 1997. The electrostatic properties will be determined by measuring the vertical electrical resistance of the materials. The results are expressed in Ohms. 

 

Metallic mesh gloves and arm protectors, whether of plastic, metal, or other materials, affording some degree of protection from pricks are used in those types of work in which knives are moved towards the hands and arms of users. They are particularly suitable for work with manual knives in butchers' shops, in industries processing meat, fish, or shellfish, in large restaurants, and in the deboning of meat, game, or poultry.

 

It may also give suitable protection to those who work with manual knives in the industries of plastics, leather, textiles, and paper when they are fitting floors or carrying out similar tasks.

 

They are Category II PPE

This European standard has been created as a response to the growing demand for protecting people from the risk of damage from the vibrations caused by hand or arm exposure.

This European standard specifies a method of measuring in the laboratory, the analysis of the data, and the report on the transferability of the vibration through the gloves in terms of the transmission of the vibration from a handle to the palm of the
hand in a frequency range of 31.5 Hz to 1.250 Hz. The measurement does not include the vibration transferred to the fingers.

They are Category II gloves.

 

With the aim of ensuring safe consumption, the legislation seeks to prevent the migration of the substances present in the materials to the food and the consequent risk to human health.

 

EC Regulation No. 1935/2004 

ON MATERIALS AND OBJECTS DESIGNED TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH FOOD

The materials must not lose their components in amounts which could be dangerous to human health.

 

EC Regulation No. 2023/2006 

ON GOOD PRACTICES OF THE MANUFACTURING OFMATERIALS AND OBJECTS DESIGNED TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH FOOD

 

REGULATION 10/2011            

PLASTIC MATERIALS DESIGNED TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH FOOD

The minimum for total migration is established at: 60 mg/Kg. The migration depends on::

 

LIST OF FOOD SIMULANTS
Ethanol 10 % (v/v)	Watery foods	Food simulant A
Acetic acid 3 % (w/v)	pH<4.5 acid foods	Food simulan B
Ethanol 20 % (v/v)	≤20% alcoholic foods and foods with a certain lipophilic nature	Food simulan C
Ethanol 50 % (v/v)	>20% alcoholic foods and fatty emulsions in water dairy products	Food simulan D1
Vegetable oil(*)	Foods with surface free fat	Food simulan D2
Poly (2.6-diphenyl-p-phenylene oxide) (Tenax) - 60-80 mesh particle size, 200 mm pore size	Dry foods (only ME))	Food simulan E

 

These gloves are not intended for deliberate handling of liquid chemicals but provide some protection against accidental contact with chemicals.

Protective gloves for special firefighting operations are excluded from the scope of Standard EN 659:2008. Firefighter gloves are a PPE category III.

 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
ABRASION RESISTANCE	Minimum 2000 cycles (level 3)
CUT RESISTANCE	Minimum 2.5 (level 2)
TEAR RESISTANCE	Minimum 50 N (level 3)
PUNCTURE RESISTANCE	Minimum 100 N (level 3)
FLAME RESISTANCE	post-combustion ≤ 2 s post-incandescence ≤ 5 s (level 4) Material does not drip Seams do not open
CONVECTIVE HEAT RESISTANCE	HTI24 ≥ 13 s (level 3)
RADIANT HEAT RESISTANCE	Heat irradiation time > 20 s
CONTACT HEAT RESISTANCE	at 250°C ≥ 10 s
LINING MATERIAL HEAT RESISTANCE(optional)	At a minimum of 180°C: does not melt - does not drip or burn
HEAT SHRINKAGE	At 180°C > 5%
DEXTERITY	Minimum level 1 (11 mm rod)
SEAM BREAKING STRENGTH	> -350 N
GLOVE REMOVAL TIM	< 3 s
WATER PENETRATION RESISTANCE (optional)	Levels 1 to 4 depending on the time it takes for water to penetrate the glove
CHEMICAL PENETRATION RESISTANCE (H2SO4) = 30% Sulfuric Acid (NaOH) = 40% Sodium Hydroxide (HCl) = 36% Hydrochloric Acid Heptane	Does not penetrate

 

 

Minimum length of firefighter protective gloves:

 

SIZE	6	7	8	9	10	11
MINIMUM GLOVE LENGTH (MM)	260	270	280	290	305	315

 

Motorcycle gloves are intended to provide protection against environmental conditions without reducing the user's ability to operate the motorcycle's controls and switches. Additionally, they are designed to offer mechanical protection to the hands and wrists in the event of an accident.

 

 

 

 

CUFF LENGTH	≥ 1.5 cm	≥ 5 cm
IMPACT ABRASION RESISTANCE (palm / all layers)	Single abrasion time ≥ 3 s. Average abrasion time ≥ 4 s	Single abrasion time ≥ 6 s. Single abrasion time ≥ 8 s.
IMPACT RESISTANCE	Optional protectors < 9 kN	Optional protectors < 9 kN
TEAR RESISTANCE	Palm and palm fingers ≥ 25 N Cuff, back, and back fingers ≥ 18 N Gussets ≥ 18 N	Palm and palm fingers ≥ 35 N Cuff, back, and back fingers ≥ 30 N Gussets ≥ 25 N
SEAM TENSILE STRENGTH	Main seams ≥ 6 N/mm Gussets ≥ 4 N/mm	Main seams ≥ 10 N/mm Gussets ≥ 7 N/mm
FASTENING SYSTEM STRENGTH	≥ 25 N	≥ 50 N
CUT RESISTANCE	Palm ≥ 1.2 N Back ≥ Not required	Palm ≥ 1.8 N Back ≥ 1.2 N
KNUCKLE IMPACT PROTECTION	Optional Individual result ≤ 9.0 kN Average transmitted force ≤ 7.0 kN	Mandatory Individual result ≤ 5.0 kN Average transmitted force ≤ 4.0 kN

 

 

 

 

 

CHEMICAL RESISTANCE TABLE.pdf