In the world of personal protective equipment, gloves are among the most commonly used items across healthcare, automotive, manufacturing, food handling and laboratory environments.
Selecting the correct gloves requires more than simply choosing a size and material: understanding and complying with EN Standards is crucial in ensuring the material offers the right level of protection for specific tasks and hazards.
EN 420:2003 – General Requirements for Protective Gloves
The cornerstone of all glove regulations in Europe, EN 420:2003 outlines the general requirements applicable to all protective gloves, regardless of their specific application or material. It includes mandatory specifications that help ensure their usability and safety.
Each glove must contain clear information, including the manufacturer's name and a product identifying mark. Additionally, they should be available in standard sizes, typically ranging from 6 to 11, to ensure a proper fit. The correct size supports both protection and dexterity - measured on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 indicating the highest level of dexterity performance. Importantly, gloves must also include the date beyond which their performance can’t be guaranteed.
EN 420 also includes provisions for assessing the glove's material to ensure it’s safe for skin contact and free from contaminants that could cause irritation or allergic reactions. All types of gloves must meet this baseline standard before additional classifications can be applied.
EN 455 – Medical Gloves for Single Use
For gloves used in medical or healthcare settings, the EN 455 standard is essential. Divided into four parts, each covers a specific aspect of medical glove safety and performance.
EN 455-1:2000 focuses on the glove's ability to act as a barrier against contamination by requiring rigorous testing for holes. Subjected to water leak tests, only the gloves that pass can be certified for medical use. This is particularly critical in clinical environments where any breach could compromise both patient and healthcare worker safety.
EN 455-2:2009 addresses the glove’s physical strength, such as tensile strength and elongation. Gloves must demonstrate the ability to stretch and return to their original shape without tearing. Among all materials, nitrile gloves are renowned for their high resistance to puncture and tearing, making them especially suited to use in clinical procedures involving sharp instruments.
EN 455-3:2006 introduces the requirement for biological compliance, including assessing the gloves’ resistance to chemical residues, allergenic proteins and endotoxins. Another example is in relation to latex gloves, which may cause allergic reactions. They must bear the appropriate warning, which may appear on the glove packaging only. Proper labelling is essential for user awareness and risk mitigation.
EN 455-4:2009 deals with determining the gloves’ longevity. For example, medical gloves must remain effective up to their expiration date for safety reasons. This part of the standard outlines the test methods used to determine their long-term durability under normal storage conditions.
EN 388 – Protective Gloves Against Mechanical Risks
EN 388:2003 and its updated version, EN 388:2016, are central to industries requiring protection from mechanical hazards such as abrasion, cuts, tears and punctures. Each glove is marked with digits corresponding to its resistance levels. These values range from 0 to 4, with higher numbers indicating greater protection. If applicable, pictograms demonstrating impact cut resistance and anti-static properties may also be included.
EN 388:2016 refines this testing by introducing straight blade cut resistance (rated A to F) and circular blade cut resistance (0 to 5). This updated standard provides a more comprehensive view of glove performance, especially relevant for environments where sharp tools are handled frequently.
EN 374 – Chemical and Microbiological Protection
EN 374-1:2003 applies to gloves intended to provide protection against chemicals and microorganisms. This standard includes rigorous testing for chemical permeation and penetration. Gloves that meet the minimum requirement must display at least three chemical code letters from A to L, indicating the specific substances they were tested against.
Compliance with EN 374 is essential for tasks involving chemical handling, although this standard doesn’t guarantee virus protection unless stated otherwise.
EN 381-7 – Chainsaw Protection
Gloves intended for chainsaw operation must comply with EN 381-7:1999 and must incorporate cut-resistant material, in some cases only on the back of the left hand. Two glove types are defined: Type A, offering palm protection, and Type B, which also includes finger protection.
Each glove is classified according to the chainsaw chain speed it can withstand, ranging from Class 0 (16 m/s) to Class 4 (28 m/s).
EN 407 – Thermal Protection
EN 407:2004 assesses gloves for protection against heat and fire. This standard includes six test parameters: burning resistance, contact heat, convective heat, radiant heat and resistance to small and large splashes of molten metal. Each parameter is graded on a scale from 1 to 4, or marked with an X if not tested.
Thermal resistance is crucial in industries such as metalworking and welding, where exposure to high temperatures is a daily occurrence.
EN 511 – Cold Protection
EN 511:2006 relates to gloves used in cold environments. This includes two test metrics: convective cold resistance and contact cold resistance, both rated from 1 to 4. Water impermeability is optionally tested and, if applicable, is rated 1 for resistant or 0 for non-resistant. Gloves that meet this standard provide essential protection in cold storage, outdoor construction and other low temperature environments.
EN 421 – Protection from Ionizing and Radioactive Contamination
EN 421:2010 covers gloves that protect against ionising radiation and radioactive contamination – pictograms for both must be displayed. If mechanical or chemical properties are also certified, corresponding EN 388 and EN 374 icons are added. These gloves may have lead equivalence values and test conditions included, especially if different parts of the glove offer different levels of protection.
Additional EN Standards for Specialised Applications
Several other EN standards address specific hazards:
- EN 659:2003 governs gloves for firefighters and includes requirements for mechanical and thermal resistance. They must withstand burning, radiant heat and water penetration.
- EN 12477:2001 is tailored for welders, combining EN 388 and EN 407 protections. Gloves are categorised as Type A (greater protection) or Type B (greater dexterity).
- EN 1082 and EN 14328 cover protection against knife cuts, with chainmail and non-chainmail variations tested for stab resistance and cleaning limitations.
- EN 60903 and EN 60984 are dedicated to electrical safety. These gloves and sleeves are categorised by resistance to acids, oils, ozone and low temperatures. Colour coded by class, they come with service history panels to track use and inspections.
- EN 511 and BS ISO 16073 outline requirements for gloves in wildland firefighting and freezing environments. These gloves must meet rigorous criteria for durability, dexterity and thermal insulation.
Choosing the Right Protection
Choosing the appropriate standard of gloves is crucial, whether you require vinyl gloves for food service, nitrile gloves for chemical handling, or latex gloves for medical procedures. The glove must align with the appropriate EN Standards for the specific application and hazard.
Understanding the context of EN compliance ensures better protection, regulatory adherence and user confidence. As workplace safety regulations evolve, staying informed remains a vital responsibility for employers, safety officers and end users alike.
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