EN 388 - Protective gloves against mechanical risks
EN 388 is a European standard that evaluates the performance and protection levels of work gloves, particularly with regard to mechanical risks. The purpose of this standard is to help both users and manufacturers select the right gloves for specific tasks and to ensure the wearer’s safety.
The EN 388 standard includes various tests that gloves undergo to determine their protection levels. The test results are usually displayed as four (or five) numbers beneath the hammer-and-shield icon on the glove. Each number represents a specific performance rating:
- Abrasion resistance: This is a measure of the glove material’s durability when exposed to repeated abrasion. The score ranges from 1 to 4, with 4 indicating the highest level of protection.
- Cut resistance (Coupe test): This test measures the glove material’s resistance to being cut by a rotating blade. The score ranges from 1 to 5, with 5 indicating the highest level of cut resistance.
- Tear resistance: This test determines how well the glove material resists tearing when force is applied. The score ranges from 1 to 4, with 4 being the highest level of tear resistance.
- Puncture resistance: This measures the glove material’s resistance to puncture by a blunt object, such as a nail. The score ranges from 1 to 4, with 4 indicating the highest level of puncture resistance.
Since 2016, an additional test has been added to the EN 388 standard: the TDM cut resistance test (ISO 13997), which measures resistance to straight cuts made by a sharp object. The results are expressed as a letter from A to F, with F representing the highest level of cut resistance. This test was introduced due to limitations in the Coupe test when testing gloves with high cut resistance.
When choosing work gloves, it is important to consider the EN 388 standard and test results so that you select the right gloves that provide adequate protection for the tasks you perform.