EN 407 - Protective gloves against thermal risks
EN 407 is a European standard that evaluates the performance and protection levels of work gloves with regard to thermal risks, such as heat and/or fire. This standard is intended to help users and manufacturers select the appropriate gloves for specific tasks involving thermal risks and to ensure the wearer’s safety.
The EN 407 standard includes six different tests that gloves undergo to determine their levels of protection against thermal risks. The test results are displayed as six numbers beneath a flame icon on the glove. Each digit represents a specific performance rating:
- Resistance to Ignition (0–4): This measures the glove material’s ability to stop burning after the flame is removed. The score ranges from 0 to 4, with 4 indicating the highest level of protection.
- Contact heat resistance (0–4): This test measures the glove material’s resistance to heat conduction. The score ranges from 0 to 4, with 4 indicating the highest level of protection. Higher scores mean that the glove can be exposed to contact heat for a longer period of time without causing injury.
- Convective heat resistance (0–4): This test evaluates the glove material’s resistance to convective heat (heat transfer through the air). The score ranges from 0 to 4, with 4 providing the highest level of protection.
- Radiant heat resistance (0–4): This measures the glove material’s ability to withstand heat transfer by radiation (such as infrared radiation). The score ranges from 0 to 4, with 4 offering the highest level of protection.
- Resistance to small splashes of molten metal (0–4): This test determines how well the glove material resists small splashes of molten metal. The score ranges from 0 to 4, with 4 indicating the highest level of protection.
- Resistance to large amounts of molten metal (0–4): This measures the glove material’s resistance to larger amounts of molten metal. The score ranges from 0 to 4, with 4 offering the highest level of protection.
When selecting work gloves for tasks involving thermal risks, it is important to consider the EN 407 standard and test results so that you choose the right gloves that provide adequate protection for the tasks you perform.