European standards for protective gloves

CE marking of protective gloves

Protective gloves are personal protective equipment or PPE. PPE products are certified according to the European Directive 89/686/EC.
This directive determines the fundamental health and safety requirements with which products have to comply, and the procedures that have to be completed before placing a PPE product on the internal market. The visible indication of conformity is affixed with the CE mark.

New PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425

As of 21st April 2018, Directive 89/686/EEC will be repealed by the new Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on personal protective equipment.

The new PPE Regulation is aligned to the New Legislative Framework policy. In addition, it slightly modifies the scope and the risk categorisation of products. It also clarifies the documentary obligations of economic operators. Products that are CE marked according to the Regulation (EU) 2016/425 can be placed on the market from 21st April 2018. From the 21st April 2019 all products placed on the market have to be certified and CE marked under Regulation (EU) 2016/425.

3 categories

Category I: PPE protection against minor risks
Category II: PPE protection against moderate risks
Category III: PPE protection against mortal injuries or irreversible harm

European standards

EN 420: General requirements for protective gloves
EN 374 (parts 1 to 3): Protective gloves against chemicals and microorganisms
AQL (penetration, air and water leak test):

Performance level: Level 3
Acceptable quality level unit: <0,65
Inspection level: G1

Performance level: Level 2
Acceptable quality level unit: <1,5
Inspection level: G1

Performance level: Level 1
Acceptable quality level unit: <4,0
Inspection level: S4

EN 374: Chemical resistant glove pictogram (3-digit code). The code refers to the code letters of the chemicals (from a list of 12 standard defined chemicals), for which a breakthrough time of at least 30 minutes has been obtained.

	The 'low chemical resistant' or 'waterproof' glove pictogram is to be used for those gloves that do not achieve a breakthrough time of at least 30 minutes against at least three chemicals from the defined list, but which comply with the penetration test, and have an AQL of 4 or lower.
	The 'microorganism' pictogram is used when the glove conforms to at least a performance level 2 for the penetration test.
	EN 388: Protection against mechanical risks (4-digit code) a. Abrasion resistance (performance level 0 - 4) b. Blade cut resistance (performance level 0 - 5) c. Tear resistance (performance level 0 - 4) d. Puncture resistance (performance level 0 - 4)
	EN 407: Protection against thermal risks (6-digit code) * a. Burning behaviour (performance level 0 - 4) b. Contact heat (performance level 0 - 4) c. Convective heat (performance level 0 - 4) d. Radiant heat (performance level 0 - 4) e. Small splashes of molten metal (performance level 0 - 4) f. Large quantities of molten metal (performance level 0 - 4) (*) Gloves must achieve at least performance level 1 for abrasion and tear.
	EN 511: Protection against cold (3-digit code) a. Convective cold (performance level 0 - 4) b. Contact cold (performance level 0 - 4) c. Water impermeability (performance level 0 or 1)
	EN ISO 11611: Protection from electric arc welding (supersedes EN 470-1:1995). Protects the wearer against small splashes of molten material, short contact time with flame, radiant heat from ARC. Minimises the possibility of electrical shock by short accidental contact with live electrical conductors up to 100 V DC. Class 1 - Lower level (less hazardous welding situations) Class 2 - Higher level (more hazardous welding situations)
	Pictogram for welding gloves which shall provide protection for metal welding, cutting applications and related activities. Protection from manual welding metal (9 requirements). Different requirements for Type A and Type B welding.

	Protection from ionising radiation and radioactive contamination Definitions and requirements: The nature of protection is shown by a pictogram relating to the specific protective qualities. To protect from radioactive contamination, the glove has to be liquid-proof and needs to pass the penetration test defined in EN 374.
	For gloves used in containment enclosures, the glove shall offer high resistance to permeability of water vapour. To protect from ionising radiation, the glove has to contain a certain amount of lead, quoted as lead equivalence. This Lead Equivalence must be marked on each glove. Materials exposed to ionising radiation may be modelled by their behaviour to ozone cracking. This test is optional and can be used as an aid to selecting gloves which require resistance to ionising radiation.
	Food approval for gloves Gloves for food handling should be manufactured with authorised substances listed in the directive 85/572 and should also be tested for migration in order to evaluate the possible transfer of plastic materials from component to the foodstuffs. If there are restrictions on certain food groups, they should be mentioned.
	EN 1149: Electrostatic properties This standard specifies the requirements and test methods for materials used in the manufacturing of electrostatic dissipative protective clothing (gloves) to avoid electrostatic discharges. As per EN 420 standard, no anti-static pictogram shall be used.

Recommendations on chemical resistance