Understanding Glove Ratings: ANSI vs. EN 388

Jan 5th 2024

Posted by Steve Knight

Gloves play a crucial role in workplace safety by protecting our hands from various hazards. To choose the right gloves, it's important to understand how they are rated for mechanical protection. In this blog post, we'll break down the differences between two widely used standards: ANSI and EN 388. By the end, you'll have a clear grasp of how these standards assess gloves and be better equipped to prioritize hand safety in your workplace.

ANSI Rating

What Is The ANSI Rating?

If you're from the United States, you are probably familiar to ANSI. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) does not provide a specific glove rating system like the EN 388 standard for mechanical risks. Instead, ANSI has various standards and guidelines related to safety equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves. These standards help ensure that gloves and other PPE meet certain safety and performance criteria.

ANSI/ISEA 105 is one of the ANSI standards commonly referenced when it comes to gloves. It provides a rating system for different performance aspects of gloves, but it doesn't provide an overall single rating like the EN 388 standard. Instead, ANSI/ISEA 105 assigns specific codes to gloves based on their performance in various categories.

What Category Ratings Does ANSI Cover?

Cut Resistance (ANSI/ISEA 105-2016): This category rates the resistance of gloves to cuts using a scale from A1 (lowest) to A9 (highest), based on the results of standardized cut testing methods. The higher the rating, the greater the cut resistance.
Abrasion Resistance: The ANSI Abrasion Resistance ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 6 (highest). A variety of glove applications involve repetitive tasks in abrasive environments, such as brick laying, sanding, and demolition. The abrasion score helps determine how well a glove will hold up under those conditions and therefore provide dependable protection from scrapes.
Puncture Resistance: The ANSI Puncture Resistance ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Puncture resistance is important when working with sharp objects like those found in metal fabricating, recycling, and glass operations.
Chemical Resistance: ANSI/ISEA 105 does not cover chemical resistance ratings. For gloves intended for protection against chemicals, other standards or specific manufacturer information should be consulted.
Heat Resistance: Conductive heat resistance testing measures the insulation provided by the glove when exposed to and in contact with a hot surface. The ASTM F1060-08 test measures the time it takes a person wearing PPE to develop a second-degree burn when exposed to a certain temperature. The rating is broken down into 6 different levels.

-Level 0: Less than 80°C or 176°F
-Level 1: 80°C or 176°F
-Level 2: 140°C or 284°F
-Level 3: 200°C or 392°F
-Level 4: 260°C or 500°F
-Level 5: 320°C or 608°F

Impact Resistance: The ANSI Impact Protection ratings are 1 (lowest) to 3 (highest). This standard specifically focuses on the back of the hand by measuring the dissipating impact from the knuckles and fingers. Impact protection is created primarily through the incorporation of thermoplastic rubber (TPR) on the back of the glove. Impact protection levels are helpful in professions such as cargo handling, construction, heavy machinery use – any application with an increased probability of impact.

When selecting gloves for specific tasks or hazards, it's important to consider the specific ANSI/ISEA standards and codes that are relevant to your needs, as well as any manufacturer-provided information and testing data. Gloves are often labeled with the appropriate ANSI/ISEA codes and relevant performance levels to help users make informed choices for their specific applications.

EN 388 Rating

What Is The EN 388 Rating?

EN 388 is a European standard that provides specifications and testing methods for gloves designed to protect against mechanical risks such as abrasion, cut, tear, and puncture. This standard is commonly used to evaluate the performance of work gloves and is especially important in industries where hand protection is essential, such as construction, manufacturing, and automotive.

The EN 388 standard uses a numbering system to indicate a glove's performance in each of the four mechanical risk categories.

What Category Ratings Does EN 388 Cover?

Abrasion Resistance: This is rated on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 being the lowest level of resistance and 4 being the highest. The test involves rubbing the glove material against an abrasive surface until a hole appears.
Cut Resistance: This is also rated on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest level of cut resistance and 5 being the highest. The test assesses how many cycles it takes for a rotating blade to cut through the glove material.
Tear Resistance: This is rated on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 being the lowest level of tear resistance and 4 being the highest. The test measures the force required to tear the glove material.
Puncture Resistance: This is rated on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 being the lowest level of puncture resistance and 4 being the highest. The test involves using a pointed probe to determine the force required to puncture the glove material.

Each glove is marked with these four performance ratings, such as "EN 388: 4544," which indicates the glove has excellent abrasion resistance (4), good cut resistance (5), good tear resistance (4), and good puncture resistance (4).

It's important to note that while EN 388 provides valuable information about a glove's mechanical protection capabilities, it does not assess other factors like chemical resistance, heat resistance, or overall comfort. Depending on the specific hazards in your workplace, you may need to consider additional standards or requirements when selecting the right gloves for your needs.

ANSI Vs. EN 388

Geographic Region

- ANSI: ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standards are the norm in North America, including the United States and Canada.
- EN 388: EN 388, on the other hand, is predominantly used in Europe and some other parts of the world but is less common in North America.

Although ANSI is the North American standard, you may also see EN 388 ratings on a glove, if it is also sold in Europe and other parts of the world.

Testing Methods

- - ANSI: ANSI/ISEA 105 is the primary standard for gloves in North America. It offers specific test methods for various aspects of glove performance, such as cut resistance, but it doesn't provide a single overall rating for mechanical protection.
  - EN 388: EN 388 uses a single numerical rating system for mechanical risks, with four categories: abrasion resistance, cut resistance, tear resistance, and puncture resistance. Each category is rated on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 4 or 5 (highest), depending on the category.

Cut Resistance Rating

- - ANSI: ANSI/ISEA 105 uses a scale from A1 to A9 for cut resistance, with A1 being the lowest and A9 being the highest.
  - EN 388: EN 388 uses a scale from 1 to 5 for cut resistance, providing a more granular assessment.

Abrasion, Tear, and Puncture Ratings

- - ANSI: ANSI/ISEA 105 doesn't provide specific numerical ratings for abrasion, tear, and puncture resistance. These aspects may be mentioned on the glove label but lack a standardized rating.
  - EN 388: EN 388 provides numerical ratings for abrasion, tear, and puncture resistance, offering a more precise evaluation of these factors.

When selecting gloves, it's essential to consider the specific standards and codes relevant to your location and the nature of the mechanical risks you face. Both ANSI and EN 388 standards offer valuable information but use different rating systems and testing methods. Make informed decisions by understanding these differences and selecting gloves that meet your specific needs. Remember that proper hand protection is vital in maintaining workplace safety, so always choose gloves that are appropriate for the task at hand.

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