Glove standard

Regulation: Standard issued by the organs of the European Union directly applicable in the Member States, without the need for transposition. Published March 31, 2016 in the DOUE comes into force on April 21, 2018. From April 21, 2019, distributors will be able to introduce EPIS into the market in accordance with the new Regulation 2016/425. 

Main changes to the new EU regulation 2016/425

• It goes from being a Directive to a mandatory Regulation in all EU countries.
• The CE Declaration of Conformity will be named the EU Declaration of Conformity, and the standards to which it refers will be cited with the year of update or revision: EN388: 2016 or ENISO374: 2016.
• CE Certificates will be named as EU Certificates.
• The Prospectus must include a link where you can download the EU Declaration of Conformity.
• The manufacturer agrees to establish traceability on its EPIS.
• An expiration of 5 years is imposed on the EU Type Examination Certificates that will require the recertification of all EPIS.
• EPIS designed to protect against chainsaw portable chainsaw cuts become Category III EPIS.

The standard defines general requirements:Glove design and construction

• Resistance of glove materials to water penetration
• Safety: pH between 3.5 and 9.5 according to EN ISO 4045 / EN 1413, chromium VI content less than 3.0 mg / kg according to EN ISO 17075: 2007 for leather gloves and extractable proteins according to EN 455-3 for natural rubber gloves.
• Cleaning
• Electrostatic properties.

The standard defines comfort and effectiveness:

• Sizes.
• Desterity.
• Transmission and absorption of water vapor.

Skill:

• Nested table.

It includes mittens and kitchen mitts and potholders in the object and field of application.

Harmless
In addition to the above requirements, a series of recommendations regarding the substances 
in the gloves is introduced:

• Any metal component which may come into prolonged contact with the skin (e.g. tacks, fittings) must have a nickel release of less than 0.5 μg/cm2 per week.
• Azo dyes that release carcinogenic amines should not be detectable.
• Dimethylformamide (DMFa) in gloves containing PUs should not exceed 1000 mg/kg.
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) shall not exceed 1 mg/kg for rubber or plastic materials intended to come into direct contact with the skin.

The performance levels for gloves that can be washed will be the lowest obtained after the cleaning process.

In multi-layer gloves, the integrity of the layers in the finger area must be ensured.

The gloves should allow the transmission of water vapour whenever possible.

• Leather gloves - Transmission of water vapour > 5 mg/(cm2·h).
• Textile gloves - Water vapour resistance ≤ 30 m2·Pa/W.

The requirements for electrostatic properties must be checked in accordance with the specific standard for antistatic gloves EN16350. For protective gloves with electrostatic dissipation, each individual measure must comply with the requirement: Vertical Resistance RV< 1.0 X 108Ω (Ohm) and is accompanied by a new logo to be indicated on the gloves.

The manufacturing date or any other means ensuring traceability of the manufacturing series must be indicated. When an obsolescence date has to be entered, it should be done by adding the hourglass pictogram on both the glove and the packaging.

Hand Sizes: A new size table is introduced, extending the range from 4 to 13.

Gloves classification according to EN374-2:2014
It is the advance of chemical products through the material, seams of the glove at a non-molecular level. Air leak test: the glove is inflated with air and immersed in water. The appearance of air bubbles is controlled within 30 '. Water leak test: the glove is filled with water and the appearance of water droplets is controlled. If these tests are positive, the pictogram will be put on.

Gloves classification according to EN374-4: 2013
Detriment to some of the glove's properties due to contact with a chemical. Eg: discoloration, hardening, softening, etc.Permeation test EN 16523-1. It is the advancement of chemicals at the molecular level. The resistance of the glove material to permeation by a chemical is determined by measuring the time it passes through the material.

Modification of the ENISO374-5: 2016 standard
When the glove passes the test described for virus protection, the word “virus” will appear under the pictogram. If nothing appeared, protection would only be assured against bacteria.

The minimum levels required for the EN388 standard are as follows:

Abrasion resistance  2

Cut resistance 1

Tear resistance  2

Puncture resistance  2

Protection against chainsaw cutting should be evaluated with the following chainsaw speeds.

Classification by type

TYPE1 Protection against chainsaw cutting in both right and left hands.

TYPE2 Chain cut protection only on left hand. The right hand has no cut protection.

Design A

Only applicable for gloves with cut protection in the metacarpal area, but not on fingers or thumb.

Design B

Applicable to gloves and 3-finger mitts incorporating, in addition to design A protection, the back of the fingers (except thumb).

Main changes with previous standard:
Requirements that in EN381-7 were optional, cleaning, dexterity and water vapour permeation and absorption, become mandatory. It becomes mandatory to measure dexterity by means of a grip test essay on a bar with a pressure sensor.
Water vapour permeation is mandatory for coated gloves.In the cutting test, the changes are: Pre-treatment – cleaning according to the Manufacturer’s instructions. The number of cuts significantly increases the number of cuts and the areas. All of them are mandatory.

Minimum requirements for workers in contact with pesticides.

• Chemical protection all over the hand.
• Relatively low potential risk.
• Handling of diluted pesticides.
• No mechanical hazards.
• Disposable: minimum length 240 mm.

• Chemical protection all over the hand. Increased potential risk
• More protection than the G1.
• Handling of concentrated or diluted pesticides.
• Minimum length 290 mm.
• Minimum mechanical protection: abrasion - level 2, cutting - level 1 or letter A and perforation - level 1.

• Partial hand protection (fingers and palm):
• Minimum mechanical protection for handling tasks: abrasion-level 2, cutting – level 1 or A, tearing – level 1 and perforation – level 1.
• For users in contact with partially dried or dried pesticide residues existing on the plant after applying the pesticide.
• They cannot be used to replace the G1 or G2 that protect the whole hand.
• A breathable material on the back of the glove enhances comfort.

A - Flame behaviour
The material should comply with the requirements in the table. In addition, the material should not drip or melt. The seams should not open up after 15 seconds ignition time.

B - Heat per contact:

The material should comply with:

C - Convective heat
The material should comply with:

D - Radiating heat
The material should comply with:

E - Small splashes
The number of droplets necessary to produce a 40ºC rise in temperature should meet requirements in the table:

F - Large splashes
The PVC film that simulates the skin will not be smoothed or its surface roughness changed in any other way, with any of the quantities of iron used:

Ratified by the Spanish Standardisation Association in June 2020.

Main changes:

• Extension of the scope of the standard to domestic use: oven mitts/gloves.
• Gloves that reach a level 3 or 4 of any thermal property must reach at least a level 3 in flame propagation. Otherwise, the maximum level that may be reached in the relevant thermal property shall be level 2.
• Propagation limited to flame: prohibition of hole formation. Reduction of maximum post-combustion time for level 1. Change in ignition timing.
• Heat by contact. Obligation to test any material coming in contact with heat.
• Tear resistance. This trial is included.
• Convective heat. The test is performed without reinforcement.
• New pictogram, for gloves without flame protection.
• A minimum length is introduced when resistance against small molten metal splashes is present.
• After heat resistance tests, the samples must not suffer signs of melting or holes.

A - Flame Behaviour 
Changes in method and table. To perform the test, the ignition time now goes from 15 to 10" and the post-ignition time for level 1 goes from 20 to 15".

B - Heat by contact 
Changes in the test method. In EN407:2004 only the palm is tested, whereas with EN407:2020 any other point that may come into contact is tested.

• Contact temperature
• Threshold time (S)
   

C - Convective heat 
Changes in the test method. From EN373 to ENISO9185:2007

D - Radiant heat 
There are no modifications. Internal layers must not show signs of melting or show holes.

E - Small splashes 
There are no modifications. Internal and external layers may not be melted or pierced.

F - Large splashes 
Changes in the test method.

Insulating gloves from class 00 (500V) to class 4 (36000V).

Personal protective equipment EPI CAT III.

AZC category (resistant to Acids, ozone and very low temperatures).

RC category (resistant to Acids, oil, ozone and very low temperatures)..