Glove Selection Guide

EN388:2016 Revised Standard

Providing protection for mechanical risks.

The new EN388 standard represents the most sweeping revisions to this fundamental mechanical hand protection benchmark in over 13 years.

This standard applies to all kinds of protective gloves in respect of physical and mechanical aggressions caused by abrasion, blade cut, tearing and puncture.

EN388 Glove

Protection against mechanical risks is expressed by this icon:

EN388 Icon

Each glove has a number rating depicting its resistance against abrasions, blade cuts, tears and punctures.

Performance Level Ratings

1 - 5 = Rating from low to high
X = Not tested
P = Impact test passed

EN388-Guide
Performance Level Ratings
1-5 = Rating from Low to High
1 2345
EN388-AAbrasion (cycles) 10050020008000 –
EN388-BBlade Cut (Coupe test/index) 1.22.55.010.020.0
EN388-CTear (newton) 10255075–
EN388-DPuncture (newton) 2060100150–
Performance Level RatingsAB CDEF
EN388-EEN ISO Cut Resistance (newton) 2510152230
EN388-FEN Impact Protection P PASS or FAIL
EN388-A

Abrasion

This level is graded by taking a sample of the glove liner and palm material, set up on a jig which is part of something called a Martindale abrasion machine. The abrasion head moves in an elliptical motion over the jig table. The number of cycles is then counted until breakthrough to determine how much abrasion resistance is achievable. This also determines the grade which is then printed on the glove. The main change, as part of the new standards has been the change of grit count. It has gone from 100 to 180 grit to achieve better contact and more accurate cycles.

EN388-B

Blade Cut Coupe Test

This consists of a counter rotating blade under a standard 5N contact force which moves backwards and forwards over the flat surface of the test material within a fixed stroke length. The test stops when cut-through of the blade is detected, achieved when there is electrical contact with the underlying surface. The number of strokes completed by the blade is recorded and a respective grade is given and printed on the glove. A recent change to this standard is to take the sharpness of the blade into account, the test is performed using a standard canvas control material both before and after testing the specimen. A ‘blade cut index value’ is calculated from the number of cycles required to cut through the specimen and the mean number of cycles required to cut through the control material.

EN388-C

Tear

Specimens of material from the palm, two from the ‘longitudinal’ direction and two from the ‘transverse’ direction are prepared and clamped in the jaws of a standard tensile strength testing machine. The jaws are moved apart at a constant speed (100mm/min), and the force needed to tear the material is measured. There have been no major technical changes to the tear resistance method between the 2003 and the 2016 versions of EN388 grading system.

EN388-D

Puncture

Once again, test specimens are taken from the palm of the glove and uses a standard, rounded stylus which is pushed 50mm into the specimen at a constant speed of 100mm/min using a compression test machine. The maximum resistance force is recorded. Performance levels are based on the lowest of four test results. As with the tear test there have been no major technical changes to the tear resistance method between the 2003 and the 2016 versions of EN388 grading system.

New additional testing standards

EN388-E

2nd Cut Resistance

This test is now fully included as part of EN388: 2016 testing. This test uses a straight blade drawn across a specimen until cut-through takes place and measures the contact load applied to the blade in order to make a cut-through over a 20mm stroke length. The main reason for this test is that the blade only travels once over the specimen and each blade is only used once, eradicating the problem of blunting blades with repeated cycles. Multiple tests are carried out with different contact loads applied to the blade. Force and cut-through length are plotted on a scatter graph and a trend line is generated. This is used to estimate the average contact force necessary to cut through the glove. Once determined, this force is applied to the specimen a further five times. If the results are within the defined tolerance levels, the test is then complete and the force has been determined. The performance levels range from ‘level A’ cut resistance with a contact force between 2N and 5N, up to ‘level F’, with a contact force greater than 30N, as shown in the table on the previous page.

EN388-F

Impact Protection

Under the old version of EN388:2003 there was no test to correctly assess the impact protection of a glove. As part of the revised version for 2016 and in line with the PPE directive, the standard contains an additional test for impact resistance, this test is optional and is used only for gloves that claim specific impact resistant properties, usually added to the back of the hand and / or the knuckles. Testing is carried out in accordance with EN 13594:2015 6.9, which was originally designed to test Protective Gloves for Motorcycle Riders. To test the glove, the area of protection is secured over a domed anvil and is impacted at an impact energy of 5J. When the requirements in the test are fulfilled by the gloves, the marking code ‘P’ will be displayed on the glove marking after all other protective grades. It will be illegal to place impact resistant gloves on the market without having this test carried out.

Standard EN ISO 21420

The EN 420 standard was revised in March 2020 becoming standard​ EN ISO 21420: 2020​.
This standard defines the general requirements for protective gloves in terms of construction, fitness of purpose, safety, etc

  • The gloves themselves should not impose a risk or cause injury.
  • The pH of the gloves should be as close as possible to neutral.
  • Leather gloves should have a pH value between 3.5 – 9.5.
  • The highest permitted value for chromium is 3 mg/kg (chrome VI).
  • Specific details of any substance used in the glove which is known to cause allergies.
  • Sized by reference to an agreed common European hand size, for example minimum length.

New Size Colour Coding System

Each glove now includes coloured ribbing on the cuff to denote its size.

Green Glove BandMedium Size 8
Green
Blue Glove BandLarge Size 9
Blue
Brown Glove BandXL Size 10
Brown
Black Glove BandXXL Size 11
Black

EN388 Hand Protection Product Selector

We offer a wide range of gloves for many different working conditions, from lightweight cotton through to welders gauntlets. To ensure all our customers select the correct gloves we provide a comparitive chart, to help you easily select the right level of protection for your needs.

The levels of performance mentioned are only valid for the palm of the glove. The levels of performance mentioned are only valid for new gloves, not washed, nor regenerated. These levels of performance are obtained from the tests done according to conditions defined by the applicable standards. This glove should not be in contact with fire. Users should be warned that gloves should not be worn when there is a risk of entanglement by moving parts of machines.

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Find glove by EN388 Rating

Abrasion
Blade Cut
Tear
Puncture
2nd Cut
Impact
A B C D E F
Thermal Waterproof Latex Gloves
SCAGLOWPTHXX - XXL - 11 - 1 pair

SCAGLOWPTHXL - XL - 10 - 1 pair

SCAGLOWPTHM - M - 9 - 1 pair

SCAGLOWPTHL - L - 9 - 1 pair
21 31 X
Welders Gauntlet - Red
SCAGLOWELRED - L - 1 pair
41 44 X
Vibration Resistant Latex Foam Gloves
SCAGLOVRXX - XXL (11) - 1 pair

SCAGLOVRXL - XL (10) - 1 pair

SCAGLOVRM - M (8) - 1 pair

SCAGLOVRL - L (9) - 1 pair
11 2X X
Work Gloves with Touch Screen Function
SCAGLOTOUCHX - XL - 1 pair

SCAGLOTOUCH - L - 1 pair
-- --
Canadian Rigger Cowsplit Leather Gloves
SCAGLORIG - L - 1 pair
-- --
White PU Coated Gloves - Size 9 (12 Pairs)
SCAGLOPUW12X - XL (10) - 12 pairs

SCAGLOPUW12M - M (8) - 12 pairs

SCAGLOPUW12L - L (9) - 12 pairs
31 21 X
Black PU Coated Gloves
SCAGLOPU240X - XL (10) - 240 pairs

SCAGLOPU240M - M (8) - 240 pairs

SCAGLOPU240 - L (9) - 240 pairs

SCAGLOPU12XL - XL (10) - 12 Pairs

SCAGLOPU12M - M (8) - 12 Pairs

SCAGLOPU12 - L (9) - 12 Pairs
31 21 X
Breathable Nitrile Micro-Foam Gloves
SCAGLONITMXX - XXL (11) - 1 pair

SCAGLONITMFX - XL (10) - 1 pair

SCAGLONITMFM - M (8) - 1 pair

SCAGLONITMF - L (9) - 1 pair
41 31 X
Nitrile Coated Knitted Gloves - Red
SCAGLONITBXX - XXL (11) - 1 pair

SCAGLONITBXL - XL (10) - 1 pair

SCAGLONITBM - M (8) - 1 pair

SCAGLONITBL - L (9) - 1 pair
41 21 X
Latex Foam Gloves - Hi-Vis Yellow
SCAGLOLATYXX - XXL (11) - 1 pair

SCAGLOLATYXL - XL (10) - 1 pair

SCAGLOLATYM - M (8) - 1 pair

SCAGLOLATYL - L (9) - 1 pair
21 21 X
Latex Foam Gloves - Hi-Vis Orange
SCAGLOLATOXX - XXL (11) - 1 pair

SCAGLOLATOXL - XL (10) - 1 pair

SCAGLOLATOM - M (8) - 1 pair

SCAGLOLATOL - L (9) - 1 pair
21 21 X
Premium Latex Examination Gloves (Box of 100)
SCAGLOLATEXM - M - Box of 100

SCAGLOLATEXL - L - Box of 100
-- --
Knitshell Thermal Latex Coated Gloves - Orange
SCAGLOKSTHXX - XXL (11) - 1 pair

SCAGLOKSTHXL - XL (10) - 1 pair

SCAGLOKSTHM - M (8) - 1 pair

SCAGLOKSTHER - L (9) - 1 pair

SCAGLOKSTH5X - XL (10) - 5 Pairs

SCAGLOKSTH5M - M (8) - 5 Pairs

SCAGLOKSTH5 - L (9) - 5 Pairs
31 42 X
Knitshell Latex Palm Gloves - Orange
SCAGLOKSXX - XXL (11) - 1 pair

SCAGLOKSXL - XL (10) - 1 pair

SCAGLOKSPKXL - XL (10) - 12 pairs

SCAGLOKSPKM - M (8) - 12 pairs

SCAGLOKSPK12 - L (9) - 12 pairs

SCAGLOKSM - M (8) - 1 pair

SCAGLOKS - L (9) - 1 pair
21 41 X
Nitrile Coated Inspection Gloves (12 Pairs)
SCAGLOINSP12 - L (9) - 12 pairs

SCAGLOINS12X - XL (10) - 12 pairs

SCAGLOINS12M - M (8) - 12 pairs
41 21 X
Heavy-duty Rigger Cowsplit Leather Gloves
SCAGLOHDRIG - L - 1 pair
-- --
Gripper Gloves with PVC Webbing Palm
SCAGLOGG - L - 1 pair
-- --
Gardeners Gauntlets - 40cm (16in)
SCAGLOGAUNG - L (9) - 1 pair
41 44 X
Nitrile Disposable Gloves (Box of 100)
SCAGLODNM - M (8) -

SCAGLODNL - L (9) -
-- --
Nitrile Disposable Gloves Heavy-Duty (Box of 100)
SCAGLODNHDM - M (8) -

SCAGLODNHDL - L (9) -
-- --
Max Dexterity Nitrile Gloves
SCAGLODEXTXX - XXL (11) - 1 pair

SCAGLODEXTXL - XL (10) - 1 pair

SCAGLODEXTM - M (8) - 1 pair

SCAGLODEXTL - L (9) - 1 pair
31 21 X
Grey PU Coated Cut 5 Gloves
SCAGLOCUT5XX - XXL (11) - 1 pair

SCAGLOCUT5XL - XL (10) - 1 pair

SCAGLOCUT5M - M (8) - 1 pair

SCAGLOCUT5 - L (9) - 1 pair
45 42 C
Grey PU Coated Cut 3 Gloves
SCAGLOCUT3XX - XXL (11) - 1 pair

SCAGLOCUT3XL - XL (10) - 1 pair

SCAGLOCUT3M - M (8) - 1 pair

SCAGLOCUT3L - L (9) - 1 pair
43 41 A
Anti-Impact Latex Cut 5 Gloves
SCAGLOAIXX - XXL (11) - 1 pair

SCAGLOAIXL - XL (10) - 1 pair

SCAGLOAIM - M (8) - 1 pair

SCAGLOAIL - L (9) - 1 pair
35 42 BP