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As of 21st April 2018, Directive 89/686/EEC will be repealed by the new Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on personal protective equipment.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.
| Code letter | Chemical | CAS number | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Methanol | 67-56-1 | Primary alcohol |
| B | Acetone | 67-64-1 | Ketone |
| C | Acetonitrile | 75-05-8 | Nitrile compound |
| D | Dichloromethane | 75-09-2 | Chlorinated paraffin |
| E | Carbone disulphide | 75-15-0 | Sulphur-containing organic compound |
| F | Toluene | 108-88-3 | Aromatic hydrocarbon |
| G | Diethylamine | 109-89-7 | Amine |
| H | Tetrahydrofurane | 109-99-9 | Heterocyclic and ether compound |
| I | Ethyl acetate | 141-78-6 | Ester |
| J | n-heptane | 142-85-5 | Saturated hydrocarbon |
| K | Sodium hydroxide 40% | 1310-73-2 | Inorganic base |
| L | Sulphuric acid 96% | 7664-93-9 | Inorganic mineral acid |
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.