The addition of the new letter is due to inconsistencies in the old cut test when a blade was blunted by the test sample as this was deemed to no longer give an accurate cut protection level for gloves that blunt the test blade.
Glove cut levels uk.
Gloves satisfying the requirements of en 388 will feature a pictogram as shown below.
Hand protection policies are best determined at the company level but any opportunity to switch to a lower level of cut resistance is a chance to save money on safety cutting gloves.
Being the middle level of resistance cut resistance level 3 provides you with the best of both worlds you achieve protection but it is not at the expense of dexterity and control of.
Instead of a straight razor it uses a rotating circular blade.
Wearing the correct glove is the most critical factor in proper hand protection.
Most of the reusable gloves that we sell will be certified to en 388.
A higher number indicates that the glove material resisted a higher level of cutting force during testing.
The second digit in this number is the cut score with 1 being the minimum and 5 scoring the highest.
For example an a 1 cut level means 200 grams of force was applied and resisted while an a 9 cut level means 6000 grams were resisted.
How to choose a cut resistant glove.
3 abrasion 6 1 level 3 level 3 level 3 cut 6 2 level 4 test not performed or not applicable level 2 tear 6 4 level 4 level 1 not achieved level 1 not achieved puncture 6 5 level 3 level 3 level 3.
Work gloves that have been specified as cut resistance level 3 are suitable for a wider range of uses including in areas where contact with blades and sharp edges is not uncommon.
En 388 clause 7 marking example no.
Graded 4 or 5 for cut rating anti cut gloves are constructed from a blend of abrasion resistant fibres tightly woven with metals to form a protective barrier.
Standard metal blades made a partial cut through level 4 cut resistant gloves and did not penetrate level 5 cut resistant gloves or any gloves rated a5 or higher.
This fun video and infographic provides a run down of the new ansi a1 through a9 cut levels and breaks down the new en388 a through f cut levels and what they signify.
Guide to the new ansi and en388 cut levels.
Cut resistant gloves come in various fabrics offering different level of cut resistance.
If you re looking to purchase some en 388 gloves or have bought some en 388 gloves and are unsure of what the standards mean then this guide will tell you everything you need to know from the history of the standard to buying your first pair.
En 388 is the other more widespread standard.
Feeling a bit in the dark about the recent changes to the cut testing standards.
Ansi ranks the level of cut resistance from a1 to a9.
Cut resistance level 3.