We’ve all seen the EN407 logo marked on safety gloves and PPE, but what exactly does this icon mean, and what are the standards for resistance?
It’s important to understand safety standards in Australia and how they affect the performance of your safety gloves and PPE. Making educated decisions about what to use for yourself or supply to your staff can help reduce both immediate and long-term injuries.
Read through our guide to glove standard EN407 as we discuss how the tests are done and what the ratings numbers mean for each type of resistance.
EN407 is one of two major standards used around the world that measures the resistance of safety gloves to various mechanical threats. The other major standard is America’s ASTM F1060, although this is not recognised in nearly as many countries.
EN407 is a European standard, with ratings recognised and used widely in Australia.
EN407 measures resistance to flammability, contact heat, convective heat, reactive heat, and small and large splashes of molten metal.
Resistance ratings are measured in various ways and noted in a standardised EN407 icon on safety gloves and their packaging. You will see something like “4 1 2 1 2 X” on these icons. It’s important to understand what this means.
The first number in the EN407 icon represents flammability resistance. This is measured on a scale of 1 to 4, with 1 being the least resistance and 4 being the most resistance.
Flammability resistance is tested by hovering a full glove vertically above a flame to the point that it is touching for a period of ten seconds. Once removed from the flame, the time that the glove remains burning is measured, as is the time that the glove remains glowing.
In addition, the glove cannot have been burned through during the test or after being removed from the flame, and the seam of the glove must remain intact.
If a glove does not achieve Level 3 resistance to flammability, it affects the maximum achievable ratings of other tests in the EN407 standard.
The second number in the EN407 icon represents contact heat resistance. This is measured on a scale of 1 to 4, with 1 being the least resistance and 4 being the most resistance.
Contact heat resistance is tested by heating the outer area of the palm of the glove with a pre-heated metal cylinder for a period of 15 seconds. These cylinders are heated to 100, 250, 350 and 500 degrees Celsius, and the rise in temperature of the glove during the 15 second contact period is measured.
If the temperature rises by less than 10 degrees Celsius from its starting temperature, the glove moves on to the next pre-heated cylinder. This continues until the glove temperature rises by 10 degrees Celsius or more, at which point a rating is attained relevant to the highest passed test.
In addition, the glove cannot be burned through or show any signs of internal melting, although damage to the outer materials is accepted.
The third number in the EN407 icon represents convective heat resistance. This is measured on a scale of 1 to 4, with 1 being the least resistance and 4 being the most resistance.
Convective heat resistance is tested by holding the palm of the glove above a flame while a calirometer inside the glove measures the temperature rise. The time taken for the temperature of the glove to rise 24 degrees from its base temperature is measured in seconds, providing a rating.
In addition, the glove cannot have been burned through or show any signs of internal melting, although damage to the outer materials is accepted.
If there are additional materials on the surface of the outside of the glove which also come into contact with heat, a test is also performed in these areas.
The fourth number in the EN407 icon represents radiant heat resistance. This is measured on a scale of 1 to 4, with 1 being the least resistance and 4 being the most resistance.
Radiant heat resistance is tested by holding a full glove near a radiant heat source while a calirometer inside the glove measures the temperature rise. The time taken for the temperature of the glove to rise 24 degrees from its base temperature is measured in seconds, providing a rating.
In addition, the glove cannot have been burned through or show any signs of internal melting, although damage to the outer materials is accepted.
The fifth number in the EN407 icon represents resistance to small splashes of molten metal. This is measured on a scale of 1 to 4, with 1 being the least resistance and 4 being the most resistance.
Molten metal small splash resistance is tested by subjecting a sample of the glove’s material to drops of molten metal weighing 0.5 grams each while a calirometer on the reverse side measures the temperature rise. Once the temperature has risen by 40 degrees Celsius from its base temperature, a rating is given against the number of molten metal drops used in the test.
In addition, the glove cannot have been burned through or show any signs of internal melting, although damage to the outer materials is accepted.
If an additional material is used in the construction of the glove’s back-of-hand or cuff, a test is also performed in these areas.
The final number in the EN407 icon represents resistance to large splashes of molten metal. This is measured on a scale of 1 to 4, with 1 being the least resistance and 4 being the most resistance.
Molten metal large splash resistance is tested by subjecting a sample of the glove’s material to pre-measured 30, 60, 120 and 200 gram quantities of molten metal while a thermoplastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sensor is on the reverse side.
A visual assessment is then performed of both the PVC sensor and the glove material, checking for adherence of the PVC to the glove material, ignition of the glove material, and the presence of holes or melting in the glove material.
In addition, the glove needs to be manufactured in such a way that molten metal is unlikely to be retained on the surface, which means that gloves with folds in the material or seals on the outside cannot be granted this resistance.
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