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Glove Cut Level Chart looks like a mysterious code, many letters and numbers which for sure do mean something.
This post will aim to decode these symbols and easily explain them to you.
In a previous post, we mentioned the ANSI cut level chart.
This time we will discuss another standard which is EN-388 for safety gloves protection levels.
We are here to put in front of our followers some facts about the danger of undercooked steak, how to reach the safe temperature, how to measure this internal temperature and some other additional safety tips while handling and eating our delicious steak.
EN 388 standard
EN-388 is a European Standard published as a regulation which defines the test methods and different levels of the protective gloves against mechanical hazards.
It was published 1994, and prior this date, countries used to have their local regulations to differentiate between glove cut levels .
The need for a harmonized unified standard was a must to unify the requirements allover Europe.
This code was updated many times, as its initial version focused on 4 elements: abrasion resistance, blade cut resistance, tear resistance, and puncture resistance.
After these updates, they considered the impact protection levels for construction workers.
After years, the trust for this EN 388 code spread outside Europe.
Many other countries are now using it as a reference for their glove cut levels.
Decoding the Glove Cut Level Chart - EN388
The new EN 388 pictogram describes the different performance ratings.
You may notice that there are six different performance measures with.
Each one is representing certain measurement and each one has its own performance rating.
a- Describes the abrasion resistance and it has 4 deferent levels.
b- Is for the blade Cut Resistance (5 levels)
c- Is the tear Resistance, its unit is the Newton and it has 4 different levels.
d- Stands for the puncture resistance (Newton) and is has also 4 levels.
e- Measures the EN ISO Cut Resistance (Newton) and it has 4 different levels.
f- This one is for the EN Impact Protection. This test result is only pass or fail rating.
We need to give an example to explain this better:
This glove shows the EN 388 code (4X42B).
- The first digit (4) = the glove has the highest abrasion resistance rating
- (X) =indicates that Ansell has chosen to only report the cut resistance for this style using the new EN ISO Cut Resistance test method.
- The other (4) =This glove can resist tear in a good way (the maximum level)
- Number (2) = The puncture resistance level for this glove is 2 out of 4
- Number (B) = The new EN ISO cut test is rated from A to F, with F being the highest level of cut resistance
- Finally the absence of the last code digit (f) means that this glove was not tested for the EN Impact Protection.
Make sure that your tool for reading and measuring the temperature is properly calibrated in time for accurate readings.
That is enough for this decoding post. Where our target was to explain the glove Cut Level Chart according to EN 388 code.
We will then provide you with separate data about the test method for each evaluation for these mentioned factors.
And our safety related posts will never end as long as we are still learning.
Related posts
You can check the other standard explaining the ANSI code for US.
Also, an introduction post about the cut resistant glove rating was here.
And let me recommend some other posts that you will not regret reading:
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