Hand Protection Standards, Ratings, & Testing
EN388 : Testing Method • Cut Levels A - F Used in the European Community, EN 388 utilizes a series of tests to measure mechanical performance. This test (called the Coup Test) method measures Abrasion, Cut, Tear, and Puncture . The machine used for testing utilizes a spinning circular blade that is pulled across the fabric under a constant weight of 500 grams. The number of cycles are recorded to cut the fabric. The specific steps for the test are as follows : • A test sample is taken from the palm of a glove. • A rotating circular blade moves back and forth across the test sample until a cut-through is achieved. • The test sample is compared to a reference material (usually cloth). • The reference material and the test sample are cut alternately until at least five results are achieved. • To help account for a loss in blade sharpness, the reference material is cut before and after the test sample. • The cut resistance is a ratio of the number of cycles needed to cut through the test sample compared with the reference material. An issue with this form of testing is the fact that once the blade cycles over the material it becomes duller with each passing rotation. This form of testing also lacks the ability to measure more cut-resistant engineered yarns containing steel wire. As a result, this testing is being phased out in the EU. When the cut levels were updated in 2016, the TDM-100 (used in ANSI testing) became the recommended testing machine for cut-resistant materials. But for manufacturers who are selling into the EU, there’s a catch: For a product to be legally sold in the EU, it needs to have the certified marking. And the only test machine accepted for CE certification is the Coup Test.
EN 388 Cut Resistant Cycles
Level 0
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4 >10.0
Level 5 >20.0
< 1.2
>1.2
>2.5
>5.0
EN388
D EN388
15 newtons = 1529 grams to cut Light Duty Metal Handling • Appli - ance Manufacturing • Bottle & Light Glass Handling • Canning • Dry Wall • Electrical • Carpet Installation • HVAC 22 newtons = 2343 grams to cut Metal Stamping • Sheet Metal Han - dling • Glass Handling • Automotive Assembly 30 newtons = 3059 grams to cut Heavy Duty Metal Stamping • Metal Recycling • Food Processing • Pulp & Paper
A B
2 newtons = 203 grams to cut Light Material Handling • Small Parts Assembly without Sharp Edges
EN388
EN388
E F
5 newtons = 509 grams to cut Packaging • Warehouse • Light Duty General Purpose 10 newtons = 1019 grams to cut Light Duty Metal Handling • Metal Stamping • HVAC • Light Duty Glass Handling • Plastics • Material Handling
C EN388
EN388
ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 is the Preferred Test Method
• It is straightforward: There is no comparing the cut-resistant material to a test cloth. • It accounts for variables: The blade is replaced after each cut is made. • It is suitable for all types of gloves: Dulling of the blade means the Coup Test is not suitable for gloves containing steel wire or similar components. The most important thing to remember is that these two tests are NOT equivalent . A glove that took 3059 grams to cut on the EN 388 scale CANNOT be considered an ANSI Cut Level A6 (3000-3999 grams to cut).
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