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Introduction to the EN 374 European Standard for Protective Gloves
Category:
Protective Gloves
Chemicals can cause serious harm to human health and the environment. To protect users from chemical exposure and microbial contamination, chemically resistant, chemical protective, or chemically treated gloves must comply with the relevant European glove standards before being placed on the European market. EN 374:2016 has become a key benchmark for evaluating glove performance in manufacturing and safety industries.
EN 374 is a European standard for evaluating the chemical and microbial resistance of protective gloves, as well as certain physical properties. It mainly focuses on glove resistance to penetration, permeation, and degradation.
The products covered by this standard include non-medical protective gloves and household gloves, such as general-purpose protective gloves, antimicrobial gloves, chemical-resistant gloves, and gloves designed for hazardous chemical protection. Common glove types include PVC protective gloves, nitrile protective gloves, nitrile blend protective gloves, PET protective gloves, and others.
Puncture Resistance of Protective Gloves
Penetration: refers to the process by which chemicals and/or microorganisms pass through protective gloves at a non-molecular level through pinholes or other defects in the glove material.
The penetration resistance test is conducted according to EN 374-2:2003, which specifies requirements and test methods for evaluating glove impermeability against hazardous chemicals and/or microorganisms:
◉ Air-tightness test (Air test): No air bubbles shall appear.
◉ Liquid-tightness test (Water test): No liquid leakage is permitted. After filling the glove with water, the glove is inspected after 2 minutes to determine the test result.
Permeation Resistance of Protective Gloves
Permeation: refers to the process in which chemicals pass through protective glove materials at a molecular level, including adsorption of chemical molecules onto the material, diffusion through the material, and release from the opposite surface.
The permeation resistance test is conducted according to EN 16523-1:2015 (which has replaced the former EN 374-3:2003). Using a permeation testing apparatus, the breakthrough time, standard breakthrough time, and permeation rate of chemicals through the protective material are measured to evaluate glove resistance to chemical permeation.
The chemicals used in permeation testing include the following (the substances highlighted in blue were newly added in 2016):
|
Symbol |
Chemical Name |
CAS Number |
Category |
|
A |
Methanol |
67-56-1 |
Primary alcohol |
|
B |
Acetone |
67-64-1 |
Ketones |
|
C |
Acetonitrile |
75-05-8 |
Nitrile compounds |
|
D |
Dichloromethane |
75-09-2 |
Chlorinated hydrocarbons |
|
E |
Carbon disulfide |
75-15-0 |
Sulfur-containing organic compounds |
|
F |
Toluene |
108-88-3 |
Aromatic hydrocarbons |
|
G |
Diethylamine |
109-89-7 |
Amines |
|
H |
Tetrahydrofuran |
109-99-9 |
Heterocyclic and ether compounds |
|
I |
Ethyl acetate |
141-78-6 |
Esters |
|
J |
n-Heptane |
142-85-5 |
Saturated hydrocarbons |
|
K |
40% Sodium hydroxide |
1310-73-2 |
Inorganic bases |
|
L |
96% Sulfuric acid |
7664-93-9 |
Inorganic mineral acids, oxidizing |
|
M |
65% Nitric acid |
7697-37-2 |
Inorganic mineral acids, oxidizing |
|
N |
99% Acetic acid |
64-19-7 |
Organic acids |
|
O |
25% Ammonium hydroxide |
1336-21-6 |
Organic bases |
|
P |
30% Hydrogen peroxide |
7722-84-1 |
Peroxides |
|
S |
40% Hydrogen fluoride |
7664-39-3 |
Inorganic mineral acids, contact toxins |
|
T |
37% Formaldehyde |
50-00-0 |
Aldehydes |
A: Methanol, B: Acetone, C: Acetonitrile, D: Dichloromethane, E: Carbon disulfide, F: Toluene, G: Diethylamine, H: Tetrahydrofuran, I: Ethyl acetate, J: n-Heptane, K: Sodium hydroxide 40%， L: Sulfuric acid 96%， M: Nitric acid 65%， N: Acetic acid 99%， O: Ammonium hydroxide 25%， P: Hydrogen peroxide 30%， S: Hydrogen fluoride 40%， T: Formaldehyde 37%
The tested chemicals are classified into permeation levels from 1 to 6 according to their breakthrough time. A longer breakthrough time indicates a higher protection level.
|
Elapsed Time (minutes) |
Level |
|
>10 |
Level 1 |
|
>30 |
Level 2 |
|
>60 |
Level 3 |
|
>120 |
Level 4 |
|
>240 |
Level 5 |
|
>480 |
Level 6 |
Classification of Protective Gloves
Based on the chemicals involved in the permeation test and the corresponding permeation levels, protective gloves are classified into three types: Type A, Type B, and Type C. The classification depends on the number of chemicals tested and the duration of chemical exposure.Most chemical-resistant gloves are classified as Type A, as these gloves can protect users against permeation by at least six chemicals for 30 minutes or longer.
|
Type |
Requirements |
Marking |
|
Type A |
1) Compliant with EN 374-2:2014 Penetration Resistance Standard |
 |
|
Type B |
1) Compliant with EN 374-2:2014 Penetration Resistance Standard |
 |
|
Type C |
1) Compliant with EN 374-2:2014 Penetration Resistance Standard |
 |
Note: The symbol above the type marking indicates the protection category, while the letters below indicate the specific chemical substances tested. Only Type A and Type B gloves include chemical identification letters, indicating the chemicals against which the gloves have been tested.
Degradation Resistance of Protective Gloves
Degradation refers to changes in one or more physical properties of glove materials after contact with chemicals. Signs of degradation may include peeling, swelling, disintegration, embrittlement, discoloration, dimensional changes, appearance changes, hardening, softening, and other similar effects.
EN 374-4:2013 specifies the test method for evaluating chemical degradation resistance by measuring changes in puncture resistance after the outer surface of glove materials has been continuously exposed to chemical reagents.
The standard specifies the mandatory degradation resistance test requirements for protective gloves:
◉ Cut 3 specimens from each glove, with a total of 6 specimens.
◉ For each glove, 3 specimens are exposed to the test chemical, while 3 specimens remain unexposed as controls.
◉ The chemical exposure duration is 60 minutes.
◉ Measure the maximum force required to puncture the specimen using a standard puncture probe.
◉ The degradation value is expressed as the average percentage change in puncture force between the exposed and unexposed specimens.
There is also an optional weight change test:
◉ Cut the same finger section from 3 gloves and weigh each specimen separately.
◉ Immerse each finger section in a container containing the test chemical and record the weight.
◉ Re-weigh the finger sections after 60 minutes.
◉ Calculate the percentage weight change compared with the initial weight.
Note: The degradation resistance test only provides test results and does not include pass/fail criteria.
Microbial Resistance of Protective Gloves
EN ISO 374-5:2016 specifies performance requirements for gloves designed to protect users against microbial contamination.There are two protection categories: protection against bacteria and fungi, and protection against viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
|
Type |
Requirements |
Marking |
Warning text |
|
Protection against bacteria and fungi |
1) Compliant with EN 420:2013+A1:2019 |
 |
“The penetration resistance has been assessed under laboratory conditions and relates only to the tested specimen”. |
|
Protection against bacteria, fungi, and viruses |
1) Compliant with EN 420:2013+A1:2019 |
 |
“The penetration resistance has been assessed under laboratory conditions and relates only to the tested specimen”. |
◉ Gloves claiming protection against bacteria and fungi, as well as gloves claiming protection against viruses, bacteria, and fungi, shall be tested according to the requirements listed above and shall display the corresponding pictograms and warning statements.
◉ All gloves claiming microbial protection shall comply with EN 420:2013+A1:2019 and undergo penetration testing according to EN 374-2:2014.
◉ Gloves claiming virus protection shall undergo additional penetration testing according to ISO 16604:2004 (Clothing for protection against contact with blood and body fluids — Determination of resistance of protective clothing materials to penetration by blood-borne pathogens — Test method using Phi-X174 bacteriophage).
◉ The test uses a virus-containing nutrient solution applied to the glove under specified pressure and time conditions.
◉ An elastic mesh is inserted into the glove test area to prevent balloon expansion.
◉ Virus penetration is evaluated through visual observation and laboratory analysis.
Appendix: EN 374 Relevant Standards
EN ISO 374-1: 2016 Protective gloves against dangerous chemicals and micro-organisms -Part 1: Terminology and performance requirements for chemical risks
EN 374-2: 2014 Protective gloves against dangerous chemicals and micro-organisms -Part 2: Determination of resistance to penetration
EN 374-3: 2003 Protective gloves against chemicals and micro-organisms -Part 3 Determination of resistance to permeation by chemicals SUPERSEDED, WITHDRAWN Substituted by EN 16523-1:2015
EN 16523-1:2015 Determination of material resistance to permeation by chemicals. Part 1: Permeation by liquid chemical under conditions of continuous contact
EN 374-4: 2013 Protective gloves against chemicals and micro-organisms -Part 4: Determination of resistance to degradation by chemicals
EN ISO 374-5: 2016 Protective gloves against dangerous chemicals and micro-organisms—Part 5: Terminology and performance requirements for micro-organisms risks (including viruses)
ISO 16604:2004 Clothing for protection against contact with blood and body fluids - Determination of resistance of protective clothing materials to penetration by blood-borne pathogens - Test method using Phi-X 174 bacteriophage
EN 420:2003+A1:2009 Protective gloves - General requirements and test methodsomething
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