THE STANDARD IN GLOVE SAFETY: EN420

EN 420 is the hallmark of any decent safety glove. It's the basic standard, something that a disposable glove in the medical industry will be certified to in the same way as a cut 5 glove for manufacturing glass or a heat resistant glove for soldering. EN 420 covers both Disposable Single Use Gloves and Reusable Gloves.

The point in EN 420 is that it proves that the gloves will not be a harm to the user and that the gloves are comfortable to wear, something that when passed, will allow the gloves to be tested to EN 388, EN 374, EN 455 and other glove standards. EN 420 covers quite a bit of scope, with the main areas coming under:

• Innocuousness
• Anti-static and Water Vapour
• Packaging and Instructions
• Symbols/Information on the Glove

1. INNOCUOUSNESS

The first test is innocuousness, which ensures that the gloves will be comfortable, will fit, and will not damage the wearer.

• Glove Length and Glove Size:

  • The length of a glove is measured by suspending it from the middle finger and by placing a ruler inside the glove to remove any creases. The glove is then fitted onto a model hand that has the same dimensions as those that the glove is intended to fit, the purpose being to ensure that all gloves have a standardised size. Measurements can be found below:

Standardised Glove Size (mm)

Standardised Glove Length (mm)

• Dexterity:
  • ​A wearer will be required to pick up five pins with a diameter of between 5mm and 11mm. The smaller an item can be picked up, the higher dexterity the gloves will achieve.
• pH Value:
  • ​A pH value will be determined to ensure safety in the hand. The pH value should be less than 9.5 but greater than 3.5.
• Chrome VI:
  • ​The gloves must also not include dangerous metals such that can cause allergic reactions such as chromium.
  • Chromium (VI) Content should be below detection (< 3mg/kg).
• Other Points:​
  • ​Gloves must offer the greatest possible degree of protection
  • If the glove features seams, they should not reduce the performance of the glove
  • Natural rubber gloves should be tested on extractable proteins to ensure they do not cause allergic reactions in the wearer
  • If cleaning instructions are provided, the level of performance must not be reduced even after the maximum number of washes

2. ANTI-STATIC AND WATER VAPOUR

If a glove is electrostatic or resistant to water vapour, then the gloves must undergo further testing.

• Electrostatic Gloves:
  • ​Anti-Static Gloves shall be placed through electrostatic tests, the results of which will be reported within the instructions.
  • An electrostatic pictogram should not be used.
• Water Vapour:
  • ​If required, gloves shall allow water vapour transmission (5mg/cm²)
  • If gloves exclude water vapour transmission, it should be at least 8mg/cm² for 8 hours
  • If  required, gloves shall allow water vapour transmission (5mg/cm²)

3. PACKAGING AND INSTRUCTIONS

On either the packaging or instructions, you can expect to find certain information. This will include:

• The name of the manufacturer
• Glove sizes
• Appropriate pictograms to display EN standards and levels (these markings must remain clear through the life of the glove)
• Address of the manufacturer or representative
• It's intended application (e.g. for minimal risks only)
• If the protection is specific to a certain area (e.g. palm area only)
• Care and storage instructions
• A list of substances that are known to cause allergies and the name and address of the body that certified the product.

4. SYMBOLS

Finally, all gloves that have been certified to EN 420 must include the EN 420 symbol. This will be on the back of the gloves and on the packaging. The symbol can be identified below:

The EN 420 symbol that must be placed on the back of all EN 420 certified gloves

The main point to remember is that all EN 420 gloves must meet the above standards for it to be tested to heat, cold, cut and more.