Work gloves are essential personal protective equipment (PPE) for keeping hands safe on the job. But what do labels like “ANSI A4” or “EN 388: 4X43F” really mean? These codes come from standardized tests and indicate a glove’s protection level against hazards like cuts, abrasion, and punctures. Knowing how to read these ratings helps you choose the right gloves to prevent hand injuries. In this article, we break down the ANSI 105 and EN 388 standards, explain their differences, and offer tips on picking the best gloves for your needs.
Why Safety Ratings for Work Gloves Matter
Every work environment has hazards that can injure unprotected hands—sharp tools, jagged metal, broken glass, rough wood, and so on. Safety standards like ANSI/ISEA 105 and EN 388 were developed to test and rate work gloves against these common mechanical risks: cuts, punctures, tears, and abrasion. A glove’s rating lets you gauge how well it can withstand specific threats, so you can match the right glove to the right task. For example, a high cut-resistance glove is vital when handling sheet metal or glass, whereas a basic glove might suffice for lighter work.
These rating systems take the guesswork out of glove selection, ensuring you’re neither under-protected nor over-burdened with gear that’s too bulky. Many industries and job sites also have regulations or company policies requiring certain levels of hand protection. Understanding ANSI and EN 388 ratings helps businesses stay compliant with those rules and gives workers confidence that their gloves will perform as expected.
Meet the Standards: ANSI/ISEA 105 vs. EN 388
There are two main rating systems for protective gloves: ANSI/ISEA 105 (North America) and EN 388 (Europe and beyond). Both test gloves for similar mechanical hazards and assign performance levels, but they use different methods and scales (especially for cut resistance). Let’s look at each standard and then see how they compare.
EN 388: The European Standard for Work Gloves
EN 388 is a European standard (most recently updated in 2016) that rates gloves on protection against mechanical risks. An EN 388 label features a shield icon followed by a sequence of numbers and letters, each corresponding to a test:
- Abrasion Resistance (1–4): How well the glove withstands wear from rubbing. Level 1 means the material lasted ~100 abrasion cycles before failing, while Level 4 means it endured about 8,000 cycles (higher numbers = more abrasion resistant).
- Cut Resistance (1-5 / A-F): This can be measured two ways. The original coup test (levels 1–5) uses a rotating circular blade and counts how many cycles it takes to cut through. If the material is so cut-resistant that this method isn’t effective (it would dull the blade), the glove is tested with the TDM-100 straight blade test (ISO 13997) and given a letter rating A–F (with F being the highest cut resistance). In the EN 388 code, a skipped coup test is marked with an “X” and the TDM result is reported instead.
- Tear Resistance (1–4): The force required to tear the glove material. Higher levels mean the glove is more resistant to ripping.
- Puncture Resistance (1–4): The force needed for a standard pointed probe to puncture the glove. Level 4 indicates the glove withstood over 150 newtons of force without puncturing.
- Impact Protection (Optional – “P”): If the glove has been tested for back-of-hand impact protection (knuckle guards, etc.) and passes, a “P” is added at the end of the code. No “P” means no certified impact protection.
ANSI/ISEA 105: The North American Glove Standard
ANSI/ISEA 105 is the standard used in the United States and Canada to rate work gloves. It covers similar hazards to EN 388 but has its own categories and scales. A key feature of ANSI is its expanded cut resistance scale, which was updated in 2016. Under ANSI/ISEA 105, gloves are rated as follows:
- Cut Resistance (A1–A9): Measured by a straight-blade test (ASTM F2992) on a TDM machine. The rating corresponds to the weight (in grams) required for the blade to cut through the material over a fixed distance. A1 is the lowest cut protection (~200 grams of force to cut), and A9 is the highest (6000+ grams). Each higher level means the glove can withstand significantly more force.
- Puncture Resistance (1–5): Measured with a probe test similar to EN 388’s. Level 1 offers minimal puncture protection, while Level 5 is the maximum. (EN 388’s puncture scale tops out at 4, so ANSI Level 5 covers the highest range of puncture resistance.)
- Abrasion Resistance (0–6): Measured with a rotating sanding wheel. Level 0 means the material didn’t last 100 cycles, whereas Level 6 means it withstood 20,000+ cycles. (EN 388’s abrasion test stops at level 4, around 8,000 cycles.)
Note: ANSI/ISEA 105 does not include a dedicated tear resistance rating like EN 388 does. And for impact protection, ANSI uses a separate standard (ANSI/ISEA 138) rather than including it in the glove’s ANSI rating.
Comparing ANSI and EN 388 Ratings
Both ANSI and EN 388 evaluate glove performance, but their scales and units differ slightly. Here’s how they compare:
- Cut Resistance: Both standards use a similar straight-blade testing machine now, but ANSI reports results in grams (A1–A9) and EN 388 in newtons (A–F). You can’t directly convert one to the other. Roughly, EN level C is comparable to about an ANSI A4, and EN level F (the highest) falls somewhere around ANSI A6–A9. If you must compare, check a conversion chart or the manufacturer’s specs. When in doubt, choose the glove with the higher cut rating for safety.
- Abrasion & Puncture: EN 388 uses a 1–4 scale for abrasion and puncture, while ANSI’s scales go higher (abrasion 0–6, puncture 1–5). A top-rated EN 388 glove (level 4) will also be top-rated in ANSI, just labeled with a different number. For example, EN 388 abrasion 4 often corresponds to ANSI abrasion 6. The important part is recognizing both are indicating a high level of protection.
- Tear Resistance: EN 388 includes a tear resistance rating (1–4) to show how easily the material might rip. ANSI/ISEA 105 has no equivalent tear metric in its ratings.
- Impact Protection: EN 388 can indicate impact protection with a “P” if applicable, whereas ANSI/ISEA 105 doesn’t cover impact in its glove ratings. For impact-resistant gloves, look for EN 388 “P” markings or see if the manufacturer cites compliance with ANSI/ISEA 138.
Choosing the Right Work Gloves for the Job
Understanding the ratings is only helpful if you use that knowledge to select the proper gloves. Keep these tips in mind when choosing work gloves:
- Assess Your Hazards: Identify the dangers in your tasks. Are there sharp blades or sheet metal edges (cut risk)? Rough surfaces like concrete or lumber (abrasion risk)? Needles or broken glass (puncture risk)? Knowing your specific hazards will highlight which glove features (cut, abrasion, tear, puncture, impact) are most critical.
- Match the Protection Level: Once you know the hazards, choose gloves with ratings that meet or exceed those risks. High cut hazard (e.g. handling glass or sharp metal)? Go for a top-tier cut rating (ANSI A6+ or EN Level F). Lower cut risk? A mid-level cut glove (ANSI A3–A4 or EN Level C–D) might be enough and will offer more dexterity. If needle sticks or sharp shards are a big concern, look for a glove with a high puncture rating (ANSI Level 4–5 or the maximum EN 388 puncture level). The idea is to get adequate protection without unnecessary bulk.
- Consider Comfort and Fit: A glove can only protect you if you’re wearing it. If gloves are too bulky, hot, or restrictive, workers might take them off or not wear them consistently. Thanks to modern materials, even some ANSI A5 or A6 cut-resistant gloves can feel fairly lightweight and flexible. Always use the correct size, and consider features like breathable liners or ergonomic designs for long-term comfort.
- Factor in the Environment: Think about the conditions your gloves will face. If it’s wet or oily, choose gloves with a good grip coating (like nitrile) and possibly oil resistance. In cold weather, you may need insulated gloves in addition to cut protection. For jobs with impact hazards (heavy tools, machinery, etc.), look for gloves with built-in impact guards (EN 388 “P” or advertised ANSI/ISEA 138 compliance). And if chemicals are present, remember that neither ANSI nor EN 388 covers chemical resistance—you’ll need specialized gloves for those hazards.
Conclusion
Your hands are irreplaceable, so protecting them should never be overlooked. Now that you understand what ANSI and EN 388 ratings mean, you can confidently choose gloves that match the hazards of your job. Think of those codes as two languages describing how tough a glove is. Use them to make sure everyone goes home with their hands safe and sound. A well-chosen pair of gloves can prevent serious injuries and even improve efficiency. Safety first, hands first!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I read an EN 388 rating?
An EN 388 rating typically appears as a sequence of four numbers and an optional letter (e.g., 4X43F). The numbers represent abrasion resistance (1–4), cut resistance (Coup test, 1–5), tear resistance (1–4), and puncture resistance (1–4). If the glove is tested for cut resistance using the more rigorous TDM test, the coup test may be skipped, and an "X" is used in its place. The letter (A–F) indicates cut resistance based on the TDM test (A is low, F is high).
What’s the difference between ANSI and EN 388 cut resistance ratings?
ANSI and EN 388 measure cut resistance differently. ANSI uses a scale from A1 to A9 (A1 being the lowest, A9 the highest), based on grams of force needed to cut through the material. EN 388 uses a scale from A to F (A is low, F is high) based on newtons of force. While both systems measure the same thing (cut resistance), they use different units and scales. Gloves may be tested under both standards, but you can’t directly convert between them without referencing conversion charts.
Why should I care about impact protection in gloves?
Impact protection is important for jobs where the back of the hand could be struck, such as heavy construction, automotive work, or certain manufacturing environments. Gloves with impact protection have a "P" marked at the end of the EN 388 rating, indicating that the glove passed an impact test. Impact-resistant gloves help prevent injuries from knocks or blows to the hands and knuckles.
