Buying work gloves should be straightforward. But for most UK procurement managers, the string of letters and numbers stamped inside a pair of gloves — EN388, EN407, EN21420 — reads like a foreign language.
This guide cuts through the jargon. Whether you’re sourcing gloves for a warehouse, construction site, engineering workshop, or agricultural operation, here’s what every EN standard actually means — and how to use them to make better buying decisions.
Why EN Standards Matter
EN standards are European Norms: independently tested performance benchmarks. A glove bearing an EN marking has been tested by an accredited laboratory and has met a defined minimum threshold for that hazard type.
In the UK, CE and UKCA marks confirm compliance with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations. If a glove claims protection without a valid EN marking, it has not been independently verified.
For UK businesses, specifying by EN standard also provides a defensible audit trail — critical for risk assessments under the Health & Safety at Work Act.
EN ISO 21420: The General Requirements Standard
EN ISO 21420 (which replaced EN 420 in 2020) sets the baseline requirements that all protective gloves must meet regardless of their specific hazard protection. It covers ergonomics and fit, innocuousness of materials, standard sizing from 6 to 11, and dexterity testing using a steel pin pick-and-place test.
Think of EN ISO 21420 as the minimum entry requirement. Any glove carrying an EN hazard standard must also comply with EN ISO 21420.
EN 388: Mechanical Risk Gloves
EN 388 is the most widely used glove standard in the UK. It covers protection against mechanical hazards: abrasion, cut resistance, tearing, and puncture. The standard was updated in 2016, adding an impact protection test.
Performance is shown as a series of numbers and sometimes a letter — for example EN 388 4543B. Each position corresponds to a test:
- 1st digit (0-4): Abrasion resistance
- 2nd digit (0-5): Blade cut resistance (Coup test)
- 3rd digit (0-4): Tear resistance
- 4th digit (0-4): Puncture resistance
- Letter A-F (or X): ISO 13997 cut resistance — more reliable for high-cut gloves
- Final letter P or F: Impact protection (P = pass)
Higher numbers indicate better performance. For general handling and warehousing, look for a minimum abrasion rating of 2 and puncture of 2. For rigger work, construction, and engineering, aim for 3 or 4 across the board.
EN 407: Thermal Risk Gloves
EN 407 covers protection against heat and flame — the standard for welding gloves, oven gloves, and any hand protection used near heat sources. The marking uses six digits covering burning behaviour, contact heat resistance, convective heat, radiant heat, small molten metal splashes, and large molten metal splashes (each rated 0-4, or 0-3 for the final digit).
For MIG welding, look for contact heat rating of at least 2 and molten metal splash rating of 3 or above. For TIG welding, where dexterity matters more than heat mass, a lighter glove with rating X3XXXX is often the right balance.
EN 374: Chemical and Microorganism Protection
EN 374 covers gloves designed to protect against chemicals and microorganisms. Gloves marked with a flask symbol passed the penetration test against at least three chemicals. Gloves with the higher “Type A” designation passed against at least six chemicals. Chemical-specific breakthrough times are listed in the product data sheet — always check these against the actual chemicals being handled on your site.
EN 511: Cold Protection
EN 511 applies to gloves protecting against cold down to -50 degrees Celsius. The marking uses three digits covering convective cold, contact cold, and water permeability. For cold store and outdoor winter work, look for at least a 2 rating in convective cold.
How to Use Standards When Specifying Gloves
The practical approach for buyers:
- Start with the hazard — identify the primary risk (cut, heat, chemical, cold, impact)
- Select the relevant standard for that hazard
- Set a minimum performance level appropriate to the task
- Cross-check EN ISO 21420 compliance for general fitness
- Request test data sheets from your supplier for anything safety-critical
A competent glove supplier should provide copies of test certificates for any product they stock without hesitation. If they cannot, treat that as a red flag.
Need Help Specifying Gloves?
At Just 1 Source, we supply EN-certified hand protection across the full risk spectrum — from general handling to cut level F, welding, chemical protection, and cold environments. Our technical team can help match the right glove to the right hazard. Request a free sample pack or contact us for specification support.