PPE Testing
Protecting your hands. It's what we do!
Did you know? All Dirty Rigger gloves are tested to various international standards for PPE. Here’s a quick guide on what the symbols mean and how they help protect you.
PPE Testing
Protecting your hands. It's what we do!
Did you know? All Dirty Rigger gloves are tested to various international standards for PPE. Here’s a quick guide on what the symbols mean and how they help protect you.
EN388
Numerous changes over the years make it easy to get confused with EN388. To make it more simple, we’ve summarised some key areas below…
EN388 (usually followed by a revision date) is a European safety standard for gloves that protect against mechanical risks. Many other countries outside the EU have also adopted the EN388 standard. The standard has been updated several times over the years, but in general, it includes physical tests to assess the resistance of the glove’s palm area to abrasion, cutting, tearing and puncture. Most tests use a number to indicate the performance level (1-4, or 1-5, depending on the test); the higher the number, the greater the protection. Furthermore, some additional tests for cut resistance use a letter (A, B, C, D, E, F) to indicate the performance level scale. In this case, ‘A’ offers the least protection, and ‘F’ provides the greatest protection. If applicable, gloves may also be tested for impact resistance and will display a ‘P’ to indicate a pass. Unlike some tests, there is no grading level for this standard. The glove must meet all the primary requirements for impact protection in order to pass.
What does the 'X' or '0' mean?
If you see an ‘X’ or an ‘O’ this indicates that a test was not conducted or that no score was achieved. In some cases, a test may not be conducted if it’s not applicable for the glove’s intended use.
STANDARD EN 407
EN407 (usually followed by a revision date) is a general standard designed for gloves which are intended to provide protection against thermal hazards. EN407 has been updated several times over the years, but in general, it includes physical tests to assess the thermal resistance of the glove’s palm area. Tests include: burning behaviour, contact heat, convective heat, radiant heat, and small and large splashes of molten metal. A number from 1-4 indicates the performance level; the higher the number, the greater the protection. It’s common for a glove to only show a performance level for one or two EN407 tests. This is likely due to some of the tests not being required for the glove’s intended use. Tests not conducted will display an ‘X’.
CE Mark
The letters ‘CE’ appear on many products that are traded on the single market in the European Economic Area (EEA). A CE mark indicates that the product conforms to a range of safety, health and environmental protection requirements. Not all products must bear the CE marking – only those specific to particular categories or directives, like PPE items. As a result, all Dirty Rigger Gloves are CE marked.
UKCA Mark
The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking is a certification mark that indicates conformity with health, safety, and environmental protection standards for products sold within the United Kingdom. It came into effect on January 1, 2021, after the UK left the European Union. Not all products must bear the UKCA marking – only those specific to particular categories or directives, like PPE items. As a result, all Dirty Rigger Gloves are UKCA marked.
Info Book
The info book symbol is usually found wherever a product is claiming EN388, EN407 and many other standards. Info books or, User Information Guides, as they’re also known, contain important information about a glove’s intended use, limitations, testing results and more. They’re important documents and should be read before using the product.
IMPORTANT: The information shown is intended as a general guide only. We make all reasonable efforts to ensure its accuracy; however, we recommend referring to the official documentation provided with your PPE.