Safety glove new cut resistance levels, all you need to know

You have questions regarding the new safety glove cut resistance levels, and we have the answers, read on .

Questions about the new cut resistance levels introduced to replace the EN388 cut level rating of 1 to 5, to the new level of ISO cut resistance A to F are quite common....
FIRST THINGS FIRST, does the old 1 to 5 equal just the same as the new A to F rating for cut resistance?....erm sorry, not quite ! In 2018 the method for testing cut-resistant gloves changed. And cut resistance went from numbers 1 - 5 to letters, A- F . But in a nutshell cut level A and even cut level B are just general handling gloves with little cut resistance offering as we know it, but level C starts to get serious :) 

What does cut resistance and en388 mean when it comes to safety gloves ?
Cut resistance rating are all governed by the hazards covered by the European Safety Standard, which is called the EN388.
One part of en388 gives a cut rating as to how much pressure from sharp objects each glove can withstand before it shows signs of cuts.
There were 5 levels or ratings to look out for on these hazards which would be listed on the glove in most cases from 1 to 5 for Cut resistance.

The new cut markings that relate to the cut resistance have changed to A to F (6 levels of cut resistance)  we are interested in is the ISO cut resistance in this case below it is level C


The old 2003 version of testing for cut resistance on gloves used to use a circular blade adding downward pressure on the gloves material until it broke through the fabric, triggering a sensor at a pre-determined level. This was then given a rating of level 1 to maximum level 5.

The new 2016 ISO cut test version involves a new flat blade applied to the gloves material at an increasing pressure until damage occurs, this then translate to the higher the pressure the higher rating from level A(lowest basically a grip glove or handling glove)  to Level F (maximum cut rating)
As the transition continues to the new standards, you may see both the old "CUT RESISTANCE" and then new "ISO CUT RESISTANCE" listed on gloves or literature. 
We suggest judging whether the glove is right for you by using the newer ISO cut resistance rating, simply because it is the newer rating and also gives a larger spectrum of ratings. A to F as opposed to 1 to 5.
If you are or were still buying older style cut level 3 or cut level 5 gloves there is no need to change....these are still good and can be purchased and used as designed, it's just that now there is another "level" beyond the old scope and is level F, the highest you can get. We will see glove manufacturers gradually adopting the new standards into the stream as production gathers pace.

Finally , if I usually have a cut level 5 glove, do I go for a cut level F ?..... If you want the very maximum cut level then yes you can, but the new standard also lists cut level 5 gloves as the new level C or D aswell as F, so it depends on how much protection you also need from abrasion or dexterity of glove required. see our cut resistant gloves here  



 

Old standard still usable if you have them below and can still be purchased

New ISO cut standard below