PIP Consumables Catalogue JULY 2024 ED1 DIGITAL V3 - Flipbook - Page 36
PROTECTIVE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS
NEEDLE STICK
PROTECTION
As materials and manufacturing techniques used for glove making have developed
over the past decades, the ability to provide specific performance characteristics in
hand protection has continually improved.
Yet when trying to understand glove suitability for the intended task, it becomes apparent that the listed brand / manufacturer
information relating to Puncture and Needle resistant gloves is not uniformly presented or easily comparable.
In researching this topic, one can ond a diverse range of testing methods, certiocations and performance ratings quoted
in various formats / units of measure. The potential confusion created by these non-complimentary documents and data is
distracting from the main purpose of providing clear and distinct information so that employee / employers can evaluate the most
suitable product available for the intended purpose.
The Variations in Test Methods
Last Century a European Standard EN388 was created to
help determine which glove may best suit what application.
It was known as the 8Protection against Mechanical Risks9
Standard for hand protection and tested for Abrasion, Cut,
Tear and Puncture resistance. In this Standard the Puncture
test was conducted by a 5mm steel probe (Pencil size) with a
rounded point tip 1 mm wide. This probe pressed against the
glove palm at a right angle travelling at 100mm/minute. This
rather thick object travelling at a slow speed tended to bend,
stretch and eventually burst through the material. This test is
particularly relevant to static spikes, thick splinters or wire,
edges of steel / aluminium.
PUNCTURE RESISTANT RANGE
In November 2010 a new standard test method ASTM
F2778¬10 was introduced for 8Protective Clothing Material
resistance to Hypodermic Needle Puncture9. In Feb 2016 the
American ANSI/ ISEA 105 Standard was updated to include
the ASTM F2878¬10.
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This is now the internationally recognised testing procedure
speciocally for needle resistant gloves. In this test the one
point Needle travels at 500mm/minute, measuring the amount
of force to pierce (Needles have a precise bevelled edge) then
pass through material in Newtons force.
Today some manufacturers are persisting with older test
methodologies that are not speciocally designed to test hand
protection such as the Modioed ASTM F1342-05. Some
manufacturers are quoting glove performance in other than
the Standard International unit of Force which is the 8Newton9.
It is only when you convert their alternate unit measures
of force that you can have a clearer appraisal of the actual
protection factor. If your glove manufacturer is providing you
with measure of force in 1 Pound / foot (lb/ft) this equals
1.3558179 Newton-meters. Others will provide force in Grams
1 = 0.00980665 Newtons.
The importance of Needle Gauge
Take note of the gauge (diameter) of Hypodermic Needle used in the testing. The 25gg Needle is the accepted standard gauge
for industry testing. Some tests are conducted with 23gg as the wider Needle tip delivers better performance results (the smaller
the gauge number the wider the needle). We ond real world reference to gauge when a commonly provided 8substance addiction9
or Diabetes Needle is 19 or 23 gauge in thickness.
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