PRO CHOICE SAFETY GEAR CATALOGUE - Flipbook - Page 118
PRO CHOICE SAFETY GEAR
MECHANICAL RISK
STANDARD
EN388 - Mechanical Risk
Standards
The European EN388 Mechanical Risk
standard was updated in 2016 to make
testing procedures and results more
precise.
Key changes to the standard are an additional cut test
(ISO13997) if the traditional cut test (Coupe Test) fails and a
non-compulsory impact resistance test.
As fabrics, in particular cut resistant fabrics have become
more technically advanced in protecting against cuts and
lacerations, limitations of the traditional methods for measuring
cut resistance (Coupe Test) have been identified.
The Coupe Test measures cut resistance by recording the
number of cycles it takes to cut through a glove material at
a constant speed and pressure when compared to a cotton
reference. Five (5) is the highest score a glove can receive,
using the Coupe Test.
Many cut resistant fabrics have evolved significantly from
when the EN388 standard was originally written. In fact,
many of these fabrics will blunt the Coupe Test blade, further
compromising the accuracy of test results.
ISO 13997 measures the amount of pressure required to make
an incision in the test fabric over a 20mm travel distance using
a razor sharp blade. Performance is rated in the letters A to
F depending on resistance to pressure, which is measured in
Newtons (N). “F” is the maximum cut resistance of the ISO
13997 test and is awarded to any fabric that achieves a cut
resistance of equal to or grater than 30N or approximately
3.06kg.
The ISO 13997 Cut Test is commonly referred to as a “real
world” cut test because of its ability to measure cut force,
which is widely considered a more relevant metric in workplace
situations when a cut risk is present.
DO YOUR GLOVES
MAKE
THE
CUT?
WE EXPERIMENT,
EN 388
SO YOU DON ’T HAVE TO!
The EN388:2016 impact test measures resistance to a 2.5kg
weight impacting with an energy of 5J (Joules) onto the
glove. The material may not fracture or split and is measured
in accordance with EN13594:2015. The glove is awarded a
“Pass” (P) if it can reduce the amount of force to below nine (9)
Kilo Newtons (kN) of force. The glove itself will be marked with
either a “P” or nothing if it fails or is untested.
Other updates in EN388:2016 include a pre-defined sandpaper
grit for the abrasive test to provide more consistent results.
An “X” rating is marked on the glove if the glove has not been
tested, or if the test is not applicable to the glove.
EN388:2016 states that if the Coupe Test blade is deemed
“blunt”, the Coupe Test is abandoned and ISO 13997 shall be
used.
HAND PROTECTION
XXXXXX
ABRASION:
Number of cycles a
glove can withstand
to abrade through
the material. A predefined sandpaper
grit will be used as
abradant to conduct
the test providing
more consistent
results.
TEAR:
Force a glove’s
material can
withstand before it is
torn apart.
PUNCTURE:
Force a glove’s
material can
withstand before it
is perforated using a
standard needle size.
CYCLES
LEVEL
CUT INDEX
LEVEL
NEWTON
LEVEL
NEWTON
LEVEL
≥8000
4
≥20
5
≥75
4
≥150
4
≥10
4
≥5
3
≥2,5
2
≥1,2
1
