Unigloves EN ISO 374 Standard Update

EN374 updates and changes Introduction The current set of EN ISO 374 Protective gloves against dangerous chemicals and micro-organisms standards have changed and this document details what those changes are.

From a regulatory perspective, parts 1 and 5 have been published in European Union Official Journal (the OJ) and are now harmonised under the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425.

These changes may affect a product’s performance characteristics, labelling, marking information and certification. 

If gloves claim chemical protection, they need to be assessed against EN ISO 374-1:2016.

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In addition, they need to be assessed against EN 374-4:2013. Degradation testing is a requirement of EN ISO 374-1:2016 for all gloves that claim protection against chemicals.

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If gloves are used to protect individuals against biological hazards, additional tests may be necessary.

For bacteria and fungi, compliance with EN 374-2:2014 is considered sufficient. However, if gloves claim protection against viruses, in addition to fungi and bacteria, compliance with EN ISO 374-5:2016 is required.

Standards The EN (ISO) 374 standards for protective gloves against dangerous chemicals and micro-organisms comprises: EN ISO 374-1:2016

Terminology and performance requirements for chemical risks.

EN 374-2:2014

Determination of resistance to penetration.

EN 374-4:2013

Determination of resistance to degradation by chemicals.

EN ISO 374-5:2016

Terminology and performance requirements for micro-organisms risks.

EN 16523-1:2015

Determination of material resistance to permeation by chemicals.

Permeation by liquid chemical under conditions of continuous contact.

EN ISO 374-1:2016 

Specifies the requirements for protective gloves intended to protect the user against dangerous chemicals. The standard stipulates the requirements for Permeation, Penetration and Degradation.



Gloves are classified as one of three types: Type A, Type B or Type C depending on their performance and the number of chemicals they can protect against. The new standard lists 18 instead of 12 chemicals; the 6 additional chemicals are M, N, O, P, S and T.

Code Letter

Chemical

CAS Number

Class

A

Methanol

67-56-1

Primary alcohol

B

Acetone

67-64-1

Ketone

C

Acetonitrile

75-05-8

Nitrile compound

D

Dichloromethane

75-09-2

Chlorinated hydrocarbon

E

Carbon disulphide

75-15-0

Organosulfur compound

F

Toluene

108-88-3

Aromatic hydrocarbon

G

Diethylamine

109-89-7

Amine

H

Tetrahydrofuran

109-99-9

Heterocyclic and ether compound

I

Ethyl acetate

141-78-6

Ester

J

n-Heptane

142-82-5

Saturated hydrocarbon

K

Sodium hydroxide 40%

1310-73-2

Inorganic base

L

Sulphuric acid 96%

7664-93-9

Inorganic mineral acid, oxidizing

M

Nitric acid 65%

7697-37-2

Inorganic mineral acid, oxidizing

N

Acetic acid 99%

64-19-7

Organic acid

O

Ammonium hydroxide 25%

1336-21-6

Organic base

P

Hydrogen peroxide 30%

7722-84-1

Peroxide

S

Hydrofluoric acid 40%

7664-39-3

Inorganic mineral acid

T

Formaldehyde 37%

50-00-0

Aldehyde

Each combination of glove/chemical tested shall be classified according to the table below; Breakthrough time (mins)

Permeation performance level

>10

1

>30

2

>60

3

>120

4

>240

5

>480

6

Glove type and performance requirements: The table below lists the performance level and number of chemicals required for each type:

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Classification

Minimum performance level required

Minimum number of chemicals tested

Type A

2

6

Type B

2

3

Type C

1

1

Requires gloves to be tested for resistance to degradation. Testing shall be performed to EN 3744:2013 for each chemical.

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Degradation resistance shall be reported in the user instructions using the mean percentage change in puncture test before and after chemical exposure.

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EN 16523-1:2015 is the new permeation test method, which replaces the withdrawn EN 3743:2003. This test method is similar to EN 374-3.

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For gloves longer than 400 mm, and if the cuff is claimed to protect against chemical risks, three additional permeation tests shall be done on samples taken from the cuff area. Where the palm and cuff achieve different performance levels, the lowest performance level shall be claimed in the marking against each chemical.



The requirement for EN 388 mechanical testing has been removed.

There are new marking requirements: EN ISO 374-1:2016 / Type C

EN ISO 374-1:2016 / Type B

EN ISO 374-1:2016 / Type A

X

XYZ

UVWXYZ

Marking of Type C gloves

Marking of Type B gloves

Marking of Type A gloves

EN 374-2:2014 This standard replaces EN 374-2:2003 and there are no significant changes. It specifies test methods for the penetration resistance of gloves that protect against dangerous chemicals and/or micro-organisms using water leak and air leak testing.

The main changes from EN 374-2:2003 are: 

Reference to EN 374-3 has changed to EN 16523-1 which is the new test method for chemical permeation.



no classification concerning effective barrier to micro-biological hazards by resistance to penetration which is now covered in EN374-5:2016.

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Clearer wording in test principles and test report.

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Informative Annex A (AQL) for the purpose of production control only, e.g. by the manufacturer or auditing organisation.

EN 374-4:2013 This standard has become a mandatory test for all gloves that offer chemical protection. 

Degradation is a change in the physical characteristics of a glove caused by contact with a chemical, such as shrinking, swelling, brittleness, weakness and flaking.

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Degradation is determined by measuring the change in puncture resistance of a glove after continuous contact of the external surface with a challenge chemical.

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The test is applicable to gloves made from natural or synthetic rubbers but lined gloves, also known as supported gloves, may produce unusable results.

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The degradation resistance shall be determined according to EN 374-4 for each chemical claimed in the marking.

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Degradation resistance shall be reported in the user instructions using the mean percentage change in puncture test before and after chemical exposure.

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For gloves longer than 400 mm, the degradation corresponding to the lowest permeation results shall be reported.

EN ISO 374-5:2016 This standard specifies performance requirements for gloves that protect the end user against microorganisms. 

Microbiological agents are defined as fungi, bacteria or virus.

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Penetration testing is required for all gloves claiming micro-organisms protection; the test method is described in EN 374-2:2014, air-leak and water-leak. The test method has not changed.

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Gloves offering protection against viruses shall additionally pass a penetration test according to ISO 16604:2004 Determination of resistance of protective clothing materials to penetration by blood-borne pathogens.

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For gloves longer than 400 mm, and if the cuff is claimed to protect against micro-organisms risks, additional test specimens shall be taken from the cuff area and tested.

Marking/Pictograms used for gloves protecting against bacteria and fungi: EN ISO 374-5:2016

Marking of gloves protecting against, bacteria and fungi

Marking/Pictograms used for gloves protecting against virus, bacteria and fungi: EN ISO 374-5:2016

VIRUS Marking of gloves protecting against virus, bacteria and fungi