How to Read a Glove Rating
Every EN 388 rating tells you how a glove performed against specific mechanical hazards but the code is easy to misread. A high cut rating does not tell you how the glove performs against puncture, tear or impact, and EN 388 does not cover every hazard you may encounter at work.
Here is what each position on the EN 388 marking measures, what it does not measure, and how to match a rating to the hazards your incident log is already recording.
Where to find the rating
Look for the mechanical-risk pictogram on the glove and its packaging. Under it sits a performance code, read strictly from left to right:
A B C D E F
- A — Abrasion resistance, 0 to 4
- B — Blade cut resistance, Coup test, 0 to 5
- C — Tear resistance, 0 to 4
- D — Puncture resistance, 0 to 4
- E — Cut resistance, TDM test to ISO 13997, A to F
- F — Impact protection: P for pass, F for fail, or X if not tested/not applicable
An X in a position means the relevant test was not performed or was not applicable. It does not mean zero performance. In the Coup cut position, X can also be used where the test is not applicable because blade dulling makes the result unsuitable; in that situation, the ISO 13997/TDM result is the reference cut result.
In Australia, the current Australian/New Zealand standard for mechanical protective gloves is AS/NZS 2161.3:2020. It adopts EN 388:2016+A1:2018, so the EN 388 marking is directly relevant when specifying mechanical-risk gloves in Australia.
Abrasion resistance (0 to 4)
A sample from the glove is rubbed against an abrasive material under specified conditions until breakthrough. The performance level is based on the number of abrasion cycles/rubs reached before breakthrough.
| Level | Abrasion cycles/rubs |
| 1 | 100 |
| 2 | 500 |
| 3 | 2,000 |
| 4 | 8,000 |
Abrasion is primarily a wear-resistance measure. It is useful when gloves are repeatedly rubbed against rough surfaces or materials, but the rating should not be treated as a direct prediction of glove lifespan or cost per shift. Actual service life depends on the glove construction, task, materials handled, fit and working conditions. For tougher industrial applications, see our riggers gloves range.
Blade cut resistance, Coup test (0 to 5)
A circular blade moves back and forth across the glove material under a specified load until it cuts through. The result is expressed as a cut index against a reference material.
| Level | Cut index |
| 1 | 1.2 |
| 2 | 2.5 |
| 3 | 5.0 |
| 4 | 10.0 |
| 5 | 20.0 |
The Coup test can be affected by blade dulling, particularly with some high-performance cut-resistant materials. When significant dulling occurs, the Coup result is only indicative and the ISO 13997/TDM result is the reference cut-resistance result. The two cut tests should not be treated as interchangeable.
Tear resistance (0 to 4)
A prepared test specimen is pulled apart and the force required to tear it is recorded.
| Level | Force |
| 1 | 10 N |
| 2 | 25 N |
| 3 | 50 N |
| 4 | 75 N |
Tear resistance matters where gloves may catch, snag or be subjected to forces that can enlarge an existing tear. It can be relevant around conveyors, mesh, chain and strapping. It should not, however, be treated as a stand-alone measure of how long a glove will last.
Puncture resistance (0 to 4)
A specified steel probe is pushed through the glove material and the force required to puncture it is recorded.
| Level | Force |
| 1 | 20 N |
| 2 | 60 N |
| 3 | 100 N |
| 4 | 150 N |
This is one of the most commonly misunderstood EN 388 results. The puncture probe is approximately 4.5 mm in diameter and has a tapered tip, so the test is not designed to represent a fine, sharply pointed object such as a hypodermic needle. A high EN 388 puncture rating therefore does not mean a glove is needle-stick resistant.
If needle puncture is a hazard on your site, specify a glove that has been evaluated with an appropriate needle-puncture method, such as ASTM F2878, and assess the glove against the actual task and hazard. ASTM F2878 is specifically concerned with resistance to penetration by hypodermic needles.
Cut resistance, TDM test (A to F)
The TDM test, based on ISO 13997, uses a fresh straight blade and measures the force required to produce a specified cut-through distance. The result is reported in newtons and classified from A to F.
| Level | Force to cut through |
| A | 2 N |
| B | 5 N |
| C | 10 N |
| D | 15 N |
| E | 22 N |
| F | 30 N |
Where blade dulling affects the Coup test, the TDM result is the reference measure for cut resistance. The A–F levels should be read as their own scale, not as a conversion of the 0–5 Coup scale.
Impact protection (P, F or X)
Impact protection is an optional EN 388 test for areas of the glove designed to provide impact protection. A P indicates that the glove passed; F indicates that it failed; X indicates that the test was not performed or was not applicable. There are no impact performance grades.
The EN 388 impact test assesses impact attenuation in specified areas, such as the knuckle/back-of-hand protection. A pass requires a mean transmitted force of no more than 7 kN, with no individual result above 9 kN.
Do not treat an EN 388 P as a general ‘crush protection’ rating. Crush, pinch and entanglement hazards require task-specific risk assessment and controls; the EN 388 impact test does not establish that a glove will prevent a crush injury.
Reading a full rating
Take 4X43DP:
- Abrasion 4 — 8,000 cycles/rubs
- Coup cut X — the Coup result is not available/applicable; the TDM result is the reference cut result
- Tear 4 — 75 N
- Puncture 3 — 100 N
- TDM cut D — 15 N
- Impact P — passed the impact test
That rating indicates strong abrasion and tear performance, a level 3 EN 388 puncture result, level D TDM cut resistance and a pass for the EN 388 impact test. It does not, by itself, establish suitability for sheet metal, glass, needles, heat, chemicals, crush hazards or any other risk outside the tests reported.
Specify against your incident log, not the highest number
The most common purchasing error is choosing the highest cut level available and treating the job as done. A glove that is unnecessarily stiff, bulky or difficult to work in may be less likely to be worn correctly. Protection only works when the glove is appropriate for the task and used as intended. For lower-risk warehouse picking applications, see our picking gloves range.
Three steps to work through before your next order:
- Pull the last twelve months of hand injuries and near misses. Sort them by mechanism, not just severity. Look for patterns such as cuts, punctures, abrasion, tears and impacts.
- Match each mechanism to the relevant glove performance characteristic. Puncture points to position four; cut hazards point to positions two and five; repeated rubbing points to position one; and impact protection, where relevant, points to P.
- Trial the glove on the task before you commit to a pallet of them. Grip, fit, dexterity, cuff length, compatibility with other PPE and the need for chemical or thermal protection are not captured by the EN 388 code.
If you would like a second opinion on gloves you currently have, send us the rating string and a short description of the task. We will tell you whether the rating appears to match the hazard or whether you may be paying for protection you are not using. If you need help choosing, contact us with the rating and task details.
