A little too hot perhaps?
You need the right protection for your hands when working with heat, just as you do when working in extreme cold weather.
Heat resistant gloves are tested and rated the same as cold weather gloves to determine the highest temperature the glove can withstand for a length of time, without the wearer getting burnt or feeling any pain.
Under the EN407:2004 standard, there are several tests and a 1-4 rating scale for heat resistant gloves.
Burning Behaviour Test
The vertical flame test measures the after-burn time and after-glow time in high heat resistant gloves. This test measures how quick the material takes to extinguish itself after flame exposure (in seconds).
Contact Heat Test
This test measure the gloves ability to withstand temperatures from 100C to 500C. Eeach temperature is tested separately and stops when the inside of the glove rises >10C.
Convection Heat Test
This test uses a controlled gas flame on different areas of the glove. The goal is to determine how long it takes to raise the inner temperature above 24C.
Radiant Heat Test
The radiant heat test uses a heat source placed at a constant distance to the back of the glove to determine how long it takes to raise the inner temperature above 24C.
Small Molten Metal Drops Test
This measures the number of droplets (of molten metal) required to raise the inside temperature of the glove by more than 40C. The lowest average number of 4 tests is used.
Large Quantities of Molten Metal Test
Similar to the molten metal droplet test, this test measures the effects of larger volumes of molten metal on the glove. A PVC foil skin is placed on the inside of the glove and is assessed after each test. The test is stopped when this foil skin is damaged, or the glove is ignited and/or punctured.
What are the Most Heat Resistant Materials?
Dupont® Kevlar® provides excellent resistance to cuts, abrasion, sparks and heat. It is 2.5 times more cut resistant than cotton and will not melt or burn. Kevlar is suitable for working in temperatures over 450C.
Neoprene is the best option for protection against steam or hot liquids as its burning point is over 500C.
Terry Knit or Terry Cloth is a natural material that is looped when knitted, trapping air and creating excellent insulation. Terry Cloth is suitable for temperatures up to 450F. For higher temperatures, terry cloth can be used a liner in another heat resistant material.
Leather is generally used for welding gloves as it protects the hands from heat, sparks and molten metal splatter, as well as being durable and abrasion/cut resistant.
Other Factors to Consider
How long are you holding the hot object? The longer you’re holding on to something hot, the hotter your hand will get inside the glove, even with the best heat resistant material.
How often are you handling hot objects, or for how long will your gloved hand be exposed to continuous heat? Is there cool-down time between uses? For longer exposures to heat, you need a more insulated glove. However, more insulated gloves tend to offer less movement and dexterity.
Weight of the object is also something to consider – a heavier item will have contact with more surface area of the glove, rather than something small you can hold lightly at your fingertips.
We have an excellent range of heat-resistant gloves to suit your industry needs. Check out our Specialist Bakers Range by clicking the image below.
