EN388:2016 - Mechanical Hazards
Abrasion Resistance - (1 - 4 scale based on the number of cycles to abrade through the sample fabric.)
A sample of material is taken from the glove and fastened in place. The machine uses a weighted rubbing head with 180 grit sandpaper that moves in a circular motion around the whole sample surface area. Each rotation of the rubbing head is measured as one cycle, with the test coming to an end once the head has achieved a breakthrough of the material.
Cut Resistance (Coup) - (1 - 4 scale based on the number of cycles to cut through the sample fabric at a constant speed.)
The old Coup test is conducted with a circular blade that rotates in cycles and moves back and forth along the same piece of material until a “cut through” is achieved. The test uses the same amount of downward pressure (5 newtons) , blade travel and blade speed on all materials. Materials with higher cut resistance will contribute to the dulling of the circular blade during the coup test. To further differentiate gloves in the “Class 5” category, a new test (TDM-100) has been implemented as part of the 2016 revision.
Tear Resistance - (1 - 4 scale based on the newton force required to tear the fabric while held between clamps.)
The tear resistance test takes a sample of material from four seperate gloves. The material is then clamped in the machine and the tear resistance is measured as the clamps move apart at a constant speed (100mm/min). Once the material has been torn, the force required to achieve this is recorded and the lowest force of the four tests is the end result. (10N = 1kg).
Cut Resistance (NEW TDM-100) - (A - F scale based on the force required to cut through the fabric using a moving straight blade.)
The new TDM-100 method tested to ISO 13997 addresses the flaws of the coup test by including a variable change in force applied to the moving blade. The material is placed on top of a curved surface with an increasing force applied to the contact between the straight blade and the material. A contact circuit measures the instant the blade first breaks through. The test records 5 seperate passes to achieve a cut through, with a new blade being installed after each pass. This new method gives an ‘A to F’ scale of cut resistance with ‘A’ being the lowest and ‘F’ being the highest. (10N = 1kg)
Impact Test - (A pass or fail based on the mean transmitted force experienced on the inside of the glove.)
If the glove has impact protection material on the knuckles, there is the option to test for this. A 2.5kg flat metal hammer is dropped from a suffcient height to provide an impact energy of 5 Joules. A sensor underneath the sample measures the peak force in kilonewtons. To achieve a pass “P” the peak force must be 7 kilonewtons or less.