The two dominant mechanical-protection standards
Every industrial glove sold in the EU or the US is tested against one of two mechanical-protection standards: EN388:2016+A1:2018 (European Norm, required by PPE Regulation 2016/425) or ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 (American voluntary standard recognized by OSHA-driven procurement). Both measure cut, abrasion, puncture, and tear — but they use different test methods, different units, and different level scales. Buyers writing a cross-market spec routinely miss-compare a Level D glove with an A5 glove and end up with the wrong protection.
40%
of industrial PPE returns from US buyers of EU-sourced gloves trace back to a cut-level mismatch between EN388 and ANSI/ISEA 105 ratings.
Source: AB Leather export returns data, 2024-2026 (n = 412 RMAs)
EN388:2016 at a glance
EN388:2016 expresses results as four digits, an optional letter, and an optional P. A label of 4X43DP decodes as:
- 4 — Abrasion resistance (0–4, Martindale cycles)
- X — Coup cut test not applicable (TDM letter supersedes)
- 4 — Tear resistance (0–4, Newtons)
- 3 — Puncture resistance (0–4, Newtons)
- D — ISO 13997 TDM cut level (A–F, Newtons)
- P — EN 13594 impact protection (pass)
ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 at a glance
ANSI 105 uses separate rating scales for each hazard. A typical glove spec lists:
- Cut A1–A9 — ASTM F2992-15 TDM-100 grams-to-cut
- Abrasion 0–6 — ASTM D3884 / D3389 cycles-to-failure
- Puncture 0–5 — ASTM F1342 Newtons
- Needle puncture 1–5 — Hypodermic needle Newtons
- Heat/flame — ASTM F1060 conductive heat, ASTM F2675 arc flash
Cut-resistance cross-reference (the one buyers miss)
The cut test is where cross-market procurement most often goes wrong. EN388:2016 and ANSI 105 both use straight-blade TDM tests but report different units. Use this cross-reference when converting a spec:
| EN388 Level (N) | ANSI/ISEA Level (g) | Approx. conversion | Typical hazard |
|---|---|---|---|
| A — 2 N | A1 — 200–499 g | Nuisance cuts | General handling |
| B — 5 N | A2 — 500–999 g | Light cut risk | Warehouse, light assembly |
| C — 10 N | A3 — 1,000–1,499 g | Moderate | Construction framing |
| D — 15 N | A4 — 1,500–2,199 g | High | Sheet metal, HVAC |
| E — 22 N | A5 — 2,200–2,999 g | Very high | Automotive stamping |
| F — 30 N | A6–A9 — 3,000–6,000+ g | Extreme | Glass, metal recycling, blade handling |
1 N ≈ 102 g
Conversion factor between EN388 TDM Newtons (ISO 13997) and ANSI 105 TDM-100 grams (ASTM F2992-15). An EN388 Level D glove tested at 22 N converts to roughly 2,244 g — the low end of ANSI A5.
Abrasion, tear, and puncture — unit mismatches
Abrasion and puncture don't line up cleanly between the two standards because they test against different reference materials and probe geometries. Practical rule of thumb for procurement:
- Abrasion: EN388 Level 4 ≈ ANSI abrasion Level 4–5 (8,000+ cycles vs 10,000+ cycles under load).
- Puncture: EN388 Level 4 ≈ ANSI Level 3–4 (150+ N vs 60–100 N). EN388 tests with a stylus, ANSI with a specified conical probe.
- Tear: Only EN388 rates tear directly. If a US buyer needs a tear number, ask for the EN388 test report.
Impact protection — the P rating and the ANSI impact scale
Impact protection was added to EN388 in 2016 as an optional P rating (pass/fail, tested per EN 13594). ANSI added impact ratings in the 2016 update as a separate 1–3 scale tested per ASTM F2675. A glove marked EN388 P meets at least Level 1 of the ANSI F2675 scale; always request the raw report if the ANSI number matters for OSHA documentation.
How to write a dual-market glove spec
- Start from the highest hazard level on each scale — for construction, that is typically EN388 4X43D and ANSI Cut A4, Abrasion 4, Puncture 3.
- Ask the supplier for the underlying test reports, not just the label. Headline letters hide a 50% range inside each level.
- Require batch retest every 12 months and on any material change — ISO 13997 results drift as leather chemistry changes.
- Print both ratings on the glove cuff and on the commercial invoice so customs and receiving can match the spec.
30–45 days
Typical lead time for AB Leather to run a full EN388 + ANSI/ISEA 105 retest on a modified leather hide batch, including third-party lab report and updated declaration of conformity.
When to pick EN388, when to pick ANSI, when to pick both
Pick EN388 when your primary market is the EU, UK, or any country that has aligned with PPE Regulation 2016/425. Pick ANSI/ISEA 105 when selling to OSHA-governed US industrial buyers — especially in construction, oil & gas, and manufacturing. Specify both when the SKU is destined for a distributor network that ships to both markets; dual rating adds less than 2% to the unit cost and removes every compliance ambiguity at receiving.