What do the six numbers on an EN407 glove label mean?

In order: (1) limited flame spread 0–4, (2) contact heat resistance 0–4, (3) convective heat resistance 0–4, (4) radiant heat resistance 0–4, (5) small splashes of molten metal 0–4, and (6) large quantities of molten metal 0–4. An X in any position means that hazard was not tested, not that it failed.

Do I need EN407 and EN388 on the same welding glove?

Usually yes. EN407 covers heat and flame only, it says nothing about cut, abrasion, or puncture resistance. Most welding and fabrication gloves carry both an EN388 mechanical rating and an EN407 thermal rating, since welders also handle sharp-edged sheet metal and grinding debris.

What EN407 rating do I need for MIG or stick welding?

Most MIG and stick welding applications call for a minimum contact heat level of 2 (100°C) and a molten metal splash level of 3 or 4, since stick welding and MIG both produce sustained spatter. TIG welding, which runs cooler and produces less spatter, is often specified one level lower on splash resistance but should not drop below contact heat level 2.

Is a higher EN407 number always better?

Not automatically. Higher thermal levels usually mean thicker, stiffer leather, which reduces dexterity. Overspecifying contact heat or convective heat resistance for light-duty TIG work can slow down a welder and increase fatigue without adding real protection. Match the rating to the actual heat exposure of the process, not the highest number available.

What does an X rating mean on an EN407 label?

X means that specific hazard was not tested for that glove, it is not a failing score. A glove rated 4X42XX, for example, was tested for flame spread, contact heat, and convective heat, but not for radiant heat or molten metal splash. Always check the test report if a hazard your process produces shows an X.

EN407 Welding Glove Compliance | Buyer Guide

EN407 is the European standard for gloves that protect against heat and flame, contact with hot surfaces, convective heat, radiant heat, small splashes of molten metal, and large quantities of molten metal. It is the standard welders, foundry workers, and furnace operators look for on a glove cuff, and it is tested and certified separately from EN388, the mechanical-protection standard covering cut, abrasion, tear, and puncture.

What EN407 measures, and why welding buyers need it

A welding glove is exposed to hazards a mechanical-protection glove was never tested for: direct contact with a hot workpiece, radiant heat from an arc, and splashes of molten metal from grinding or MIG spatter. EN407:2020 tests each of these hazards independently and reports a separate performance level for each, so a buyer can see exactly which thermal risks a glove has been verified against, not just a single pass or fail.

500°C
The maximum contact-heat temperature tested under EN407 Level 4, the highest of five contact-heat levels (0 through 4). A glove rated Level 4 must limit the wearer's skin temperature rise to a defined threshold when the glove surface is held against a 500°C block for 15 seconds.

The six EN407 performance levels

EN407 reports results as six digits in a fixed order. Each digit is scored independently on its own 0–4 (or 0–3, for burning behaviour) scale, and an X in any position means that hazard was not tested for that glove, not that it failed.

Position	Hazard tested	Scale	What it means at the top level
1	Limited flame spread	0–4	Self-extinguishes within 2 seconds after flame removal, no afterglow
2	Contact heat	0–4	Withstands 500°C contact for 15+ seconds within skin-temperature limits
3	Convective heat	0–4	Delays heat transfer through an open flame by 20+ seconds
4	Radiant heat	0–4	Delays radiant heat transfer by 95+ seconds
5	Small splashes of molten metal	0–4	Withstands 35+ molten metal droplets before heat transfer
6	Large quantities of molten metal	0–4	Withstands 200+ grams of molten metal without burn-through

How to read a six-digit EN407 label

A label reading 4 1 3 2 4 3 decodes position by position: Level 4 flame spread, Level 1 contact heat, Level 3 convective heat, Level 2 radiant heat, Level 4 small molten-metal splash, Level 3 large molten-metal splash. A label showing 4X42XX means flame spread, contact heat, and convective heat were tested at Levels 4, X (not tested), and 2, while radiant heat and both molten-metal categories were not tested at all, not that the glove failed those tests.

6 independent tests
EN407 scores flame spread, contact heat, convective heat, radiant heat, small molten-metal splash, and large molten-metal splash separately. A glove can score well on one hazard and an X on another, always read all six positions, not just the headline number.

EN407 vs EN388: two standards, two different jobs

EN407 and EN388 test completely different hazard families and are not interchangeable. EN388 covers abrasion, blade cut, tear, and puncture, mechanical risks. EN407 covers flame, contact heat, convective heat, radiant heat, and molten metal, thermal risks. A welding glove needs both: EN388 for the sharp edges and grinding debris a fabricator handles alongside the welding itself, and EN407 for the heat and spatter the welding process itself produces. Neither standard substitutes for the other, and a glove rated only on one should not be specified for work that produces both hazard types.

Matching EN407 levels to welding processes

Different welding processes produce different heat and spatter profiles. As a starting point for a buyer writing a spec, not a substitute for a hazard assessment on your own floor:

TIG welding: lower heat and spatter than MIG or stick. Contact heat Level 2 and molten-metal splash Level 2–3 is typical, prioritise dexterity over maximum thermal rating.
MIG welding: continuous spatter and higher sustained heat. Contact heat Level 2–3 and molten-metal splash Level 3–4 is typical.
Stick (SMAW) welding: the heaviest spatter of the common processes. Molten-metal splash Level 4 and contact heat Level 3 or above is typical, paired with a heavier leather gauge.
Foundry and furnace work: sustained radiant heat exposure. Radiant heat Level 3–4 becomes the priority position, above contact heat.

0–4
Every EN407 hazard uses the same 0–4 scale except limited flame spread, which is scored 0–4 on ignition and burn-time behaviour. Level 0 means the glove was tested and did not meet the minimum threshold for that hazard, it is a real, reportable result, not a placeholder.

The most common EN407 spec mistake

Buyers who spec welding gloves purely on EN388 cut resistance, because cut level is the number distributors quote first, often end up with a glove that handles sheet metal edges well but scores Level 1 or 2 on molten-metal splash, undersized for stick welding. Always request the full six-digit EN407 rating alongside the EN388 rating before confirming a welding glove SKU, and confirm which positions carry an X rather than a tested score.

How to specify EN407 in an RFQ

State the welding process (TIG, MIG, stick, or foundry) so the supplier can recommend a matched leather gauge and EN407 profile, not just a headline number.
Request the full six-digit rating and the underlying test report, not just the digits printed on the cuff label.
Confirm the EN388 mechanical rating alongside EN407, most welding gloves need both standards to cover the full hazard profile of the job.
Ask whether any position is rated X, and if your process produces that hazard, request it be tested rather than accepting an untested claim.

EN407 Welding Glove Compliance: How to Read Heat and Flame Ratings