CEN ISO/TR 8546:2022

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2022
Zaščita za roke - Navodila za izbiro in uporabo (ISO/TR 8546:2022)
Hand protection - Guidance for selection and use (ISO/TR 8546:2022)
Handschutz - Leitfaden für Auswahl und Gebrauch (ISO/TR 8546:2022)
Protection de la main - Lignes directrices pour la sélection et l'utilisation (ISO/TR
8546:2022)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN ISO/TR 8546:2022
ICS:
13.340.40 Varovanje dlani in rok Hand and arm protection
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

CEN ISO/TR 8546
TECHNICAL REPORT
RAPPORT TECHNIQUE
July 2022
TECHNISCHER REPORT
ICS 13.340.40
English Version
Hand protection - Guidance for selection and use (ISO/TR
8546:2022)
Protection de la main - Lignes directrices pour la Handschutz - Leitfaden für Auswahl und Gebrauch
sélection et l'utilisation (ISO/TR 8546:2022) (ISO/TR 8546:2022)

This Technical Report was approved by CEN on 7 July 2022. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 162.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
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COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2022 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN ISO/TR 8546:2022 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (CEN ISO/TR 8546:2022) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 94
"Personal safety -- Personal protective equipment" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC
162 “Protective clothing including hand and arm protection and lifejackets” the secretariat of which is
held by DIN.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document has been prepared under a Standardization Request given to CEN by the European
Commission and the European Free Trade Association.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards
body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO/TR 8546:2022 has been approved by CEN as CEN ISO/TR 8546:2022 without any
modification.
TECHNICAL ISO/TR
REPORT 8546
First edition
2022-06
Hand protection — Guidance for
selection and use
Protection de la main — Lignes directrices pour la sélection et
l'utilisation
Reference number
ISO/TR 8546:2022(E)
ISO/TR 8546:2022(E)
© ISO 2022
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
ISO/TR 8546:2022(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Selection . 2
4.1 General principles . 2
4.2 Selection in function of specific hazards. 3
4.3 Combination with other PPE . 3
4.4 Wearing trials . 3
4.5 Sweating . 3
4.6 Allergens . 3
5 Usage . 4
5.1 Testing before use or re-use . 4
5.2 Use . 4
6 Training . 4
Annex A (informative) Mechanical hazards . 5
Annex B (informative) Chemical hazards . 9
Annex C (informative) Hazards due to micro-organisms.16
Annex D (informative) Thermal hazards: Heat .19
Annex E (informative) Thermal risks: Cold.24
Annex F (informative) Electrostatic requirements .27
Annex G (informative) Hazards due to radioactive contamination and ionizing radiations .28
Bibliography .30
iii
ISO/TR 8546:2022(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 94, Personal safety — Personal protective
equipment, Subcommittee SC 13, Protective clothing, in collaboration with the European Committee for
Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC 162, Protective clothing including hand and arm
protection and lifejackets, in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and
CEN (Vienna Agreement).
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
ISO/TR 8546:2022(E)
Introduction
For the past year a push has taken place to align EN and ISO standards. Currently some are covered by a
single standard, others are identical, but not yet as an EN ISO standard, others have not been developed
as ISO or CEN standard. The table below describes the state of the various standards.
EN Standard ISO Standard Future state
EN 420:2010 ISO 21420:2020 same
EN ISO 374-1:2016+A1:2018 ISO 374-1: 2016 + Amd 1:2018 same
EN ISO 374-2:2019 ISO 374-2:2019 Already equivalent, but single stand-
ard as EN ISO
EN ISO 374-4:2019 ISO 374-4:2019 Already equivalent, but single stand-
ard as EN ISO
EN ISO 374-5:2016 ISO 374-5:2016 same
EN ISO 374-6 ISO 374-6 joint project in preparation
EN 388:2016+A1:2018 ISO 23388:2018 Already equivalent, but single stand-
ard as EN ISO
EN 407:2020+A1:2021 ISO 23407:2021 Already equivalent, but single stand-
ard as EN ISO
No CEN equivalent ISO 18889 EN ISO 18889 once adopted
EN ISO 19918 ISO 19918 same
EN 16523-1:2015 not equivalent to ISO 6529 but many Revision of ISO 6529 will more close-
(liquid permeation) similarities ly align ISO with EN
EN 16523-2:2015
(gas permeation)
Replaced EN 374-3
EN 16530:2016 No ISO equivalent TBD
(electrostatic)
EN 16778: 2016 No ISO equivalent TBD
(DMFA concentration)
EN 12477:2001 + A1:2005 No ISO equivalent TBD
(welder)
EN 511:2006 No ISO equivalent TBD
EN 659:2003 +A1:2008 ISO 15383:2001 Revision of EN 659 will more closely
align EN with ISO
ISO 11999-4:2015
No CEN equivalent ISO 16073-4:2019 Revision of EN 659 will more closely
align EN with ISO
No CEN equivalent ISO 18639-4:2018 Revision of EN 659 will more closely
align EN with ISO
TBD to be decided
v
TECHNICAL REPORT ISO/TR 8546:2022(E)
Hand protection — Guidance for selection and use
1 Scope
This document gives information on the selection and use of personal protective equipment for the
hand protection.
The application of this document requires that the risk assessment has been carried out and the hazards
have been minimized accordingly through substitution and technical and organizational measures.
On this basis, this document contains information that supports employers in counteracting certain
risks to hands that could not be sufficiently reduced by substitution and technical and organizational
measures by selecting and using suitable protective gloves.
This document provides explanations on selection, usage and training applicable to protective gloves.
The explanations concerning specific hazards are provided in annexes.
This guidance considers the following risks:
— mechanical, (see Annex A);
— chemical, (see Annex B);
— biological, (see Annex C);
— thermal, (see Annex D and E);
— electrostatic discharge (see Annex F);
— ionizing radiation and radioactive contamination (see Annex G).
This guidance does not cover other risks, because pertinent international or national publications are
available or because the relevant information was not available in ISO/TC 94/SC 13/WG 8. Risks not
covered include e.g.:
— cuts and stabs by hand knives;
— use of chain saws (covered by ISO 11393-4:2018, Annex A);
— animal bites;
— needlesticks;
— electrocution;
— optical radiation;
— vibrations;
— electric fault arcs;
— firefighting (covered by ISO/TR 21808);
— sport.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
ISO/TR 8546:2022(E)
3 Terms and definitions
No terms and definitions are listed in this document.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
4 Selection
4.1 General principles
In most countries, manufacturing of gloves is subject to specific legislation, e.g. concerning personal
protective equipment, medical devices, etc. Adequate design and construction ensures that a protective
glove:
— is appropriate for the risks involved, without itself leading to any increased risk, e.g. entanglement
on rotating parts, entrapment, formation of ignition sparks;
— corresponds to existing conditions at the workplace, e.g. grip, tactile sensitivity, waterproofness,
breathability, visibility;
— takes account of ergonomic requirements and the worker's state of health, e.g. size, fit, potential
allergens.
As a principle, a protective glove is intended for personal use. If the circumstances require that personal
protective equipment is used by several persons (e.g. metal ring mesh glove, glovebox), this results in
additional hygiene requirements.
Important instructions for the safe use of protective gloves can be found in the supplied manufacturer's
instructions and information. The advertised performance levels were achieved under laboratory
conditions performed on unused gloves and cannot necessarily be transferred to the actual conditions
of use. More detailed information can be obtained from the manufacturers.
Practical tests are a prerequisite for the selection of suitable protective gloves. Criteria for the selection
of protective gloves are not only the best possible protection but also ergonomic factors such as wearing
comfort, tactile sensitivity and grip. Physiological factors such as wearing comfort, sensitivity or sweat
development can be tested in wear tests.
The dexterity of the fingers and the ability to pick up, hold and/or operate objects safely are limited by
the wearing of protective gloves. The better the flexibility of the glove and the coefficient of friction
of the gripping surfaces are adapted to the geometry and surface characteristics of the objects to be
handled, the greater the grip safety for the user.
Only on the basis of the risk assessment is it possible to select the protective glove actually suitable for
a particular activity.
A protective glove is suitable if
a) it meets the legal requirements (for example in Europe CE marking),
b) it is accompanied by the manufacturer declaration of conformity,
c) it is capable of reducing the risk to the user to an acceptable level throughout the period of use, and
d) it can be used under the given working conditions.
NOTE Any modification to the glove requires formal approval by the manufacturer.
ISO/TR 8546:2022(E)
4.2 Selection in function of specific hazards
With regard to the hazards covered by the scope of this document, annexes dealing with those specific
hazards provide the information required to make the selection correctly.
4.3 Combination with other PPE
The combination of PPE only protects the user if a seamless transition between the equipment parts is
ensured. This can be achieved by these methods, for example
— adequate cuff length,
— adequate arm protectors,
— connection with a protective suit, e.g. glove adapter, taping, and
— sleeve design of the protective suit, e.g.: thumb loop, throw-on sleeves.
4.4 Wearing trials
Wearing trials can be used to assess the ergonomic and workplace-specific suitability of the protective
gloves, including for example
— Ease and speed of donning on and doffing off the gloves,
— comfort, e.g. sweating, flexibility, disturbing seams,
— compatibility with all other PPE items,
— ability to perform all expected tasks without hindrance and without difficulty, e.g. secure grip,
tactile sensitivity, and
— maintaining protection in all working positions, e.g. covering with the sleeve.
A systematic approach to carrying out the wearer trials includes, for example
— selection of the participants according to a cross-section of the respective occupational group
(height, weight, age, gender, etc.),
— structured collection of feedback for evaluation, so that both qualitative and quantitative data
collection and analysis are possible; this can be achieved by using a structured questionnaire,
structured or semi-structured interviews and/or group discussions, and
— sufficient number of participants to ensure an appropriate selection of suitable protective gloves
for all affected employees in a work area.
4.5 Sweating
Sweating when wearing liquid-tight gloves for long periods of time, through heavy physical activity
and/or high ambient temperatures can lead to skin reddening, softening and irritations. Gloves
designed with a knitliner or flocklining, wearing a textile underglove or changing gloves frequently
help providing added comfort and preserve the highest integrity of the gloves. Regular skin care can
help to reduce the negative effects of skin softening (e.g. after work cream).
4.6 Allergens
According to ISO 21420, the manufacturer provides the user on request with a list of substances
contained in a glove that are known to cause allergies. In the case of gloves containing natural rubber,
the information for use include a warning which read something like this: "The glove contains natural
rubber which may cause allergic reactions".
ISO/TR 8546:2022(E)
5 Usage
5.1 Testing before use or re-use
By checking the protective gloves before use or re-use (e.g. visual assessment of the surface condition
of the barrier), hazards due to possible damage, quality defects, and flaws such as tear, abraded areas,
holes or cracks, especially in finger crotches, broken seams or other defects can be identified. The
protective effect can be reduced e.g. by pointed objects, soot or heat-induced material embrittlement.
Wet gloves, be it inside or outside, may have reduced performance levels and cause skin discomfort.
Skin discomfort can also be caused when gloves are worn on wet or dirty hands.
Checking the protective gloves before use also helps to determine whether their expiry date has already
passed.
Only fitting gloves (correct size) offer the intended protective performance and suitability.
5.2 Use
Important instructions for the safe use of protective gloves can be found in the supplied manufacturer's
instructions and information.
According to ISO 21420, the manufacturer provides the user with instructions together with the gloves
containing all relevant information for safe use. Whether the glove is designed for single use or might
be reused is an important instruction to be followed.
Employers are responsible of giving appropriate and understandable instructions to the workers. At
the same time, workers are responsible of making correct use of the personal protective equipment
supplied to them in accordance with the training and the instructions given by their employer.
6 Training
Training of employees/users in the correct handling of their protective gloves is a prerequisite for their
correct use. Providing only written instructions or information without practical demonstrations,
training and exercises may not be sufficient.
Important instructions for the safe use of protective gloves can be found in the supplied manufacturer's
instructions and information. This can include
— information on why the protective gloves can be worn,
— information on personal responsibility for correct use and care, and
— information about the limitations and possibilities of the protective gloves:
— what they can protect against;
— what they do not protect against;
— how to don, use/wear and doff the protective gloves;
— how to store the protective gloves when not in use;
— information on precautions for cleaning;
— how to determine when the protective gloves are no longer appropriate and can be disposed of;
— procedures for the environmentally sound disposal of gloves which are no longer fit for use;
— how to obtain replacement;
— emergency response.
ISO/TR 8546:2022(E)
Annex A
(informative)
Mechanical hazards
A.1 General
Gloves according to ISO 23388 (ISO 23388:2018 is equivalent to the EN 388:2016 + A1: 2018) offer
protection against damage caused by abrasion, cut, puncture, or tear resistance being a product
feature. The abrasion, puncture and tear resistance are assigned to four performance levels, the cut
resistance to five or 6 performance levels (see ISO 23388:2018, Tables 1 and 2). According to ISO 23388,
protective gloves against mechanical risks achieve at least performance level 1 or at least performance
level A for the TDM (tomodynamometer) cut resistance test according to ISO 13997 for at least one of
the properties (abrasion, cut, tear propagation and puncture resistance).
NOTE 1 The two cut test methods coexist because they are well established in different regions and standards.
The Coupe-test is more cut by pressure, the TDM-test according to ISO 13997 is a slash type of cut.
NOTE 2 See the following pictogram used to indicate conformity with ISO 23388:
ISO 7000 - 2490
Table A.1 — Levels of performance
Test Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5
6.1 Abrasion resistance (number of rubs) 100 500 2 000 8 000 —
6.2 Coupe test: 1,2 2,5 5,0 10,0 20,0
Blade cut resistance (index)
6.4 Tear resistance (N) 10 25 50 75 —
6.5 Puncture resistance (N) 20 60 100 150 —
Table A.2 — Levels of performance for materials tested with ISO 13997
Level A Level B Level C Level D Level E Level F
6.3 Cut resistance (N) (ISO 13997) 2 5 10 15 22 30
Gloves according to ISO 23388 can also provide specific protection against impact. If parts of the glove
meet the requirements for specific impact protection and this has been tested positively, the glove is
marked with "P" in addition to the 5 performance levels.
The performance levels determined in accordance with ISO 23388 provide valuable assistance and
orientation in the pre-selection of products. They always refer to the test method or conditions. This
means that the performance levels are always to be seen relatively and the higher the number or the
wider the letter in the alphabet, the higher the theoretical level of protection. Protection in real life may
depend on many factors, therefore a wearer trial or suitability test according to 4.4 can confirm the
practical suitability.
ISO/TR 8546:2022(E)
These performance levels specified by the manufacturer serve as a selection guide for the use of the
protective gloves. However, they do not give any direct indication of the specific protection or suitability
in defined applications and their risks.
Wetness and penetrating moisture can reduce the protective properties of protective gloves. Not
all protective gloves are liquid-tight, but only those that have been explicitly recommended by the
manufacturer.
A.2 Information sources
Important application instructions for the use of protective gloves against mechanical risks can be
found in the manufacturer's instructions and information supplied with the product. According to
ISO 23388:2018, Clause 8, these include
— information on special tests carried out under different climatic conditions,
— where appropriate, a warning that the overall classification for gloves with two or more layers does
not necessarily reflect the performance of the outermost layer,
— where appropriate, a warning that if dulling occurs during the cut resistance test, the results of the
coupe test are only indicative, whereas the TDM cut resistance test in accordance with ISO 13997
provides reference results in terms of performance,
— if protection against impact is claimed, that the areas for which protection is specified are mentioned,
as well as a warning that the protection does not apply to fingers, and
— for gloves with mechanical resistance, which have a tear resistance rating of 1 or higher, a warning
that gloves will not be worn in cases where there is a risk of getting caught in moving parts of the
machine.
More detailed information can be obtained from the manufacturers.
A.3 Mechanical properties
— The abrasion resistance test is intended to simulate the wear and tear of the glove material during
use. Samples of the material of the palm are fixed with double-sided adhesive tape on sample holders
and are moved with a specified sequence of movements and loaded against an abrasive paper until a
hole occurs.
— For the determination of the cut resistance there is on the one hand the cutting method with a
rotating circular blade according to ISO 23388, where the cutting index is determined under a
constant force by repeated contact and is calculated depending on the sharpness of the circular
blade. However, due to the further development of the glove materials used, which can also consist
of mineral or steel fibres, this method dulls the knife too quickly.
— If the blade is dulled too early, another cutting method is used. In this method, the resistance to
cutting is determined from a linear one-time movement under increasing force until penetration.
This test method provides an additional statement on the cut resistance for work with different and
also impact-like force effects.
— All materials used for glove production can be cut through. According to ISO 23388, protective
gloves that are supposed to have a certain cut resistance are tested and evaluated according to
specific procedures. If the given risk requires an even higher level of protection, the use of cut-
resistant gloves made of metal ring mesh (EN 14328) can be considered with all its disadvantages
(e.g. wearing comfort, sensitivity).
— The two test methods of ISO 23388:2018, 6.2 and 6.3, are not comparable and there is no correlation
between the levels of performance. Therefore, the user can only select the correct protective gloves
for the corresponding risk if the manufacturer has clearly defined the use of the gloves in the
ISO/TR 8546:2022(E)
instructions for use. This means that, depending on the area of application and risk assessment in
the company, protective gloves that have been certified with one or both cut protection levels are
suitable.
— To determine the puncture resistance, a nail is pressed onto the glove material at a relatively low
speed. The force required to either pierce the material or stretch it to 50 mm is given. The protection
against injuries caused by sharp corners during e.g. assembly work can be determined by this test
method. Hazards caused by the use of needles or rapid penetration of nails are not covered by the
test.
— The tear resistance is a quality feature of the glove material. If the material layers of the glove are
not bonded together, the individual layers of the inner glove are tested individually.
— According to ISO 23388, parts of the glove which are designed and manufactured to provide specific
impact absorption to protect e.g. knuckles, palm and back of the hand against impact, meet the
performance of protection class 1 according to EN 13594:2015, Table 7. Due to the test procedure
(dimensions of the test sample) the finger protection against impact cannot be tested.
A.4 Marking
The following figure uses three examples to explain the marking of the performance levels carried out
by the manufacturer according to ISO 23388.
ISO 23388
Example 1: 3 4 4 3 E P
Example 2: 3 X 0 3 E
Example 3: 3 2 0 3 X
ISO/TR 8546:2022(E)
Example N° 1 N° 2 N° 3
Abrasion (6.1) level 3 level 3 level 3
Cut (6.2) level 4 test not performed or not level 2
applicable
Tear (6.4) level 4 level 1 not achieved level 1 not achieved
Puncture (6.5) level 3 level 3 level 3
Cut (6.3) level E Level E test not performed
Impact protection achieved test not performed test not performed
The marking "X" instead of a number indicates that the glove has not been tested or that the test
method seems unsuitable for the glove assembly or the glove material. According to ISO 21420, the
manufacturer's instructions and information explain the reasons for the indication "X".
A.5 Procedure for selecting protective gloves against mechanical hazards
The conscientious selection of protective gloves against mechanical risks takes particular account of
the type of activity and its general conditions, such as:
— material of the workpiece (e.g.: paper, metal);
— geometry of the cutting edge (e.g.: knife blade, cutting/punching burr);
— length of the cut edge (short knife blade, sharp edge of a metal sheet);
— expected cutting force (e.g. touching a cutting edge, force guided knife);
— movement of the cutting edge relative to the hand, e.g. pulling over the surface or pressing on the
surface;
— humidity;
— contact with oils or greases;
— necessary dexterity;
— exposed body parts.
ISO/TR 8546:2022(E)
Annex B
(informative)
Chemical hazards
B.1 General
When selecting chemical protective gloves, chemical hazards are the primary consideration, but other
hazards are also important: these include electrostatic charge, mechanical wear and tear or open
flames.
Chemical protective gloves can only provide protection if they have no openings in the barrier layer, i.e.
no penetration takes place, and if they are resistant enough that the barrier function cannot be impaired
during the activity. If damaged, gloves protecting against chemicals lose their protective effect.
Contaminated gloves carry the risk of contaminating the wearer, e.g. when taking them off, and other
surfaces they touch. These include in particular unused gloves, products and furniture.
Manufacturers provide instructions with the gloves to the user in order to determine:
— The best process to clean out and decontaminate the gloves before taking them off.
— The most suitable process to take the gloves off.
— The best process to restore, let dry and preserve the gloves before reuse.
ISO 374-1:2016, Clause 7, explicitly states: "For reusable gloves, the manufacturer provides the relevant
instructions for decontamination. If there is no information about decontamination, then it is intended
for single use only and the following warning is added: “For single use only””.
Gloves designed with an absorbent inner knit lining help provide added comfort. Undergloves may be
used to help in absorbing sweat, but it may reduce the dexterity and tactile sensitivity. Overgloves may
be used to increase the mechanical protection, but it may reduce the dexterity and tactile sensitivity.
NOTE See the following pictogram used to indicate conformity with ISO 374-1 and ISO 18889:
Protection against chemicals Protection against agricultural pesticides
ISO 7000 - 2414 ISO 7000 - 3126
B.2 Information sources
Information sources for occurring hazards and the selection of suitable gloves are for example:
a) Safety data sheet
The information on personal protective equipment given in section 8.2 of the Safety Data Sheet
"Exposure controls" gives an indication of suitable barrier materials of chemical protective gloves and
their thickness.
ISO/TR 8546:2022(E)
Section 2 “Hazard(s) identification” relative to contact with skin.
Section 9 “Physical and Chemical Properties” of the Safety Data Sheet gives the properties of each
chemical. Important parameters include
— state of aggregation,
— solidification and boiling temperature,
— composition (volumetric/gravimetric) of mixtures, and
— corrosion properties.
b) Manufacturer‘s instructions and information
Important instructions for the suitability and safe use of chemical protective gloves can be found in
the supplied manufacturer's instructions and information. More detailed information can be obtained
from the manufacturers.
c) Permeation databases
Some manufacturers provide online databases for permeation on specific substances in addition to
information in the “Information for Use” sheet or booklet. For mixtures, the exact composition is decisive
and the components of the mixture may interact with each other. There the permeation information of
the shortest breakthrough time may actually be an over estimation of the protection time.
B.3 Performance levels and chemical and physical properties
B.3.1 General
In the following subclauses, some chemical-physical properties of gloves are explained which are
important for their selection.
B.3.2 Penetration
According to ISO 374-1:2016, 3.5, penetration is the movement of a chemical through materials, seams,
pinholes, or other imperfections in a protective glove material on a non-molecular level.
The penetration tests according to ISO 374-2 (equivalent to EN 374-2) are primarily quality testing
methods and not performance tests.
B.3.3 Permeation (breakthrough)
B.3.3.1 Test of the breakthrough time according to EN 16523-1
According to ISO 374-1:2016, 3.6, permeation is a process by which a chemical moves through a
protective glove material on a molecular level. Permeation involves the following:
— absorption of molecules of the chemical into the contacted (outside) surface of a material;
— diffusion of the absorbed molecules in the material;
— desorption of the molecules from the opposite (inside) surface of the material.
It is important to note the difference between a breakthrough time determined under standard
conditions according to EN 16523-1 and the maximum wearing time of a chemical protective glove. The
latter is the time a protective glove can be worn under working conditions without being permeated by
the chemical agent.
The breakthrough time (normalized breakthrough time) is determined under normatively defined
test conditions that do not represent the real conditions of use. These breakthrough times provide an
ISO/TR 8546:2022(E)
orientation about the permeation behaviour of a specific chemical when it comes into contact with a
barrier material. They are determined based on a test conducted in the palm area or, if there are seams,
in the hand area, on the seams. In addition, gloves longer than 400 mm are tested for permeation in the
cuff; in this case the claimed levels refer to the lowest obtained results between palm and cuff.
The breakthrough time is the time required by a chemical to reach a permeation rate of 1,0 μg/
(cm ·min). The normalised breakthrough time determined in accordance with EN 16523-1 gives the
following performance levels assigned according to ISO 374-1:2016, Table 1.
Table B.1 — Permeation performance levels
Measured breakthrough time
Permeation performance level
min
>10 1
>30 2
>60 3
>120 4
>240 5
>480 6
B.3.3.2 Testing the cumulative permeation according to ISO 19918
This test is used to determine the permeation of chemicals with low vapour pressure and/or insolubility
in water. The chemical to be tested is applied to the glove material and the mass of the test chemical
(µg/cm ) which has permeated the glove material within a defined time is measured. The test is used in
particular to determine the cumulative permeation of pesticides.
B.3.4 Degradation
According to ISO 374-1:2016, 3.4, degradation is the deleterious change in one or more properties of a
protective glove material due to contact with a chemical. Indications of degradation may include flaking,
swelling, disintegration, embrittlement, colour change, dimensional change, appearance, hardening,
softening, etc.
The contact of a specific chemical with a barrier material can change or destroy its structure. This
affects the physical and chemical properties of the barrier material and consequently influences the
breakthrough time. Due to the reduction of mechanical stability, holes or cracks can form during the
activity, which lead to penetration.
According to ISO 374-4 (is equivalent to EN 374-4), degradation is determined but not evaluated.
B.3.5 Mechanical properties
Frequently occurring mechanical hazards are, for example, parts with dangerous surfaces (sharp
edges, pointed components, etc.). In addition, there are also mechanical stresses that do not represent
an obvious hazard, e.g. abrasive surfaces or materials (see also Annex A).
ISO/TR 8546:2022(E)
B.3.6 Marking
According to ISO 374-1 for chemical protective gloves, these are marked with the Erlenmeyer pictogram
and the corresponding performance characteristics (Type A to Type C).
Type A Type B Type C
ISO 374-1/Type A ISO 374-1/Type B ISO 374-1/Type C
UVWXYZ XYZ
Penetration tests Penetration tests Penetration tests
Permeation tests Permeation tests Permeation tests
a a a
at least 6 chemicals at least 3 chemicals at least 1 chemical
b b c
Performance level 2 Performance level 2 Performance level 1
a
From the list of 18 chemicals.
b
breakthrough time >30 min.
c
breakthrough time >10 min.
In order to make it clear that this is a lower performance level, no letters may appear below the
pictogram on Type C chemical protective gloves according to ISO 374-1.
Tests are carried out by the manufacturer with the following chemicals:
CODE
CHEMICAL CAS NUMBER CLASS
LETTER
A Methanol 67-56-1 Primary alcohol
B Acetone 67-64-1 Ketone
C Acetonitrile 75-05-8 Nitrile compound
D Dichloromethane 75-09-2 Chlorinated hydrocarbon
E Carbon disulphide 75-15-0 Sulphur containing organic compound
F Toluene 108-88-3 Aromatic hydrocarbon
G Diethylamine 109-89-7 Amine
H Tetrahydrofuran 109-99-9 Heterocyclic and ether compound
I Ethyl acetate 141-78-6 Ester
J n-Heptane 142-82-5 Saturated hydrocarbon
K Sodium hydroxide 40 % 1310-73-2 Inorganic base
L Sulphuric acid 96 % 7664-93-9 Inorganic mineral acid, oxidizing
M Nitric acid 65 % 7697-37-2 Inorganic mineral acid, oxidizing
N Acetic acid 99 % 64-19-7 Organic acid
O Ammonium hydroxide 25 % 1332-21-6 Organic base
P Hydrogen peroxide 30 % 7722-84-1 Peroxide
S Hydrofluoric acid 40 % 7664-39-3 Inorganic mineral acid
T Formaldehyde 37 % 50-00-0 Aldehyde
The table above covers representative chemicals of the main chemical families.
ISO/TR 8546:2022(E)
ISO 18889 describes requirements for protective gloves for plant protection products (PPP) during
handling and follow-up work. In addition to the general requirements according to ISO 21420,
requirements are also set for permeation behaviour, mechanical properties and design.
G1 G2 GR
Penetration tests Penetration tests
Permeation test Permeation tests Permeation test
ISO 374-1; ≥Type C ISO 374-1; ≥Type B ISO 374-1; ≥performance level 2
with NaOH 40 % (K)
Cumulative permeation Cumulative permeation Cumulative permeation
ISO 19918 ISO 19918 ISO 19918
1 h with diluted PPP 1 h with diluted PPP 1 h with diluted PPP
15 min with concentrated PPP
2 2 2
<10 μg/(cm ·min) <1 μg/(cm ·min) <1 μg/(cm ·min)

glove length ≥240 mm glove length ≥290 mm
Coating at least in the palm of
the hand and above the finger-
tips
Minimum performance levels Minimum performance levels
(ISO 23388): (ISO 23388):
Abrasion resistance : 2 Abrasion resistance : 2
Puncture resistance : 1 Puncture resistance : 1
Cut resistance (Coupe-Test): 1 Tear resistance : 1
or Cut resistance (Coupe-Test): 1
Cut resistance (ISO 13997): A or
Cut resistance (ISO 13997): A
B.4 Procedure for the selection of chemical protective gloves
B.4.1 Determination of the required break
...