Resources – Personal Protective Equipment

Nitrile Glove Standard and Cut Ratings Explained

When you’re purchasing nitrile gloves for different applications, it’s helpful to learn about nitrile glove standards and cut ratings. This information will ensure you opt for the right level of cut resistance your job or tasks mandate when handling hazardous materials or rough surfaces.

As one of the leading nitrile gloves distributors in New York, S&G strives to educate its clients about nitrile glove standards and cut ratings. With this information, clients can determine the level of resistance of glove materials needed based on American and European standards (ANSI and EN 388).

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 Cut Standard)

The American National Standards Institute’s ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 is designed to help glove wearers identify how cut-resistant a glove is based on a nine (9) level scale between 0 and 6,000 grams tomodynamometer reading. These levels indicate how much cutting force the glove can withstand from a sharp object (blade, glass, knife, etc.) before being penetrated:

Scale

Cutting Force (Grams)

Cut Hazard Level

Use Case

A1

200 to 499 g

Low

Safe Material Handling, Assembly Work, General Purpose, etc.

A2

500 to 999 g

Low

General Purpose, Moulding, Food Packaging, Cooking, Cosmetic Use, etc.

A3

1,000 to 1,499 g

Low to Medium

General Manufacturing, Parts Fitting, Raw Material Handling, etc.

A4

1,500 to 2,199 g

Medium

Food Preparation, Simple Automotive Repair, Electrical Work, etc.

A5

2,200 to 2,999 g

Medium to Heavy

Automotive Assembly, Sharp Object Handling (glass or metal), HVAC Installation or Repairs, etc.

A6

3,000 to 3,999 g

Heavy

Glass/Metal Fabrication, Ironworking, Mining, Heavy Construction, etc.

A7

4,000 to 4,999 g

High

Glass Processing, Metallurgy, Furniture Making, Meat Processing, etc.

A8

5,000 to 5,999 g

Very High

Heavy Assembly, Laser Usage, Metal Stamping, Recycling, Unconventional Meat Processing (Tuna, Oyster, and more), etc.

A9

>6,000 g

Extreme

Complex Metal and Glass Fabrication, Lumber Cutting, Wood Carving, Sharp Object Handling, etc.

The European Commission (EN388 Standard)

The European Commission’s EN388 Standard uses two tests to determine cut, abrasion, tear, and puncture resistance against different hazards – the TDM-100 Test and the Coup Test.

The TDM-100 Test uses an A-F Scale set between 204 and 3059+ grams to determine how cut-resistant a nitrile glove is. Similarly, the Coup Test measures a glove’s cut resistance based on a 0-5 scale, with 5 being the most cut-resistant.

Below is a table explaining the TDM-100 Test:

Scale

Cutting Force (Grams)

Cut Hazard Level

Use Case

A

204 to 508 g

Low

General Purpose, Medical Examination, Food Handling, etc.

B

509 to 1,019 g

Low to Medium

Simple Food Preparation, Cosmetic Use, Electrical Work, Cleaning, etc.

C

1,020 to 1,529 g

Medium to Heavy

General Manufacturing, Automotive Repair, etc.

D

1,530 to 2,242 g

Heavy

Complex Food Preparation, Sharp Object Handling, Light Construction, etc.

E

2,243 to 3,058 g

High

Glass/Metal Fitting, Heavy Construction Activities, Security, etc.

F

>3059 g

Extreme

Glass or Metal Fabrication, Industrial Manufacturing Processes, etc.

Learn More About Nitrile Glove Standards and Cut Ratings

Are you looking for the right cut-resistant nitrile gloves for your use case?

Get in touch with our experts right away, and let us equip you with the perfect gloves for your required nitrile glove standards and cut ratings. You can also explore our certified, powder-free nitrile gloves for different industries and choose accordingly.

For more information, feel free to call (631) 740 2960 or sending an email to [email protected]