EN 388
EN 388 is the European standard for protective gloves against mechanical risks including cutting, abrasion, tearing, and puncture. It is applied in conjunction with the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425.
The marking shows a pictogram with up to six performance levels:
1. Abrasion resistance: Classes 0–4
2. Cut resistance (Coup test): Classes 0–5
3. Tear resistance: Classes 0–4
4. Puncture resistance: Classes 0–4
5. Cut resistance (TDM test per ISO 13997): Classes A–F (since EN 388:2016)
6. Impact protection: P = passed (optional, since EN 388:2016)
Higher numbers and letters indicate higher protective performance. EN 388:2016+A1:2018 is the current version; the earlier EN 388:2003 has been withdrawn.
EN 388 does not cover cut-resistant gloves for the food industry (which reference ISO 13997 directly), thermal protective gloves, or chemical-resistant gloves.
EN 388 gloves are PPE Category II. They are not automatically Category III; high-risk applications such as chainsaw protection require separate standards.
Frequently asked questions
What do the numbers and letters in EN 388 marking mean?
The marking shows up to six performance levels: abrasion (0–4), cut Coup test (0–5), tear (0–4), puncture (0–4), cut TDM (A–F, since 2016), impact protection (P = passed, optional). Higher values indicate better protection.
What is the difference between the Coup test and the TDM test in EN 388?
The Coup test measures cut resistance using a rotating blade. For highly cut-resistant materials, it is replaced by the TDM test (ISO 13997), which simulates a straight-line cut. The TDM test is considered more precise for high-performance cut-resistant gloves.