EN ISO 21420
EN ISO 21420:2020 is the general base standard for protective gloves, defining minimum requirements that apply to all protective glove product standards regardless of specific protection function.
The standard replaced the withdrawn EN 420 and covers:
- Design: gloves must not compromise safety; seams, edges, and surfaces must be skin-compatible
- Harmlessness: limits for pH value, chromium content (leather), detergent residues
- Water penetration and water vapour transmission (optional, for comfort requirements)
- Dexterity test: pick-up test using metal pins in five performance levels
- Marking requirements: pictogram, manufacturer, size, standard, performance classes
EN ISO 21420 is always used in combination with a product-specific standard such as EN 388 (mechanical), EN ISO 374-1 (chemical), or EN 407 (heat). None of these standards is complete without EN ISO 21420.
Protective gloves under EN ISO 21420 are PPE and require CE marking per PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425.
Frequently asked questions
What does EN ISO 21420 cover and why does it matter?
EN ISO 21420 is the base standard for all protective gloves. It sets general requirements for design, harmlessness, comfort, and marking that every protective glove must meet, regardless of its specific protection function.
Has EN ISO 21420 replaced EN 420?
Yes. EN ISO 21420:2020 fully superseded EN 420. EN 420 is withdrawn and may no longer be used as a conformity basis.