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WHY WELDING GLOVES HAVE TO MEET SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
During welding, the hands are exposed to several hazards at the same time. Heat, sparks and molten metal splashes are combined with mechanical risks that can arise, for example, when handling workpieces and tools. This makes it particularly important to use hand protection that is suited to these specific working conditions.This is where EN 12477 comes in. The European standard specifies requirements for protective gloves for welders, taking both mechanical and thermal risks into account. A key feature of the standard is the classification into Type A and Type B, which place different emphasis on protection and dexterity.
But what exactly does EN 12477 require, what is the difference between Type A and Type B, and which welding glove is suitable for which type of work?
WHAT DOES EN 12477 COVER?
EN 12477 applies to protective gloves used for manual welding, cutting and related processes. As these activities involve a combination of different hazards, the standard does not focus on just one protective property.Welding gloves according to EN 12477 must meet requirements for protection against mechanical and thermal risks. To assess these properties, the standard draws on test methods from two other important standards for protective gloves:
EN 388 – Protection against mechanical risks: This standard assesses properties such as abrasion resistance, cut resistance, tear resistance and puncture resistance. These are particularly relevant when handling workpieces, sheet metal and tools.
EN 407 – Protection against thermal risks: This standard assesses various properties relating to protection against thermal hazards. For welding gloves, resistance to flame, contact heat and small and large splashes of molten metal are particularly relevant.
EN 12477 also includes further requirements specifically designed for welding applications. The standard therefore combines various protective requirements that are relevant to typical welding work.
At a glance:
+ Protection against mechanical risks
+ Protection against thermal risks
+ Requirements specifically for welding work
+ Classification of gloves into Type A and Type B
TYPE A OR TYPE B – WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
Not every welding task places the same demands on a glove. While some processes require a particularly high level of protection against heat and mechanical stress, others demand greater dexterity. This is why EN 12477 distinguishes between Type A and Type B.Type A – focus on higher protection: Type A welding gloves meet higher requirements for various mechanical and thermal properties. They are therefore particularly suitable for welding processes where a higher level of protection is required. Due to their more robust construction, they may offer less dexterity than Type B gloves.
Type B – focus on greater dexterity: Type B gloves place greater emphasis on dexterity. As a result, the requirements for certain mechanical and thermal properties are in some cases lower than for Type A. Type B gloves are therefore particularly suitable for tasks where precision and good finger mobility are important, such as TIG welding.
The differences at a glance:
| Type A | Type B | |
| Focus | Higher level of protection | Greater dexterity |
| Mechanical protection | Higher minimum requirements | Lower minimum requirements in some areas |
| Thermal protection | Higher minimum requirements | Lower minimum requirements in some areas |
| Dexterity | Lower minimum requirement | Higher minimum requirement |
| Typical application | Welding work requiring a higher level of protection | More precise welding work, e.g. TIG welding |
