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WHEN THINGS HEAT UP, THE RIGHT HAND PROTECTION MATTERS
Hot surfaces, radiant heat or molten metal: when working with thermal risks, hands can be exposed to a wide range of hazards. This makes it particularly important to choose hand protection that is suited to the actual risks involved.This is where EN 407 comes in. The standard specifies requirements, test methods and markings for protective gloves and other hand protection against thermal risks. It distinguishes between different forms of heat and fire – because a glove that protects against a hot surface does not necessarily provide the same level of protection against radiant heat or molten metal.
But what exactly do the EN 407 markings mean – and how should the individual performance levels be interpreted?
WHAT DOES THE EN 407 MARKING MEAN?
EN 407 distinguishes between six thermal properties, which are shown in a defined order. Depending on the intended application, only the tests relevant to the risks involved need to be carried out.| Position | Test | What is assessed? |
| 1 | Limited flame spread | Behaviour of the material after exposure to flame |
| 2 | Contact heat | Protection when in contact with hot surfac |
| 3 | Convective heat | Heat transfer caused by exposure to flame |
| 4 | Radiant heat | Heat transfer through thermal radiation |
| 5 | Small splashes of molten metal | Resistance to small droplets of molten metal |
| 6 | Large quantities of molten metal | Resistance to larger quantities of molten metal |
The individual properties are generally expressed as performance levels from 1 to 4, provided that the relevant test has been carried out and the corresponding level has been achieved. However, these values should not simply be combined to form an overall rating for the glove. What matters is the type of thermal risk that actually occurs during the respective task.
An X in a particular position indicates that no performance level is declared for that property. The standard also provides for different pictograms depending on whether or not a performance level for limited flame spread is declared.
Please note: EN 407 does not apply to protective gloves for firefighters or welding. Separate standards apply to these applications: EN 659 for protective gloves for firefighters and EN 12477 for protective gloves for welders.
FROM CONTACT HEAT TO MOLTEN METAL: WHAT DO THE PERFORMANCE LEVELS MEAN?
Contact heat provides a particularly clear example of how EN 407 works. The test determines how long it takes for a defined temperature increase to occur on the inside of the material. For each performance level, the threshold time must be at least 15 seconds. The specified contact temperature increases with the performance level.| Performance level | Contact temperature | Threshold time |
| 1 | 100 °C | ≥ 15 seconds |
| 2 | 250 °C | ≥ 15 seconds |
| 3 | 350 °C | ≥ 15 seconds |
| 4 | 500 °C | ≥ 15 seconds |
Important: This does not mean that a glove can be used at the specified temperature for an unlimited period of time. The value describes the result achieved under the defined test conditions.
The requirements also increase with the performance level for the other properties. For limited flame spread, for example, afterflame and afterglow times are assessed. For convective heat and radiant heat, heat transfer is evaluated. For small splashes of molten metal, the number of metal droplets required to produce a defined temperature increase is assessed. For large quantities of molten metal, testing is carried out using molten iron. Depending on the performance level, the quantities specified in the standard range from 30 g to 200 g.
