NITRAS SAFETY | laboratory test: EN 388

Mechanical stress in everyday life

Protective gloves are exposed to harsh conditions every day – from rough surfaces and sharp-edged workpieces to constant friction during manual activities. But how durable is a material really? And how can that be objectively verified?

A central procedure is provided by the EN 388 standard, specifically the abrasion resistance test. At the AS Quality Center – our in-house testing laboratory – we conduct this test using the Martindale tester. How exactly this works, why the result is so important, and what you can deduce from it for your glove choice, you can find out here.

THE ABRASION TEST ACCORDING TO EN 388

The abrasion test according to EN 388 is designed to simulate the real-life stress of a protective glove in everyday work as accurately as possible. A test sample – usually a piece of material from the inside of the glove – is placed on a special sandpaper and moved constantly under a defined pressure. This movement occurs on the so-called Martindale testing device, which generates uniform, circular friction movements.

During the test, the material is subjected to continuous friction until it shows visible damage, such as pitting or complete wear through. The value counted, i.e., the number of movement cycles, describes the glove's resistance to mechanical abrasion. The more cycles a glove withstands, the higher its protective performance and the longer it lasts in daily use.

This allows for an objective determination of how robust protective gloves really are – and whether they provide reliable protection even under real working conditions.

WHAT THE AUDIT RESULTS MEAN

The result of the abrasion test is indicated as a performance level between 1 and 4 – the higher the value, the more resistant the glove material is to mechanical abrasion:

Performance level	Cycles (until wear-through)	Importance for use
1	100-499	Only suitable for low stress
2	500-1.999	For occasional mechanical stress
3	2.000-7.999	For moderate to heavy daily use
4	from 8.000	For heavy use, rough surfaces & continuous operation

The achieved cycle count must be at least equal to the limit value for a class. Class 1 is achieved at 100 cycles, while Class 4 is achieved at 8,000 cycles. This means that even if a glove can withstand 499 cycles, it is still classified as class 1 according to the standards.

These values help in selecting the right model, tailored to the respective work environment. Important: Abrasion resistance is only one part of the overall assessment according to EN 388 – other factors such as cut protection, tear resistance or puncture resistance are tested separately. When selecting your product, pay attention to the first digit in the EN 388 marking – it indicates the tested abrasion resistance. Learn more about Standard EN 388 here.

In assembly or construction, a high abrasion value (Level 4) is useful to prevent premature wear. In logistics, depending on the activity, level 2 may be sufficient.

example from practice example from practice

THE ABRASION TEST ACCORDING TO EN 388

This allows for an objective determination of how robust protective gloves really are – and whether they provide reliable protection even under real working conditions.

WHAT THE AUDIT RESULTS MEAN

The result of the abrasion test is indicated as a performance level between 1 and 4 – the higher the value, the more resistant the glove material is to mechanical abrasion:

Performance level	Cycles (until wear-through)	Importance for use
1	100-499	Only suitable for low stress
2	500-1.999	For occasional mechanical stress
3	2.000-7.999	For moderate to heavy daily use
4	from 8.000	For heavy use, rough surfaces & continuous operation

In assembly or construction, a high abrasion value (Level 4) is useful to prevent premature wear. In logistics, depending on the activity, level 2 may be sufficient.

Example from practice Example from practice

THE LABORATORY BEHIND IT: THE QUALITY CENTER

The abrasion test is a fixed part of our quality process. In our in-house AS Quality Center, we test every product development internally – before a product goes into series production or reaches the customer.

What makes us special:
+ State-of-the-art testing technology: including the Martindale testing device
+ Experienced testing laboratory team
+ Tests according to EN standard & internal standards
+ Early detection of material deviations
+ Reliable test results for your selection

Our mission: to make safety measurable – and to prove the actual durability of our products.

ABRASION RESISTANCE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

The abrasion test according to EN 388 provides an objective and practically relevant figure for the durability of protective gloves. The higher the level achieved in the testing procedure, the better the material withstands mechanical influences in everyday work.

The determined value helps to select the protective gloves that are suitable for the application – and to balance safety, wear comfort, and cost-effectiveness in the long term.