When you think “gloves”, you always think “cut level.” That usually refers to the ANSI standard 105.2016. That standard outlines requirements for protective gloves used at work. But it outlines much more than cut protection. It provides testing, scoring and application guidelines for cut, abrasion, puncture, heat and chemical protection.
CUT PROTECTION
Cut resistance is incredibly important, and is the main functionality that determines what gloves workers use. ANSI/SEA 105-2016 uses a TDM-100 machine to measure cut resistance by subjecting the glove material to a straight edge blade under a variable load. Cut resistance is determined by the grams of pressure needed before a blade cuts through the material, and assigned a level A1-A9.
PUNCTURE RESISTANCE
ANSI 105.2016 outlines two kinds of Puncture Resistance that are similar but different. Blunt Puncture resistance is measured by the amount of force needed for a blunt object, like a ballpoint pen, to pierce the material. It is measured in Newtons and assigned levels 1-5, with one being the least amount of pressure and five being the most.
Needle puncture resistance measures the force needed for a needle-like object to puncture the material. It is measured in Newtons and assigned levels 1-5, with one being the least amount of pressure and five being the most.
HEAT RESISTANCE
Heat Resistance is all about keeping your hands safe from burns. It measures the highest contact temperature that allows for over 15 seconds before a second-degree burn and 4 seconds before feeling pain. Ratings go from 1 to 5, with 1 providing the lowest protection and 5 offering the highest.
- 176° F
- 284° F
- 302° F
- 500° F
- 608° F
ABRASION RESISTANCE
Abrasion Resistance tells you how well the glove material holds up against friction. It’s measured by the number of cycles it takes for an abrasion wheel to break down the material. Scores go from 0 to 6, the higher the rating the longer the material will hold up.
CHEMICAL RESISTANCE
When it comes to Chemical Resistance, ANSI 105.2016 does permeation testing by exposing the exterior material to a hazardous chemical. At timed intervals, the interior side is checked for the presence of permeated chemicals and the extent to which the chemical permeated the glove.
LABELING
Gloves and manufacturer boxes can only bare the label if the gloves have been ANSI tested and rated. The ratings usually appear within in upsidedown pentagon.
ANSI 105 outlines all the important protective aspects of a glove and offers guidelines on applications so that it is clear what any worker needs, except for impact protection. Impact protection is under a different standard, ANSI 138.
We offer an extensive selection of ANSI rated gloves. Anything you need, we’ve got you covered!
Learn more about cut protection HERE.
Read about more things to consider when selecting hand protection here.
Browse hand protection here.
