Chemical Resistant Gloves

No glove resists every chemical. Chemical protection is always specific, and the correct glove depends on the substance, its concentration, the temperature and how long the hand stays in contact. The certifications below tell you what was tested and for how long.

EN ISO 374-1:2016 Types A, B and C

The type letter records how many test chemicals the glove resisted for at least 30 minutes. Type A resisted at least six, Type B at least three, and Type C at least one for at least 10 minutes. Type A is not automatically the right glove, because the six chemicals it passed may not include the one on your site.

Type A and Type B gloves print the letter codes of the chemicals they passed beneath the Erlenmeyer flask pictogram. Type C gloves carry the flask alone with no letters and are intended for low risk splash only.

The letter codes

The standard defines eighteen test chemicals, each with a letter. A is methanol, B acetone, C acetonitrile, D dichloromethane, E carbon disulphide, F toluene, G diethylamine, H tetrahydrofuran, I ethyl acetate, J n heptane, K sodium hydroxide 40 per cent, L sulphuric acid 96 per cent, M nitric acid 65 per cent, N acetic acid 99 per cent, O ammonium hydroxide 25 per cent, P hydrogen peroxide 30 per cent, S hydrofluoric acid 40 per cent and T formaldehyde 37 per cent.

Read the letters, not the type. A glove marked JKL resisted heptane, caustic soda and sulphuric acid, and tells you nothing useful about acetone.

Breakthrough time levels 1 to 6

For each chemical the laboratory reports a permeation breakthrough time, and that time maps to a level. Level 1 is more than 10 minutes, level 2 more than 30, level 3 more than 60, level 4 more than 120, level 5 more than 240 and level 6 more than 480 minutes.

Breakthrough is measured in a laboratory at 23 degrees Celsius on a flat sample. Real hands stretch the material, work warmer and flex it constantly, all of which shorten the result. Treat the level as a comparison figure and apply a safety margin rather than working to the stated limit.

Permeation, degradation and penetration

These three words describe three different failures and buyers often confuse them. Permeation is the chemical passing through the intact glove material at a molecular level, with no visible sign that anything is happening. Degradation is the material itself being attacked, showing as swelling, hardening, softening or colour change. Penetration is bulk liquid passing through a pinhole, a seam or a tear.

A glove can degrade badly while still having a long breakthrough time, and it can permeate freely while looking perfectly normal. That is why the safest habit is a defined wear time rather than a visual check.

EN ISO 374-5 and the VIRUS marking

EN ISO 374-5 covers micro organisms. A glove passing the penetration test to EN 374-2 may carry the biohazard pictogram for bacteria and fungi. Only gloves that also pass the ISO 16604 viral penetration test may print the word VIRUS beneath that pictogram.

If your risk assessment includes bloodborne pathogens or contaminated waste, look for the VIRUS wording specifically. The pictogram on its own does not cover viral penetration.

Matching material to chemical family

Nitrile is the general purpose choice and performs well against oils, greases, fuels, many acids and caustics, but it is poor against ketones such as acetone and against chlorinated solvents. Natural latex handles acids, caustics and alcohols well, is poor against oils and hydrocarbons, and carries a protein allergy risk. Neoprene offers a broad middle ground including acids, caustics and some alcohols. PVC suits acids, caustics and salts but not most organic solvents. Butyl is the answer for ketones and esters, and fluoroelastomer for aromatic and chlorinated solvents.

Thickness and length change the result as much as material choice. A thicker glove buys time and a longer gauntlet keeps splash off the forearm during decanting. Always confirm the specific chemical, its concentration and the contact time against the manufacturer permeation data before you specify, and change gloves at a set interval rather than waiting for a visible sign.

Chemical Resistant range

Frequently asked questions

Is a Type A glove always better than a Type B glove?

No. Type A only means the glove resisted six or more of the eighteen listed test chemicals for at least 30 minutes. If your substance is not among the letters printed on the glove, the type letter tells you nothing. Match the letter codes and the permeation data to the chemical you actually handle.

What does a breakthrough time of level 3 mean in practice?

Level 3 means permeation breakthrough took more than 60 minutes in a laboratory test at 23 degrees Celsius on an unstressed sample. Working conditions are warmer and the material is stretched and flexed, so apply a margin. Setting a change interval well inside the tested time is the safe approach.

Do chemical gloves protect against viruses?

Only if they are certified to EN ISO 374-5 and print the word VIRUS under the biohazard pictogram. That wording confirms the glove passed the ISO 16604 viral penetration test. The pictogram without the word covers bacteria and fungi only.

Can chemical resistant gloves be reused after exposure?

Reusable gauntlets can be decontaminated and reused if the manufacturer allows it and there is no swelling, stiffening, tackiness or colour change. Once a chemical has begun permeating, the material continues to release it even after the surface is cleaned, so any glove that has reached its breakthrough time should be discarded.

Relevant industries

Gloves by type

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