Safety for Controlled Environments

New edition ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 outlines a new test method for determining cut scores and a revised scale from A1-A9. Click here for more information about the new testing standard.

The ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 standard outlines test methods for abrasion and is scored from 0-6. The ASTM D3389-10 is used for uncoated gloves and the end point (failure) is the number of abrasion cycles when the first thread or yarn is broken. The larger numbers of cycles indicates greater abrasion resistance of the product and a higher Abrasion Level.

The ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 blunt force puncture testing uses a probe to simulate a tear or burst hazard. The test measures the amount of force needed for a blunt probe to pierce through PPE material. Results are given in Newtons, which is converted into a 1-5 scale and spans from 10 newtons (Level 1) to 150+ newtons (Level 5) of puncture resistance.

EN 388 is a European Standard. Cut Level is determined by the number of cycles it takes a spinning circular blade, that is pulled across the material under a constant weight of 500 grams, to cut the fabric. As the number of cycles increase, so does the glove's ratings. Click here for more information about the EN 388 2016 standard.

ESD is an acronym for electrostatic discharge. This discharge is the rapid transfer of static between two different objects. Although ESD doesn’t typically cause harm to the human body - you might only experience it as a small, surprising shock - it can cause extensive damage to electrical equipment and sensitive instruments. This damage may either be permanent, causing the device to malfunction (known as a catastrophic failure), or it may occur on a smaller scale that would be difficult to detect before the device is sent out for service (known as latent defect).