EN 13594
Motorcycle gloves
Requirements for motorcyclists’ protective gloves: abrasion, cut and tear tests, seam strength, knuckle impact (Level 1 and 2, KP marking). Much of the mechanical test set overlaps with the glove-laboratory toolkit.
Current edition:
EN 13594:2015 — successor of EN 13594:2002The 2015 edition opened the standard to all riders (previously professional use), cut the Level-1 cuff requirement from 50 mm to 15 mm, and focused the abrasion test on the heel of the hand with new apparatus.
At the review date EN 13594:2015 is harmonised under Regulation (EU) 2016/425 (since 21 April 2018) — motorcycle gloves are PPE within the scope of the regulation. The EU Official Journal defines the status at any given time.
What does the standard require?
- Two performance levels: Level 1 (protection with low ergonomic penalty) and Level 2 (higher protection)
- Impact-abrasion at the heel of the hand: Level 1 mean ≥ 4 s, Level 2 mean ≥ 8 s
- Knuckle impact at 5 J: optional at Level 1 ("KP", mean ≤ 7 kN), mandatory at Level 2 (≤ 4 kN)
- Cuff: Level 1 ≥ 15 mm, Level 2 ≥ 50 mm above the wrist; restraint 25 / 50 N
- Seam and tear strength, cut resistance, innocuousness (pH, chromium(VI), azo dyes); rigid external parts must not protrude inward
Classes and levels: Marking: motorcycle pictogram + level (1 or 2), plus "KP" where the knuckle-protection test is passed.
Laboratory testing
Independent laboratory measurement of the properties behind this standard's requirements — for development, verification, disputes.
Technical content cross-checked against external sources. Last reviewed: 2026-08-14. The authoritative list of harmonised versions is always the EU Official Journal.
A question about testing or certification against EN 13594?
Request a quote