EN 388
Gloves against mechanical risks
The best-known glove standard: abrasion, cut, tear and puncture resistance plus impact protection, tested and marked.
Current edition:
EN 388:2016+A1:2018 — successor of EN 388:2003The 2016 revision introduced the TDM cut levels (A–F, EN ISO 13997) and the "P" impact test, plus a blunting check for the coupe blade — for high-performance yarns the TDM letter governs.
At the review date EN 388:2016+A1:2018 is harmonised under Regulation (EU) 2016/425 (cited 19 May 2020, Decision (EU) 2020/668). The EU Official Journal defines the status at any given time.
What does the standard require?
- Abrasion resistance levels 1–4: 100 / 500 / 2,000 / 8,000 cycles
- Coupe (rotating circular blade) cut levels 1–5: cut index 1.2 / 2.5 / 5 / 10 / 20
- Tear levels 1–4 (10–75 N) and puncture levels 1–4 (20–150 N)
- TDM cut test (EN ISO 13997) letters A–F: 2 / 5 / 10 / 15 / 22 / 30 N cutting force
- Optional impact protection ("P"): 2.5 kg striker at 5 J, mean transmitted force ≤ 7.0 kN
Marking on the product: 4 digits + letter (+ P), e.g. 4X42F P
abrasion (0–4) · coupe cut (0–5) · tear (0–4) · puncture (0–4) · TDM cut (A–F, EN ISO 13997) · P = impact protection. X = not tested.
How to read an EN 388 marking
Example marking: 4543 D P
- 1 Abrasion resistance — rub cycles (1–4)
- 2 Cut resistance, coupe method (1–5)
- 3 Tear strength (1–4)
- 4 Puncture resistance (1–4)
- 5 Cut resistance per EN ISO 13997 (A–F) — governs for high-cut materials
- 6 Impact protection — where tested
Related standards
Laboratory testing
Laboratory testing related to this standard — for development, verification and quality disputes. Which of the standard's tests run in our own laboratory, and which are sourced from a laboratory equipped for them, is stated before the quotation.
Certification (NB 1524)
The standard belongs to BIMEO’s notified-body conformity-assessment scope — EU type-examination is available against it.
Further reading
Technical content cross-checked against external sources. Last reviewed: 2026-08-14. The authoritative list of harmonised versions is always the EU Official Journal.
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