Polyco - Explanation of Standards

Laboratory Tests The state-of-the-art Technology Centre laboratories at BM Polyco are equipped to carry out a range of tests on protective gloves. The chemical and physical test laboratories are accredited by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Services) to ISO 17025. EN374-2 Determination of Resistance to Penetration This is the reference test specified by the European Standard for the assessment of glove quality. Gloves must pass this test in order to prove that they are an effective barrier against liquids and micro-organisms. A statistical sample taken from a batch of gloves is subject to checks for pinholes and leaks by either inflation with air or by filling with water. Performance levels are assessed according to the acceptance quality limit (AQL) of the gloves. Gloves must meet at least level 2 of EN374-2 to be considered micro-organism resistant.

Level

1

2

3

AQL

4.0 1.5 0.65

EN374-3 Determination of Resistance to Permeation by Chemicals Resistance to permeation is assessed by measuring the time for a chemical to breakthrough the glove material. Samples, cut from the palms of gloves, are placed in a permeation cell which enables the chemical to be placed in contact with the outer surface of the gloves. Collection air or water is passed through the cell to collect any chemical that has broken through to the inside surface of the glove sample. Polyco laboratories are equipped with a GC spectrometer, an FTIR spectrometer (both detect solvents), conductivity/pH electrodes (to detect acids, alkalis and salts) and UV/Visible spectrophotometer (to detect high boiling point, water soluble chemicals and solvents). To carry the chemical pictogram products must now meet at least performance level 2 when tested against three of the following chemicals:

A Methanol

B Acetone F Toluene

C Acetonitrile G Diethylamine

D Dichloromethane H Tetrahydrofuran L Sulphuric acid 96%

Performance Level 6 Breakthrough Time (min) >10 >30 >60 >120 >240 >480 1 2 3 4 5

E Carbon disulphide

I Ethyl acetate

J n-Heptane

K Sodium hydroxide 40%

For gloves that do not meet these requirements, but do pass the leak test of EN374-2, this pictogram may be used.

Performance levels are assessed according to the breakthrough times of the chemicals.

EN388 Protective Gloves Against Mechanical Risks The following equipment is used to assess the properties of gloves specified by the EN388 standard.

A Martindale wear and abrasion tester is used to measure the abrasion resistance. The test involves rubbing samples, cut from the palms of gloves, against a standard glass paper until a hole is worn through one of the samples. The number of abrasion cycles is used to assess the performance. A Sodemat (coup) cut tester is used to measure the resistance to cutting. Samples are cut from gloves and placed in a frame which enables a circular, counter-rotating blade to slice through the glove material. The number of cycles required by the blade to cut through the glove are recorded. These are converted into a cutting index by comparison with the number of cycles required to cut through a standard reference material. The standard now allows for an alternative test method to be used for highly cut resistant products and this test is described in EN ISO 13997. It measures the force required to make a cut in the test sample 20mm long and is often referred to as the ISO Cut Test. Performance levels are established according to cutting index. Puncture and tear resistance are measured with a tensometer. Puncture resistance is measured as the force required to break through samples from gloves with a standard puncture needle (it should be noted that the design of this needle is comparable to that of a large nail, and the puncture strength from this test cannot be used to assess resistance to puncture by hypodermic needles). Tear resistance is measured as the force required to tear apart samples from the glove, which are in the form of a pair of trousers (this test is also known as a trouser tear test). The legs of the trouser samples are pulled apart and the maximum force used to assess tearing resistance of the material. EN420 General Requirements for Gloves This standard includes tests for glove dimensions, dexterity and allergens. For example, leather gloves are required to have a chromium VI content less than the limit of detection. Gloves are required to be neutral with respect to skin contact.

Performance Level Abrasion Cycles

1

2

3

4

5

100

500

2000

8000

n/a

Cutting Index Tear Force (N)

1.2

2.5

5

10 75

20

10

25 60

50

n/a n/a

Puncture Force (N) ISO Cut Load (N)

20

100

150 ≥ 13

≥ 22

Coup Cut Machine

7