The short answer
EN 407 has six positions for burning behaviour, contact heat, convective heat, radiant heat, small splashes of molten metal and large quantities of molten metal. EN 511 has three positions for convective cold, contact cold and water permeability. Higher numbers mean more resistance, an X means not tested.
EN 407: the six positions
Levels run from 1 to 4. Note that a high level for contact heat says nothing about flame protection; each position stands on its own.
| Position | Tests | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burning behaviour | How long the material burns or glows after the flame is removed |
| 2 | Contact heat | Temperature that can be touched for 15 seconds, level 4 up to 500 °C |
| 3 | Convective heat | How long the glove keeps heat in the air away |
| 4 | Radiant heat | Protection against radiated heat, for instance in front of a furnace |
| 5 | Small splashes of molten metal | Number of drops before a defined rise in temperature inside |
| 6 | Large quantities of molten metal | Grams of molten metal before the skin underneath is harmed |
EN 511: the three positions
Cold works in two ways: through the air and through contact. The third position is not a level but a yes-or-no statement about water.
| Position | Tests | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Convective cold | Levels 0 to 4, insulation against cold in the air |
| 2 | Contact cold | Levels 0 to 4, insulation when touching cold objects |
| 3 | Water permeability | 0 means water gets in, 1 means watertight for at least 30 minutes |
What matters in practice
- Cold hands outdoors are usually a first-position problem, cold hands at the workpiece a second-position one.
- With water permeability 0 even the best cold protection will not help in the wet: a soaked lining cools faster than none at all.
- Heat protection and dexterity largely rule each other out. Anyone needing both works with two pairs and switches.
- EN 407 and EN 511 do not replace EN 388. Almost every model in the range carries both, because a heat glove also has to stand up to abrasion.
Frequently asked
- What does an X in the sequence mean?
- That this position was not tested. It does not mean the glove fails there, only that no statement is available.
- Is EN 407 enough for handling hot workpieces?
- What matters is the second position, contact heat, and how long you hold on. The test runs for 15 seconds. Anyone holding longer needs a higher level or a pair of tongs.
- Are winter gloves automatically watertight?
- No. Only the third position of EN 511 says that. A 0 there means the glove is not tested as watertight.
- Where do I find the values for a model?
- On every product page under the technical data, and in the manufacturer's data sheet linked as a PDF.
Heat or cold at work?
Tell us the temperature and how long you hold on. We will suggest a model and send a sample.
Christoph Scabell
Safety equipment sales, ES Handels- und Servicegesellschaft
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