EN511 standard: protective gloves against the cold

The EN511 glove pictogram

Strict guidelines have been issued by European legislation for the protection of workers in terms of PPE. The EN 511 standard is a provision supplemented by other sections to protect the user from cold, convection and contact at -50°C. Wearing the protective glove protects the hand area. This same legislation requires that EN 511 standard gloves clearly display, in addition to the pictogram, the numbers from 0 to 4 which represent the specific level of protection, in terms of resistance to convection cold, in terms of resistance to cold contact and water permeability. A minimum of testing with differing performance levels is carried out to ensure the requirements of the European standard. The EN511 standard is represented by a pictogram in the shape of a snowflake.

The minimum protection offered by the EN 511 standard

Strict tests are imposed on all manufacturers who claim to protect workers against external hazards. The EN 511 standard concerns protective gloves against cold. This is about cold outdoors, i.e. linked to climatic conditions, in a winter environment, but also cold linked to industrial activity, c ie in a professional environment.

Convective cold resistance relates to thermal insulation against the transfer of cold by convection. Contact cold resistance, on the other hand, relates to the protection provided by the material that makes up the glove. The glove's impermeability to water, finally, is a criterion that indicates how reliable the glove is in a situation of exposure to water.

The performance levels of each part of protection are clearly indicated by 3 numbers below the pictogram. For example, water permeability is scored from 0 to 1 to indicate that 1 means no water penetration.

Additional standards: EN 388, EN407, 420

The user of EN 511 standard work gloves is someone who has a job to do in extreme conditions. Without appropriate protection, these extreme conditions can bring discomfort or even inconvenience which could have negative effects on their level of performance or even on their health (skin lesions, etc.)

The EN 511 standard work glove is primarily a handling glove against the cold, however, other conditions must be met for it to be truly functional. Other standards then complete it, such as EN 388, the standard for protection against mechanical risks. Before being EN 511 standardized, the glove must also have passed the EN 420 test which is the basic standard common to all professional protective gloves . Specific additional standards such as the 407 standard which protects against heat, for example during contact with an object triggering intense heat production, or even resistance to abrasion or to a constant temperature, work gloves can be indispensable in certain professions.