Overview
ISO 374-1:2024 - Protective gloves against dangerous chemicals and micro-organisms - Part 1: Terminology and performance requirements for chemical risks defines terms and performance requirements for gloves intended to protect users from dangerous chemicals. This second edition updates permeation reporting and adds a penetration requirement, aligning glove performance, sampling and lab testing with established methods (EN 16523-1, ISO 374-2, ISO 374-4 and ISO 6529). It is intended for use alongside general glove requirements in ISO 21420.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and terminology: Defines key terms such as dangerous chemicals, degradation, penetration and permeation to ensure consistent interpretation across tests and specifications.
- Sampling: Specifies sampling locations - typically three specimens from the palm area and additional specimens for gloves ≥ 400 mm when the cuff is claimed to protect against chemicals.
- Performance requirements
- Penetration resistance: Entire glove (fingers, palm, back, cuff) must not leak when tested per ISO 374-2.
- Degradation resistance: Degradation (DR) for each claimed chemical must be measured per ISO 374-4 and reported to users; no quantified limit is set but results must show the glove remains functional.
- Permeation resistance: Per glove/chemical combination, permeation testing follows EN 16523-1 (+Amd 1) or optionally ISO 6529 (with Annex A conditions). Results are expressed as normalized breakthrough time (NBT) when permeation rate reaches 1 µg·cm−2·min−1.
- Permeation performance levels:
- Level 1: >10 min
- Level 2: >30 min
- Level 3: >60 min
- Level 4: >120 min
- Level 5: >240 min
- Level 6: >480 min
- Glove classification: Gloves are classified into Type A, B or C by permeation performance. (ISO 374-1:2024 specifies that Type A must achieve at least level 2 against a minimum of six test chemicals from the standard’s Table 2.)
- Marking and manufacturer information: Requirements for on-glove marking and for user information (permeation levels, degradation results, tested chemicals) are defined to support safe selection and use.
Applications and who uses it
- PPE manufacturers: design, test, certify and mark chemical-protective gloves.
- Testing laboratories: perform permeation, penetration and degradation tests using referenced methods.
- Safety managers / procurement: select appropriate glove Types and performance levels for workplace chemical risks.
- Regulators and conformity assessors: verify compliance with international performance criteria.
- End users (laboratories, chemical plants, healthcare): interpret glove markings and manufacturer data to manage chemical exposure risks.
Related standards
Keywords: ISO 374-1:2024, protective gloves, chemical risks, permeation, penetration, degradation, glove performance levels, Type A gloves, EN 16523-1, ISO 21420.
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