We know how important cut-resistant gloves are for many of our customers and their employees. So, we wanted to explain how our gloves are rated and a change we are making in how we refer to them.

All our workplace gloves are compliant with the European Standard EN388. This assesses and rates gloves on their resistance to typical workplace usage issues like abrasion, rubbing, puncture and cutting. Before 2016 gloves were tested for cut resistance with a method called the ‘coup test’.

The Cutting Tests For Gloves

The ‘coup test’ is carried out with a circular rotating blade that passes repeatedly over the fabric of the cut resistant glove. The glove is then graded on the number of times that knife passes over without cutting through the fabric. The glove is then given a rating of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest performance on the ‘coup test’.

But in 2016 the European Standard added another type of cut test for gloves. This test measures the cut resistance of the glove fabric in a different way - using a flat blade with pressure applied. The fabric is tested five times with a new blade used each time. We believe it is more representative of how cuts actually happen in the workplace. With this test the rating given is from A to F, with A being the least resistant and F the most resistant to cuts.

How Gloves Are Rated For Cutting

Robuck Raptor Ratings

Safety gloves that comply with this EN388:2016 standard can now receive two cutting tests – the old ‘coup’ test and this newer flat blade test. And you can see their rating on both types of test from the letters on the back of the glove. The second number on the back of the glove denotes its performance in the ‘coup’ test and the fifth letter denotes its performance in the newer cut test – these letters run from A which shows no cut resistance to F which is an extreme cut resistant glove.

However, there isn’t a requirement to do both the old ‘coup’ test and the new cut test. So, when a glove has not been tested for one or other of those cut tests you will see an X. For example, a rating of 4X43D means that the glove has got the new cut test rating of level D and hasn’t had the old coup test. Or you may also see a 4132X glove which means this has the lowest cut protection rating of 1 on the old ‘coup’ test and hasn’t had the new test.

To keep things simple, we’re starting to use the newer, more relevant cut test grade to rate our gloves when we talk about them. So, you will see these ratings changing over time on our glove descriptions. Instead of calling our cut proof gloves cut 5 for example, we’ll be calling them cut D – representing their grading in this more recent, realistic cut test.

Don’t worry, if you’re used to asking for a cut 5 level glove, like our Robuck Raptor gloves which have a rating of 4X43D – we’ll still know what you mean and we’ll send you the same safety gloves you know. We’ll just be calling them cut level D and you’ll be seeing that change in our brochures, leaflets and website too.