EN 16350 Protective Gloves - Test Standard for Electrostatic Properties

Hand Protection Equipment Tests

EN 16350 Protective Gloves - Test Standard for Electrostatic Properties

EUROLAB laboratory provides testing and compliance services within the scope of EN 16350 standard. The EN 16350 standard provides additional requirements for protective gloves to be worn in areas where flammable or explosive areas are or may be present. It specifies a test method and requirements for performance, marking and information for protective gloves that consume electrostatic energy to minimize explosion risks.

EN 16350 Protective Gloves - Test Standard for Electrostatic Properties

In an ATEX zone (environment with explosive atmosphere), a spark caused by the discharge of static electricity from an object can cause an explosion. Therefore, work gloves should be designed in such a way that they do not accumulate static electricity. This standard relates to glove requirements in ATEX zones.

The standard provides additional requirements for protective gloves worn in flammable or explosive areas. The glove's vertical resistance (resistance of a material) is performed and measured with the EN 1149-2 test standard, and each measurement must be less than the 1,0x108Ω requirement.

Gloves made of insulating material can isolate hand-held objects from the ground, thus becoming dangerously charged. Therefore, if gloves are required, for example in areas where flammable or explosive atmospheres are or may be present, only electrostatic dissipative protective gloves may be used in combination with certain adequate equipment (e.g. clothing, shoes, grounding).

This European Standard does not cover:

  • Protection of electronic devices;
  • Protection against mains voltages;
  • Insulating protective gloves for live work (EN 60903);
  • Protective gloves for welders (EN 12477).

In flammable atmospheres enriched with oxygen, the requirements may not be sufficient. This European Standard should be used in conjunction with specific standards applicable to the risks for which the glove is designed. Electrostatic dissipative protective gloves are only effective if the wearer is grounded with a resistance of less than 108 Ω.

This standard is very demanding, as the test condition requires 25% RH, which corresponds to a dry climate, which is not representative of all workplace situations. The lower the humidity, the higher the vertical resistance of the test piece. Most of the gloves used in the ATEX field (nitrile / neoprene gloves) do not comply with EN 16350 but do not put the end user at risk.

This test method measures the vertical resistance in Ohms (Ω) through the material between two electrodes placed on opposite surfaces under a voltage of 100 +/-5 V.

EUROLAB, with its more than 25 years of experience, state-of-the-art accredited laboratories and expert team, helps you get precise and fast results. Do not hesitate to contact our laboratory for your testing and certification requests.

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