EN 374

EN 374
Title	EN 374
Status	Published
Year	2016
Scope	Protective gloves against chemicals and microorganisms
Organization	European Committee for Standardization (CEN)

EN 374

EN 374 is a European standard for protective gloves designed to provide chemical and microbiological protection. It specifies classifications, performance requirements, test methods, marking, and certification procedures used across European Union member states and associated territories. The standard is referenced by regulatory frameworks and is routinely applied by manufacturers, testing laboratories, accreditation bodies, and purchasers in sectors ranging from pharmaceutical industry to food processing.

Overview

The standard defines minimum requirements for protective gloves intended to protect users against hazardous chemicals and infectious agents. It addresses materials, permeation resistance, degradation, and viral penetration, and it aligns with conformity assessment procedures used by European Commission directives and regulations. Stakeholders include manufacturers, notified bodies such as British Standards Institution, testing laboratories like TÜV SÜD, and accreditation organizations including European co-operation for Accreditation.

Scope and Purpose

The scope covers single-use and reusable gloves made from a range of polymers and elastomers, intended for professional and industrial use in contexts such as chemical industry, healthcare, laboratory science, agriculture, and waste management. The purpose is to establish harmonized criteria for selection of gloves that reduce occupational exposure to hazardous substances listed by regulators, including certain volatile organic compounds and infectious agents regulated under Biological Agents Directive-related frameworks. It complements regional standards and international norms developed by bodies such as International Organization for Standardization and European Committee for Standardization technical committees.

Classification and Performance Requirements

Gloves are classified by type (e.g., reusable vs single-use), material, and resistance performance levels. Performance criteria include permeation breakthrough times for specified chemicals, degradation limits after exposure, and resistance to penetration by microbial agents and blood-borne pathogens. Performance categories reference chemical families and representative challenge substances drawn from lists used by European Chemicals Agency hazard communication, and are evaluated against threshold values established by technical committees and expert panels that include representatives from OECD and national metrology institutes like Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt.

Test Methods and Standards

A suite of standardized test methods is specified, including permeation testing using collecting mediums under controlled flow and temperature, degradation testing by mass or tensile property change, and viral penetration tests employing surrogate viruses or bacteriophages. These methods are related to established techniques developed in laboratories affiliated with National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Institut Pasteur, Public Health England, and testing consortia that contributed protocols to CEN working groups. Reference procedures are harmonized with internationally recognized methods from ISO committees and interlaboratory studies coordinated with institutions such as European Molecular Biology Laboratory.

Marking and Labelling

Gloves that meet the standard must carry standardized pictograms, performance codes, and manufacturer information to aid selection and traceability. Markings indicate chemical resistance categories, breakthrough times, and whether the glove is suitable for protection against microorganisms or viruses. Labelling practices conform to notification and market surveillance systems managed by entities like European Chemicals Agency, Consumer Protection Cooperation network, and national standardization bodies including AFNOR and DIN.

Compliance, Certification, and Notified Bodies

Conformity assessment under this standard may involve type examination, quality system assessment, and batch testing conducted by notified bodies designated under New Legislative Framework mechanisms. Accreditation of laboratories and certification bodies is overseen by national accreditation bodies cooperating through European co-operation for Accreditation and multilaterally recognized arrangements. Notified and certification bodies frequently cited in the sector include SGS, Intertek, and Bureau Veritas, which operate alongside national regulators such as Health and Safety Executive and Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in enforcing market compliance.

Impact and Applications in Industry

The standard guides procurement, risk assessment, and product development across industries that handle hazardous chemicals or infectious materials, influencing glove material science, supply chains, and workplace safety programs administered by occupational health agencies like European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. Its adoption affects manufacturers ranging from multinational polymer producers to specialized glove makers, and has implications for training programs run by institutions like Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and Royal Society for Public Health. The harmonized criteria facilitate trade within the European Single Market while informing international buyers in regions interacting with European technical regulations.

Category:European standards