Insights · Gloves

Chemical-resistant gloves: permeation, degradation and EN ISO 374

How chemical-protective gloves are tested and labelled, and why 'chemical resistant' always needs the chemical name next to it.

Gloved hand placing a tablet into a dissolution test vessel

No glove material resists every chemical. Selection therefore starts with the chemicals, concentrations and contact time in the task.

Two ways a glove fails

Permeation is the movement of a chemical through the glove material at molecular level; it is reported as a breakthrough time. Degradation is a change in the material itself – swelling, softening or cracking – after contact. EN ISO 374-1 uses permeation test results to classify gloves and EN ISO 374-4 covers degradation testing.^[1]

Type A, B and C

Under EN ISO 374-1:2016+A1:2018 (the edition most glove certificates still refer to; ISO has since published ISO 374-1:2024), a Type A glove reaches a breakthrough time of at least 30 minutes against at least six test chemicals from the standard's list, Type B at least 30 minutes against three, and Type C at least 10 minutes against one.^[1] Check which edition a glove's documents refer to.^[2] The letters printed under the pictogram identify which test chemicals were passed.

Regulation in the EU

Gloves protecting against dangerous substances are Category III personal protective equipment under Regulation (EU) 2016/425, which requires EU type-examination by a notified body and ongoing production control before CE marking.^[5]

Employer duties

In the US, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.138 requires employers to select hand protection based on an evaluation of the performance characteristics relative to the task, conditions, duration of use and hazards.^[6]

Questions for the glove maker

Permeation and degradation data for your chemicals and concentrations.
Type classification, test chemical letters and the notified-body certificate where sold in the EU.
Material and thickness – nitrile and latex behave very differently with solvents, oils and acids.

Sources

Sources accessed 10 October 2026. Standards are summarised, not reproduced; consult the official edition.

Disclaimer: General information for reference only – not technical, engineering, legal or medical advice. Always follow the current official edition of the standards cited, your own risk assessment and the manufacturer's data.