The AS/NZS 2161 standard is based on the EN standards, but there’s a key difference. In Australia and New Zealand, manufacturers are not legally required to have their products tested and certified by accredited authorities. Additionally, while the requirements are similar, the cold protection standard AS/NZS 2161.5:1998 uses different testing methods than the European cold standard EN511:2006.
AS/NZS 2161.1, Occupational protective gloves, Part 1: Selection, use and maintenance.
AS/NZS 2161.2 Occupational protective gloves, Part 2: General requirements.
Based on EN ISO 21420 Protective gloves – General requirements and test methods.
Part 1: End users should refer to this standard to determine which gloves are appropriate for their applications and how to properly maintain them.
Part 2: Specifies the general requirements and relevant test procedures for glove design and construction, innocuousness, comfort, and efficiency, as well as the marking and information supplied by the manufacturer applicable to all protective gloves.
See the table below:
| Glove and hand size chart as per standard EN ISO 21240 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glove size | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| Palm Circumference (mm) | 127 | 152 | 178 | 203 | 229 | 254 | 279 | 304 | 329 |
| Hand Length (mm) | 148 | 160 | 171 | 182 | 192 | 204 | 215 | 227 | 237 |
| Standard Glove Size | XXS/5 | XS/6 | S/7 | M/8 | L/9 | XL/10 | XXL/11 | 3XL/12 | 4XL/13 |
| Maxisafe Riggers & Mechanics Glove Size | XXS/6 | XS/7 | S/8 | M/9 | L/10 | XL/11 | XXL/12 | 3XL/13 | 4XL/14 |
Part 3: Specifies requirements, test methods, marking, and information to be supplied for protective gloves against the mechanical risks of abrasion, coupe cut, tear, puncture, ISO 13997 cut and, if applicable, impact. If a test is not performed, it is marked with the symbol ‘X’ for the respective test.
See the table below:
| EN388:2016+A1:2018 | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abrasion resistance (number of cycles) | 100 | 500 | 2000 | 8000 | - |
| Blade cut resistance (index) | 1.2 | 2.5 | 5 | 10 | 20 |
| Tear resistance (N) | 10 | 25 | 50 | 75 | - |
| Puncture resistance (N) | 20 | 60 | 100 | 150 | - |
| EN ISO 13997:1999 TDM | Level A | Level B | Level C | Level D | Level E | Level F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cut resistant test levels (N) | 2 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 22 | 30 |
| EN388:2016+A1:2018 IMPACT TEST | P (Pass) | F (Fail) | X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average transmittance force (kg) | ≤ 7kg | ≥ 9kg | Not tested |
Part 4: Specifies requirements for gloves for protection against heat and flames in one or more of the following forms: fire, contact heat, convective heat, radiant heat, small splashes, or large quantities of molten metal.
See the table below:
| Performance Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a. Burning Behaviour - After flame time | < 20 s | < 10 s | < 3 s | < 2 s |
| a. Burning Behaviour - After flame flow | Not required | < 120 s | < 25 s | < 5 s |
| b. Contact Heat - Contact temperature | 100°C | 250°C | 350°C | 500°C |
| b. Contact Heat - Threshold time | > 15s | > 15s | > 15s | > 15s |
| c. Convective Heat (heat transfer delay) | > 4s | > 7s | > 10s | > 18s |
| d. Radiant Heat (heat transfer delay) | > 7s | > 20s | > 50s | > 95s |
| e. Small Drops Molten Metal (# drops) | > 10 | > 15 | > 25 | > 35 |
| f. Large Quantity Molten Metal (mass) | 30g | 60g | 120g | 200g |
Part 5: Specifies the performance requirements and test methods for gloves, which are intended to protect against convective or conductive cold down to temperatures of -50 degrees Celsius. This could be linked to either the climatic conditions or occupational activity concerned. See the table below:
| EN 511: 2006 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convective Cold (TR) in m²°C/W* | – | 0.10 ITR < 0.15 | 0.15 ITR < 0.22 | 0.22 ITR < 0.30 | > 0.30 ITR |
| Contact Cold (R) in m²°C/W* | – | 0.025 R < 0.050 | 0.050 R < 0.100 | 0.100 R < 0.150 | > 0.150 R |
| Water Penetration (after 30 min) | Yes | No | – | – | – |
AS/NZS 2161.10.2 Occupational protective gloves, Part 10.2: Protective gloves against chemicals and micro-organisms – Determination of resistance to penetration.
AS/NZS 2161.10.3 Occupational protective gloves, Part 10.3: Protective gloves against chemicals and micro-organisms – Determination of resistance to permeation by chemicals.
Based on EN ISO 374 – Protective gloves against dangerous chemicals and micro-organisms.
Additional tests for protection against micro-organisms can also be done. These are classed as bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Gloves protecting against viruses must also pass ISO 16604.6.
See the table below:
| Glove’s Type | Requirement | Marking |
|---|---|---|
| Type A |
|
 |
| Type B |
|
 |
| Type C |
|
 |
Maxisafe offers a wide range of gloves to protect hands against many occupational hazards, from synthetic-coated gloves to cut-resistant and heat-resistant gloves to different types of chemical protection.
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