EN 388 Glove Cut Levels A–F Explained

1. How to read the EN 388 code

The letter X means the test was not carried out or is not applicable to the glove. Levels are graded from 0 (low) up to the highest level; a higher number means greater resistance.

2. Numerical thresholds for each level

According to the official table on the PPE Support Portal of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in Türkiye (TS EN 388), the level thresholds are as follows:

TDM cut levels (A–F)

According to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in Türkiye, a glove qualifies as a mechanical risk glove only if it achieves at least level 1 in abrasion, cut, tear or puncture, or at least level A in the TDM cut test.

3. Why are there two separate cut tests?

The original Coup test did not give reliable results when high-performance fibres blunted the blade. For this reason, the 2016 revision added the TDM test (EN ISO 13997). If the material blunts the blade, TDM becomes the reference test; in this case some manufacturers enter an X in the second digit and state cut performance in the fifth digit (A–F). So for tasks with a cut risk, checking the letter in the fifth position gives a more accurate comparison.

4. Differences between EN 388:2003 and the 2016 version

• The TDM cut level (A–F) was added as the fifth digit.
• If the impact test is passed, P is added as the sixth character (example: 4343C → 4343CP).
• The abrasion test now uses a new, more consistent abrasive paper.
• BS EN 388:2003 was withdrawn on 30 November 2016; the current version is EN 388:2016+A1:2018.

5. Safety warning: entanglement risk

According to the Turkish Ministry of Labour and Social Security (ÇSGB), it must be stated that gloves with a tear resistance of 1 or higher should not be used where there is a risk of entanglement in moving machine parts. When working with rotating machinery, glove selection should be based on a risk assessment.

6. Glove sizing: what does "size 8" mean?

The glove size refers to the measurement of the hand, not the glove. According to manufacturer charts based on EN ISO 21420:

• Hand circumference: Measured starting from the crease of the thumb and around the base of the little finger.
• Hand length: Measured from the tip of the middle finger to the crease where the hand meets the wrist.
• If you are between two sizes, choose the larger one (Uvex recommendation).
• The general glove standard EN 420 was replaced by EN ISO 21420 in 2020; certificates issued under EN 420 remain valid.

7. Where can you find the code for the gloves on our site?

The EN 388 code is printed on the glove or its packaging, below the shield symbol.

Some product pages in our work gloves category do not yet show the code. If you need a specific level (for example TDM C or above), ask us before ordering and we will share the code from the product label. For electrical work, look for the insulation standard (EN 60903), not EN 388: Electrician gloves guide.