ANSI cut levels & EN 388 explained
This page is the rating reference for HPC Gloves. Use it when a product card shows an ANSI cut letter or an EN 388 string and you need to know what those marks actually test.
ANSI/ISEA 105 cut levels (A1 to A9)
In North America, many work gloves carry an ANSI/ISEA 105 cut rating. The modern scale uses letters A1 through A9. Higher letters mean more force was needed to cut through the material sample in a standardized tomodynamometer (TDM-100) test under ASTM F2992. The rating describes the material sample under test conditions, not a promise against every blade, angle, or worn edge in the field.
| ANSI cut level | Grams to cut (min.) | Relative protection | Example task band (illustrative) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 200 g | Lowest on the scale | Light material handling, low sharp exposure |
| A2 | 500 g | Low | Packaging, light warehouse knife contact |
| A3 | 1000 g | Low to moderate | Assembly, light metal handling |
| A4 | 1500 g | Moderate | Many general industrial cut risks |
| A5 | 2200 g | Moderate to high | Sheet metal, glass handling support tasks |
| A6 | 3000 g | High | Higher edge exposure in fab environments |
| A7 | 4000 g | High plus | Severe cut hazards with trained procedures |
| A8 | 5000 g | Very high | Heavy plate glass, specialized high-cut fab |
| A9 | 6000 g | Highest common commercial band | Specialized high-cut work; verify fit and task need |
Gram values are the lower-bound thresholds published in ANSI/ISEA 105 for the TDM-100 test, not midpoints. A glove rated A4 produced at least 1500 g in testing; the next band starts at 2200 g. Task bands are orientation only. Your hazard assessment and manufacturer data win over any blog table. For product selection steps, see the cut-resistant gloves guide.
EN 388: how to read the pictogram string
EN 388 is the common European mechanical risk standard for gloves. Labels often show a hammer pictogram with a string of numbers and a letter, for example 4543EP. Exact digit positions can include abrasion, blade cut (coupe), tear, puncture, and additional cut or impact marks depending on the revision and tests performed.
| Position | What it measures | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| 1st digit | Abrasion resistance | 1 to 4 |
| 2nd digit | Blade cut (coupe test) | 1 to 5 |
| 3rd digit | Tear resistance | 1 to 4 |
| 4th digit | Puncture resistance | 1 to 4 |
| Letter (optional) | TDM cut (ISO 13997), used when coupe is not valid for high-cut fibers | A to F (F is highest) |
| Letter (optional) | Back-of-hand impact protection | P if passed |
Worked example: reading the string 4543EP
Read left to right. That string means abrasion 4, coupe cut 5, tear 4, puncture 3, then an ISO 13997 TDM cut result of level E, plus a passed impact test. If you only looked at the coupe digit (5, the max) you would overstate the cut performance for a fiber that dulls the coupe blade. That is why the TDM letter exists, and why many buyers treat the letter as the more useful cut figure for engineered-yarn gloves.
- The coupe test can fail for slick high-performance fibers because the blade dulls as it cuts, inflating the score. When you see an X in the coupe position, the maker skipped the coupe test and reported TDM only.
- Higher numbers within a column are better, but only within that column. A 4 in abrasion says nothing about cut.
- Impact marks (when present) indicate a passed impact test on the back of the hand for that model.
ANSI vs EN: rough orientation only
Use this table to get close when a glove shows only one system. It is buyer orientation, not a compliance conversion. Test methods and rounding differ, so do not put it on a spec sheet.
| ANSI cut level | Approximate EN 388 TDM letter | Real-world read |
|---|---|---|
| A1 to A2 | A to B | Light handling, low sharp exposure |
| A3 to A4 | C to D | General industrial, assembly, light metal |
| A5 to A6 | E | Sheet metal, glass, higher knife exposure |
| A7 to A9 | F | Severe cut hazards, specialized fab and glass work |
Other mechanical scores people mix up
- Abrasion: how the surface holds up to rub wear, not cut.
- Puncture: resistance to a standardized probe, not a hypodermic needle or nail gun.
- Tear: how the material resists ripping once damaged.
Practical label checklist
- Find whether the cut claim is ANSI (A1–A9) or EN 388 (digits + optional letter).
- Confirm the rating is for the glove model and size you will issue, not a related SKU.
- Check coating and cuff style after the rating. A high cut liner with no grip still fails the job.
- Size correctly with the glove size chart.
- Retest your assumption when the process changes (new blade type, oily stock, longer dwell).
FAQ
What is the difference between ANSI and EN 388 cut levels?
ANSI/ISEA 105 is the North American standard and reports cut resistance as a single letter from A1 to A9 based on the TDM-100 test. EN 388 is the European mechanical risk standard and reports a string of digits for abrasion, coupe cut, tear, and puncture, plus a separate letter (A to F) for the TDM cut test on higher-performance materials. The two cut scales do not line up one-to-one.
Is EN 388 level F the same as ANSI A6?
They sit at roughly similar gram-force bands in real-world use but they are not the same scale. Test methods and rounding differ. Treat them as neighbors, not as interchangeable on a compliance sheet.
What is a good cut level for general warehouse work?
For cartons and soft goods, A1 to A2 is usually enough. If the crew handles stamped metal, broken glass, or knife work, move up to A3 or A4. Match the level to the sharpest regular task, not to the heaviest glove on the shelf.
Do cut levels expire or change over time?
The rating on a specific model stays with that model until the manufacturer changes the construction. Standards do get revised, so a level claimed under an older revision should be checked against the current ANSI/ISEA 105 text and the manufacturer test report.
The bodies that publish these standards
Nothing above is our measurement. Every band, digit position, and test name on this page traces back to a document one of these four bodies publishes and sells. Go to the source when a compliance decision rests on it:
- International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA): Secretariat for ANSI/ISEA 105, the standard that sets the A1 to A9 cut bands quoted above. Approved as an American National Standard by ANSI.
- ASTM International: Publishes ASTM F2992, the TDM-100 method that produces the gram-force figure behind an ANSI cut letter.
- CEN and CENELEC: The European standards bodies behind EN 388, which is where the digit string and the optional TDM letter come from.
- International Organization for Standardization (ISO): Publishes ISO 13997, the TDM cut test that the EN 388 letter grade reports.
What this site is not
HPC Gloves is not a certification body and does not issue ANSI or EN certificates. Always verify current standard text and the manufacturer's declaration for compliance programs. The gram thresholds and label positions above are summarised from the published standards, not measured here: see how we source this information for what that means and how corrections are handled.