Hand & skin protection

Gloves are essential in the laboratory! After all, we all want to protect ourselves from infections and contaminations, don't we? Chemical protective gloves are quite special because they undergo strict testing criteria. That's what makes them so safe! Therefore, they also bear a CE marking. Choosing the perfect disposable glove is key to safe and effective laboratory work with hazardous substances. We offer a huge selection of gloves from various manufacturers such as LLG, Unigloves, B.Braun, Kimberley-Clark, Honeywell, Ansell, MAPA, UVEX, etc., and made from different materials: nitrile, latex, vinyl, as well as latex-free models. But that's not all: we also provide cryo gloves for ultimate protection against ultra-low temperatures and Kevlar heat protective gloves. And to allow you to focus entirely on your work, you will naturally find cleanroom gloves for your own protection, as well as chemical protective gloves.

Categories of chemical protective gloves

There are so many different types of chemical protective gloves, which can be divided into three types depending on how well they protect against chemicals. And the best part is: You can see at a glance which type is on the glove, because the respective type is clearly marked on the glove by an Erlenmeyer flask in combination with the letter for the specific tested chemicals.

Gloves of type A are absolute all-rounders! They provide performance level 2 (longer than 30 minutes) and protect you against at least six test chemicals listed in EN ISO 374-1 of the 18 chemicals. 

Gloves of type B are also great because they provide performance level 2 (longer than 30 minutes) and protect you against at least three test chemicals listed in EN ISO 374-1 of the 18 chemicals.

Gloves of type C: Performance level 1 (longer than 10 minutes) against at least one test chemical listed in EN ISO 374-1 of the 18 chemicals. Depending on the material, new and exciting applications open up for the gloves!

Nitrile gloves are a sensation! They have impressive mechanical strength and yet are elastic. They provide excellent protection against fats, acids, solvents, bacteria, and viruses! Nitrile gloves are the perfect choice for individuals with latex allergies because they can be used multiple times!

Vinyl gloves are a treat for the skin! They are wonderfully gentle and durable, offering a very low risk of sensitivities or contact-related allergies – simply perfect! However, even though vinyl gloves have low stretchability and tear resistance, they convince with their reliable protection against viruses and bacteria.

Latex gloves score with high elasticity, providing a comfortable and flexible feel. Moreover, they impress with their excellent quality and reliable protection against acids, bacteria, and viruses. They are only not suitable for latex allergy sufferers.

Important norms and regulations for disposable gloves in the laboratory

EN 374 – Protective gloves against chemicals and microorganisms:

This standard is crucial for laboratories as it defines the requirements and test methods for protective gloves that protect against hazardous chemicals and microorganisms. Disposable gloves conforming to this standard must be resistant to specific chemicals and provide a sufficient barrier against microorganisms.

The second part of the standard (EN 374-2) provides information on the resistance of the glove to chemical penetration and defines corresponding test methods. 

For this purpose, the chemical protective glove undergoes a leakage test. As part of this, a water leak test and an air leak test are performed. This means that either water or air is allowed to flow into the glove, and it is subsequently checked whether water/air has leaked out or whether the glove is indeed tight. It is evident that a disposable glove intended to protect the wearer from chemicals must be both airtight and waterproof. Therefore, a separate symbol for water or air tightness does not exist. Prior to the amendments to European Standard 374, this water or air tightness was marked with the beaker symbol.

EN 374-3: Determination of the resistance of materials to the permeation of chemicals Until 2016,

EN 374-3 defined six different permeation levels that a glove could comply with. Permeation here means that a liquid chemical penetrates the glove. The permeation level indicates how long the disposable glove withstands three of the test chemicals at least. Since the amendments in 2016, this third part of European Standard 374 has been removed. Instead, reference is made to EN 16523-1. Standard EN 16523-1 describes the test procedure in more detail than was previously the case in EN 374-3. According to EN 16523-1, to test the permeation level, a glove sample must be clamped between a container with the corresponding test chemicals (gaseous or liquid) and a collection container. It is then checked whether the glove sample prevented the chemical from penetrating into the collection container or how concentrated the test chemical appears in the collection container.

Permeation level

1 = > 10 minutes 

2 = > 30 minutes 

3 = > 60 minutes

4 = > 120 minutes

5 = > 240 minutes 

6 = > 480 minutes 

For you as a user, this change has no significant relevance. Only the labeling changes. Therefore, the permeation level is no longer indicated under EN 374-3 but with EN 16523-1.

EN 455 – Medical disposable gloves: This standard specifies the requirements and test methods for medical disposable gloves, including biological safety, integrity, and physical properties. It is particularly important for laboratories working with biological samples or in medical research. 

ISO 9001 – Quality management systems: A manufacturer certified to ISO 9001 demonstrates that it has implemented an effective quality management system. This ensures that disposable gloves are consistently high quality and meet customer requirements. 

ISO 13485 – Medical devices quality management systems: I This standard is specific to manufacturers of medical devices, including disposable gloves. It ensures that the company adheres to strict quality management processes tailored specifically to the manufacture of medical devices.

Symbol Erlenmeyer flask:

Permeation test Tested for the penetration of chemicals at the molecular level according to ISO EN 274-3. The letters below the symbol indicate the test chemicals. Resistance against tested test chemicalsPenetration resistance according to EN 374-2:2003 Resistance against permeation according to EN 374-3:2003: Breakthrough time corresponds to at least 30 minutes for the 3 mentioned test chemicals AKL Symbol Beaker Resistance against penetration according to EN 374-2:2003, protection against liquid and chemicals Symbol Biohazard Resistant to microorganisms The glove is considered resistant to microorganisms according to EN 274-5 if it meets at least class 2 of the penetration test (AQL < 1.5).

AQL value

The Acceptable Quality Level tests for microholes in the glove during the penetration test. The lower the value, the better the quality.

CE marking The product complies with all applicable EU regulations (also applied in Switzerland). A conformity assessment procedure has also been conducted. The four-digit number provides information about the certified testing body.

Risk categories 1-3

CE Norm Cat. 3 or III (Category 3) denotes gloves for high risks. It provides information on protection against permanent or life-threatening damage, such as from high temperatures or chemicals. Please note the following potential problem areas when purchasing gloves: Latex allergy is the most obvious concern. However, it should be noted that the protective effect of gloves can diminish relatively quickly, especially during donning and doffing.

Allergens Powdered latex gloves can trigger allergic reactions. When removing the gloves, the powder containing allergens is dispersed into the air and inhaled. According to DIN EN 455, medical disposable gloves made from latex are therefore no longer permitted. Due to health concerns related to plasticizers contained in vinyl, nitrile is considered the safest material today

Maceration

A phenomenon known from the bathtub. This is due to a buildup of heat and moisture, leading to swelling and shriveling of the fingertips. As the simplest solution, we recommend cotton under gloves, which must be cleaned in a disinfection washing process, particularly in medical use.

During prolonged wear or high usage of protective gloves, the ability to detect cracks or holes diminishes. Therefore, it is recommended, especially for nitrile gloves, to change them at least every 15 minutes.