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Glove Cut Level Wall Chart

ANSI/ISEA 105 cut levels A1 to A9 and the EN 388 glove marking laid out side by side, so staff can read either label and compare gloves.

Ref SP-0203ANSI/ISEA 105EN 388

Draft, open for review. Check every value against the governing standard and the manufacturer’s data before use.

What it is

Two rating systems appear on cut-resistant gloves sold in the US. ANSI/ISEA 105 uses levels A1 to A9, based on the grams of blade load needed to cut through the material on the ASTM F2992 tester. EN 388 uses a shield pictogram with a row of digits and letters for abrasion, cut, tear, puncture and impact. Both use a similar tester for the current cut score, but the scales are not the same.

How to read it

ANSI: look for "A" plus a number, often inside a shield icon. Higher number means more cut resistance.
EN 388: read the characters under the shield left to right. Position 1 abrasion, 2 coupe cut, 3 tear, 4 puncture, 5 ISO cut letter, 6 impact (P if passed).
An X means not tested or not applicable. A 0 means tested and below level 1.

Side-by-side chart

ANSI/ISEA 105 level	Grams to cut (minimum)	EN 388 ISO 13997 letter	Newtons to cut (minimum)
A1	200	A	2
A2	500	B	5
A3	1,000	C	10
A4	1,500	D	15
A5	2,200	E	22
A6	3,000	F	30
A7	4,000
A8	5,000
A9	6,000

The two columns are not a conversion. They sit side by side for reading labels only.

EN 388 marking layout

Position	Property	Scale
1	Abrasion	0 to 4
2	Coupe cut	0 to 5, or X
3	Tear	0 to 4
4	Puncture	0 to 4
5	ISO 13997 cut	A to F, or X
6 (optional)	Impact	P if passed

Key points

Cut level is only one factor. Match the glove to the task, grip, dexterity and any chemical or heat hazard.
Puncture ratings are for a blunt probe. They do not cover needles or sharp points.
Older EN 388 labels (before the 2016 edition) show only four digits. Check the edition on the label.

Common mistakes

Converting an EN letter to an ANSI level one for one.
Reading the coupe digit as the main cut score on high-performance yarns.
Choosing the highest cut level when dexterity loss leads workers to remove the glove.

Governing standards: ANSI/ISEA 105; ASTM F2992; EN 388; ISO 13997.

Reference only. Verify against the current governing code or standard, the manufacturer's data and the project documents before use. Apps for Distributors disclaims liability arising from reliance on this reference.

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