Key Takeaways
- EN 407:2020 rates gloves on 6 separate thermal hazards — each gets its own level, so a glove is described by a code like X2X3X4X.
- Contact / Convective / Radiant heat are different hazards — a glove can be strong in one and weak in another. Match the rating to your real risk.
- Welding: need radiant heat (L3–4) + small molten metal splash (L3–4).
- Foundry / molten metal: need large splash protection (L3–4) + high contact heat.
- EN 407 ≠ EN 388: heat and cut are separate standards — for combined risk, choose a glove certified to BOTH.
1. What Is EN 407:2020?
EN 407:2020 is the European standard for protective gloves against thermal risks (heat and/or fire). It is part of the EN 388 family of PPE glove standards but covers a completely different hazard: heat rather than mechanical risk.
Unlike EN 388 (which uses a single performance code for mechanical risks), EN 407 evaluates six independent properties. A glove is never simply "EN 407 certified" at one level — it carries a performance profile across all six tests.
2. The 6 EN 407 Performance Levels
Each property is rated on its own scale. The glove label shows a flame pictogram with six numbers underneath in a fixed order:
| Position | Test / Hazard | Levels | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burning Behaviour | 1–4 | After-flame time and afterglow after exposure to flame |
| 2 | Contact Heat | 1–5 | Ability to delay heat transfer from a hot surface (100–500°C) |
| 3 | Convective Heat | 1–4 | Protection against moving hot air/gas (flame proximity) |
| 4 | Radiant Heat | 1–4 | Protection against infrared radiation from a heat source |
| 5 | Small Splashes of Molten Metal | 1–4 | Number of molten metal drops before temperature rise of 40°C |
| 6 | Large Splashes of Molten Metal | 1–4 | Mass of molten metal before temperature rise / skin damage |
An "X" in any position means that test was not performed or is not claimed by the manufacturer. Example: a code of X2X3X4X means contact heat Level 2, convective heat Level 3, radiant heat Level 4, and the other three tests were not rated.
3. Contact vs Convective vs Radiant Heat — Know the Difference
These three are the most commonly confused EN 407 categories:
- Contact Heat (Level 1–5): Protection when you touch a hot solid surface. Level 1 ≈ 100°C, Level 5 ≈ 500°C (time to reach 10°C skin-rise threshold).
- Convective Heat (Level 1–4): Protection against hot moving air/gas — i.e., being near a flame. Measured by time to 10°C rise with a heated airflow.
- Radiant Heat (Level 1–4): Protection against infrared radiation from a hot object without direct contact (e.g., a furnace wall). Measured by time to 10°C rise under radiant exposure.
4. How EN 407 Testing Works (Briefly)
- Burning behaviour: A sample is exposed to a flame for 15s; after-flame and afterglow times are measured. Lower after-flame = higher level.
- Contact heat: The glove is placed on a heated cylinder (100–500°C); time until the inner surface rises 10°C determines the level.
- Convective heat: A heated airflow is directed at the sample; time to 10°C rise determines the level.
- Radiant heat: A radiant source heats the sample; time to 10°C rise determines the level.
- Molten metal splashes: Molten metal drops (small) or a stream (large) are applied; the mass/number before a 40°C rise (or skin damage) determines the level.
5. Choosing the Right EN 407 Glove by Application
| Application | Key EN 407 Requirements | Recommended Construction |
|---|---|---|
| Welding / Cutting | Radiant L3–4, Small splash L3–4 | Cowhide split leather, or aramid/leather composite rigger |
| Foundry / Casting | Large splash L3–4, Contact L3–4 | Heavy leather + aluminized back, Kevlar stitching |
| Glass Handling | Contact L2–3, Radiant L2–3 | Coated HPPE + heat-resistant liner |
| Aluminum / Smelting | Radiant L3–4, Large splash L3–4 | Aluminized aramid, layered insulation |
| General oven / baking | Contact L1–2 | Cotton terry / heat-resistant knit |
6. EN 407 + EN 388: Combined Heat & Cut Protection
Many real tasks combine heat and mechanical risk — e.g., handling hot sheet metal (heat + cut) or foundry work with sharp castings. EN 407 alone does not cover cut resistance.
- For combined risk, specify a glove certified to both EN 407 AND EN 388.
- Expedition Safety offers composite gloves: leather or aramid outer (heat) + HPPE/steel liner (cut), carrying dual EN 388 / EN 407 marking.
- Always verify BOTH pictograms appear on the glove label and technical file.
7. Common Mistakes When Specifying Heat Gloves
- Assuming one number = overall protection. EN 407 is a profile, not a single score.
- Buying "fire-proof" leather without checking levels. All leather burns eventually; the level tells you how long.
- Ignoring cut risk. Heat gloves often have poor cut scores — add EN 388 rating if sharp hot objects are involved.
- Confusing radiant and contact. A furnace job needs radiant protection, not just contact-heat rating.
8. Expedition Safety EN 407 Product Range
Expedition Safety manufactures heat-resistant gloves covering the full EN 407 spectrum, all CE marked and tested by TÜV/SGS/BV-accredited labs:
- Welding Rigger (Leather): EN 407 radiant L3–4, small splash L3–4; EN 388 2X21.
- Foundry Aluminized: EN 407 large splash L4, radiant L4; EN 388 cut B–C liner.
- Glass-Handling Coated: EN 407 contact L2–3, radiant L2–3; EN 388 cut A–B.
- Dual-Certified Composite: EN 407 + EN 388 on one glove for combined hazard environments.
📦 MOQ & Lead Time: 2,000–6,000 pairs/style, 15–30 days production, full OEM/ODM customization (color, logo, packaging). Request a CE test report with every quote.
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