ISO 23388-2018 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 23388:2018 — Protective gloves against mechanical risks. This International Standard specifies requirements, test methods, marking and information to be supplied for protective gloves intended to protect against the mechanical risks of abrasion, blade cut, tear, puncture and, where applicable, impact; it is intended to be used together with ISO 21420 (general glove requirements and test methods).

Abstract

The standard establishes performance criteria, sampling and test procedures, and marking/information rules for mechanical-protection gloves. Test methods in ISO 23388:2018 cover abrasion, blade cut, tear, puncture and, where relevant, impact resistance; the methods can also be applied to arm protectors. The document is intended to be used in conjunction with ISO 21420.

General information

• Status: Published (international standard; under routine review for revision).
• Publication date: December 2018 (published 2018-12-05 / 2018-12).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.340.40 (Hand and arm protection).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2018).
• Number of pages: 27 (English edition).

Scope

ISO 23388:2018 specifies requirements, test methods, marking and user information for gloves that protect against mechanical hazards: abrasion, blade cut, tear, puncture and, when applicable, impact. It is designed to be used alongside ISO 21420 (general requirements for protective gloves). The test methods described may also be applied to arm protectors. The standard is part of an alignment process between ISO and regional standards (for example, developments toward EN ISO adoption are in progress in several national bodies).

Key topics and requirements

• Defined performance classes and pass/fail criteria for abrasion, blade cut, tear and puncture resistance.
• Standardized test methods and sampling procedures to ensure reproducible, comparable results across laboratories and manufacturers.
• Marking and information requirements for manufacturers to communicate protection levels, usage limits and complementary standards (e.g., reference to ISO 21420).
• Provisions for impact testing where applicable, and guidance that the test methods can be applied to arm protectors as well as gloves.
• Intended interface with regulatory/certification frameworks (noting ongoing adoption work to create EN ISO variants in some jurisdictions).

Typical use and users

Users include PPE manufacturers, product designers, testing laboratories, conformity assessment bodies, occupational safety professionals, procurement specialists and end-users selecting gloves for industrial, construction, manufacturing, emergency response and healthcare tasks where mechanical hazards exist. The standard is used to specify product performance, to design tests for quality control and to support certification and procurement decisions.

Related standards

Key related documents include ISO 21420 (Protective gloves — General requirements and test methods), regional standards historically aligned with EN 388 (Protective gloves against mechanical risks), and other glove-specific standards such as the ISO/EN series for chemical and thermal protection (for example ISO 374 series, ISO 23407 for thermal risks). Work to produce EN ISO versions (harmonized European adoption of ISO 23388) has been underway in recent years.

Keywords

protective gloves, mechanical risks, abrasion, blade cut, tear resistance, puncture resistance, impact testing, ISO 21420, PPE, glove testing, conformity assessment

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 23388:2018 is an International Standard that specifies performance requirements, test methods, marking and information to be supplied for protective gloves against mechanical risks (abrasion, blade cut, tear, puncture and, if applicable, impact).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the test methods, performance classes and manufacturer information/marking needed to classify gloves for mechanical protection. The methods are applicable to gloves and may also be applied to arm protectors; the standard is intended to be used together with ISO 21420 (general glove requirements).

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers, test laboratories, certification bodies, safety engineers, PPE procurement teams and workplace health-and-safety professionals use ISO 23388:2018 to specify, test and verify glove performance against mechanical hazards.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 23388:2018 is the published (first) edition from December 2018; it remains a current ISO International Standard but is subject to periodic review and to ongoing revision/adoption work (projects to produce ISO/CD updates and EN ISO adoptions have been initiated). Check your national standards body or ISO for the latest revision status if you need to confirm adoption dates or harmonized/regulatory status.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO 23388 is part of the family of standards covering hand protection and PPE; it is intended to be used with ISO 21420 (general glove requirements) and is associated with other glove-related ISO/EN standards addressing chemical, thermal and biological hazards.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Protective gloves, mechanical risks, abrasion, blade cut, tear, puncture, impact, glove testing, ISO 21420, PPE.