A Complete Guide to EN 374: Protective Gloves

Wherever your teams handle chemicals, cleaning agents, or biohazards, the right gloves are critical.

EN 374 is the European standard that ensures protective gloves can protect against chemical and microorganism exposure, helping you keep your workforce safe and your business compliant.

But with so many subcategories, markings, and materials, selecting the right glove for your team can feel confusing. This “handy” guide simplifies things.

We explain what EN 374 means, how to interpret its markings, and how to choose gloves that best suit your workplace.

Need help choosing the right pair for your team? We're happy to help!

WHAT IS EN 374

The EN 374 standard defines how gloves must perform when exposed to chemicals or biological agents.

It ensures protection against two key risks:

• Penetration (through seams or holes)
• Permeation (through the glove material itself)

You'll often see EN 374 used alongside other standards:

• EN 388 for mechanical protection
• EN ISO 21420:2020 for general PPE glove requirements

Together, they help you meet your legal duties under the PPE at Work Regulations 2022 and COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health).

Employers must choose gloves that are suitable for the hazard, properly maintained and used correctly.

Take a look at our full hand protection range for EN 374 compliant options, from disposable nitrile to heavy-duty chemical-resistant gloves.

KEY PARTS OF THE EN 374 STANDARD

Before choosing your gloves, it helps to know what each part of EN 374 tests and why it matters.

EN 374-1 - TERMINOLOGY & PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

Outlines how gloves are tested and classified for chemical protection.

It defines three glove types (A, B, and C) based on how many chemicals the glove can resist for a set period.

Here's a breakdown:

TYPE	CHEMICALS RESISTANT	MINIMUM BREAKTHROUGH	USE CASE
A	≥6 of 18	≥30 min	High-risk/multiple chemicals
B	≥3 of 18	≥30 min	Medium-risk
C	1	≥10 min	Low-risk/short tasks

This classification helps you match the glove to the chemical risk in your workplace.

Type A offers the broadest protection for high-risk environments, while Type C is suited to lower exposure or short-duration handling.

EN 374-2 - RESISTANCE TO PENETRATION

This part checks that the glove forms a reliable physical barrier against liquids and microorganisms.

It uses air and water leak tests to confirm there are no pinholes, seam gaps, or material flaws that could allow harmful substances to pass through.

Only gloves that pass EN 374-2 can be used for biological protection, making this an essential test for any environment where workers handle liquids or infectious materials.

EN 16523-1 (FORMERLY EN 374-3) - CHEMICAL PERMEATION

This test measures how long a chemical takes to pass through the glove material, known as breakthrough time.

It replaced the older EN 374-3 standard and gives a performance level from 1 to 6:

• Level 1: Minimum protection (short breakthrough time)
• Level 6: Maximum protection (long breakthrough time)

Knowing the breakthrough time helps you choose gloves that match the specific chemicals and exposure duration in your workplace.

For example, brief cleaning tasks may only need a lower-level glove, whereas industrial handling of strong solvents requires higher-level protection.

EN 374-4 - DEGRADATION BY CHEMICALS

This part of the standard tests how a glove’s material changes when it comes into contact with chemicals.

It measures the degradation percentage, how much the glove’s strength, flexibility, or appearance is affected after exposure.

Visible signs like swelling, stiffening, or cracking indicate the glove may no longer provide reliable protection.

Understanding degradation helps you assess how long a glove remains safe to use, especially for repeated or prolonged chemical handling.

EN 374-5 - PROTECTION AGAINST MICROORGANISMS

EN 374-5 tests a glove’s resistance to bacteria and fungi. All gloves that meet this standard protect against these microorganisms.

If the glove also passes a viral penetration test, it will carry the word “VIRUS” beneath the biohazard symbol. This makes it easy to identify gloves that protect against viruses in addition to bacteria and fungi.

Using EN 374-5 gloves helps keep workers safe in environments where they may come into contact with infectious materials, such as laboratories, healthcare, cleaning, or food handling.

UNDERSTANDING EN 374 SYMBOLS AND MARKINGS

Recognising EN 374 symbols helps you choose gloves that offer the right protection for your workplace.

These markings also demonstrate compliance with regulators.

Key symbols to look for:

• Beaker with “VIRUS”: Confirms the glove passed EN 374‑5 viral testing and protects against viruses.
• Biohazard or microorganism symbol: Shows the glove passed penetration resistance tests under EN 374‑2.
• Beaker symbol: Shows chemical protection. Letters (A–T) beneath indicate which chemicals the glove has been tested against.
• Type A, B, or C: Indicates chemical protection level. Type A resists six or more chemicals, Type B resists three or more, and Type C resists one.

You’ll find these icons on the glove packaging or product datasheet. Always check that the markings match the hazards in your risk assessment.

TOP TIP: Using gloves that clearly display EN 374 symbols ensures compliance with UK PPE regulations and helps protect your team from chemical or biological risks.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT EN 374 GLOVES

Selecting the right EN 374 gloves depends on how and where they’ll be used. The correct choice keeps teams safe, comfortable, and compliant.

Before ordering, consider:

• Contact time: Longer handling needs thicker gloves with higher resistance.
• Chemical type: Match the glove’s tested chemicals to those in your workplace.
• Degradation risk: Some materials weaken when exposed to certain substances.
• Comfort and dexterity: Gloves should fit well and allow safe, precise movement.

GLOVE TYPES AND TYPICAL USES

The best glove choice is dependent on the job at hand:

• Vinyl gloves: Best for light cleaning or hygiene tasks.
• Nitrile gloves: Strong, durable protection for industrial, lab, or maintenance work.
• Heavy-duty chemical-resistant gloves: Designed for high-risk environments or long exposure times.

Choosing correctly helps protect workers from burns, irritation, or infection while ensuring compliance with EN 374 PPE standards.

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT EN 374 GLOVES

Even experienced safety professionals can misunderstand what EN 374 really covers.

Here are a few common myths to avoid:

• “All EN 374 gloves protect against viruses.” 
  Only gloves that pass the viral penetration test under EN 374-5 and are marked “VIRUS” provide that level of protection.
  
  
• “Permeation and penetration mean the same thing.” 
  They don’t. Permeation measures how long it takes a chemical to pass through glove material, while penetration checks for holes or seam leaks.
  
  
• “Any chemical glove works for any chemical.” 
  Each glove material reacts differently. Always check the chemical code list printed beneath the beaker symbol to ensure the glove has been tested against the substances you handle.

Buying gloves from a trusted supplier like SMI ensures your team gets certified, EN 374-compliant protection that meets all required standards.

FAQs

How to track PPE usage?

Use MY-SMI® to track glove issues, replacements, and expiry dates across all sites. This keeps compliance simple.

What is a PPE checklist?

A PPE checklist can be a simple tick list that helps you make sure you have all the PPE you need for your team.

What is PPE monitoring?

Ongoing tracking of PPE stock, usage, and condition to prevent shortages and maintain compliance.

How to ensure PPE compliance?

Inspect regularly, record usage, and source products from certified suppliers like SMI to ensure EN 374 compliance.