ANSI ISEA Impact Levels

ANSI ISEA 138 Impact Standards


Gloves is cut
horizontally in half
top of hand is tested
5.5lb (2.5kg)
polished steel drop
striker
Dropped
8 inches
Knuckles
are tested
Fingers
are tested
Must register
less than
9 kN of force
Reports as a
pass or fail
Reports as
levels 1-3
EN
13594:2015
Green Checkmark Green Checkmark Green Checkmark Green Checkmark Red X Green Checkmark Green Checkmark Red X
ANSI/ISEA
138-2019
Green Checkmark Green Checkmark Green Checkmark Green Checkmark Green Checkmark Green Checkmark Red X Green Checkmark

EN 13594:2015

The EN 13594:2015 standard demands only that the knuckles be tested for impact absorption.

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What's the Difference

ANSI/ISEA 138-2019

ANSI/ISEA 138-2019 institutes testing of knuckles as well as finger protection. On the middle and little fingers the testing area is measured 5 cm from fingertip. On the index, ring finger and thumb, testing area is 2.5 cm from fingertip.

ANSI Impact Standard Testing Area

Test Results: Designation

EN 13594:2015

EN 388 Icons

ANSI/ISEA 138:2019

ANSI ISEA 138 LEVEL 1 ANSI ISEA 138 LEVEL 2 ANSI ISEA 138 LEVEL 3

ANSI/ISEA 138-2019 - Where To Test?

ANSI/ISEA Testing Locations
Three individual testers

Three different individuals with appropriately sized hands try on the glove.

Three different knuckle points

While firmly gripping a cylindrical bar, a point is made where each knuckle is most prominent.

Triangle testing area

A triangle is then drawn to connect the points from all three individuals. The center of these triangles become the test area.

Testing Process

ANSI Testing Process
Mean force felt
by hand
Max force
allowed to pass
Percentage of
force absorbed
by glove
ANSI ISEA 138 LEVEL 1 ≤ 9 kN or 2,023 lbs force < 11.3 55%
ANSI ISEA 138 LEVEL 2 ≤ 6.5 kN or 1,461 lbs force ≤ 8.1 67.5%
ANSI ISEA 138 LEVEL 3 ≤ 4 kN or 899 lbs force ≤ 5 80%

ANSI Impact Standard Absorption Graph

Temperature Matters

Impact protection made of TPU, TPR and other polyurethane mixtures can be modified from product to product. While the ANSI/ISEA 138-2019 standard identifies the ability of a glove to withstand impact and protect hands under ideal conditions, variations in temperature can greatly affect the effectiveness of impact protection.

Internal evaluation should be done for each unique situation to identify the effectiveness of a glove at absorbing impact.