ANSI ISEA Impact Levels
ANSI ISEA 138 Impact Standards
Click here to download infographic.| 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 |
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| EN 13594:2015 |
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| ANSI/ISEA 138-2019 |
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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.
Test Results: Designation
EN 13594:2015
ANSI/ISEA 138:2019
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ANSI/ISEA 138-2019 - Where To Test?
Three different individuals with appropriately sized hands try on the glove.
While firmly gripping a cylindrical bar, a point is made where each knuckle is most prominent.
A triangle is then drawn to connect the points from all three individuals. The center of these triangles become the test area.
Testing Process
| Mean force felt by hand |
Max force allowed to pass |
Percentage of force absorbed by glove |
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≤ 9 kN or 2,023 lbs force | < 11.3 | 55% |
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≤ 6.5 kN or 1,461 lbs force | ≤ 8.1 | 67.5% |
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≤ 4 kN or 899 lbs force | ≤ 5 | 80% |
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.
