GLOVE CUT RATING The ISEA released its ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 hand protection classifi cation, the fi rst change since 2005. This is good news for glove users, because the new standards better equip safety managers to fi nd the appropriate protection for the job. The changes are being made to refl ect innovation and advances in yarn technologies over the last decade. You might be wondering what new cut level you will need compared with the level of protection that you are used to. The new standards enable you to make a more informed decision to ensure your employees are protected from specifi c cut hazards. The increased granularity within what used to be level 4 range will enable you to make distinctions that previously didn’t exist. Comparing the New Standards with Existing Product ■ Make sure your crew is using the right gloves for the application ■ Contact your nearest White Cap Specialist for help in selecting the right glove for your application ■ Happy with the gloves you are using? If so, you may need to update your existing company glove standards to ensure they meet your desired cut resistance levels in-line with new ratings. What Does This Mean to You? ANSI Testing Standards LEVELS OF PROTECTION ANSI/ISEA classifi es 9 levels of protection, defi ned as A1 through A9. Those levels can be thought of in three groupings: LEVELS A1, A2, A3 LEVELS A4, A5, A6 LEVELS A7, A8, A9 9 Off er protection against injuries for which STITCHES would be required Off er protection against SCRAPES CUT LEVEL GRAMS DUTY A1 200 - 499 Light to Medium A2 500 - 999 Light to Medium A3 1,000 - 1, 499 Medium to Heavy CUT LEVEL GRAMS DUTY A4 1,500 - 2, 199 Heavy A5 2,200 - 2,999 Heavy A6 3,000 - 3,999 Heavy CUT LEVEL GRAMS DUTY A7 4,000 - 5,999 Heavy A8 5,000 - 5,999 Heavy A9 6,000+ Heavy Off er protection against THE MOST SERIOUS injuries The new ANSI standard now features nine cut levels, signifi cantly reducing the gaps between each level and better defi ning protection levels for the cut resistant gloves and sleeves with the highest gram scores. The graph shows the diff erences between the old scale and the new scale. New ANSI cut scores will feature an “A” in front of the score. ■ A1 – Light cut hazards ■ A2 – Light/medium cut hazards ■ A3 – Light/medium cut hazards ■ A4 – Medium cut hazards ■ A5 – Medium/heavy cut hazards ■ A6 – High cut hazards ■ A7 – High cut hazards ■ A8 – High cut hazards ■ A9 – High cut hazards New Scale to Determine Cut Scores GLOVE CUT RATING The ISEA released its ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 hand protection classification, the first change since 2005. This is good news for glove users, because the new standards better equip safety managers to find the appropriate protection for the job. The changes are being made to reflect innovation and advances in yarn technologies over the last decade. The new edition of the ANSI/ISEA 105 Standard (2016 ed.) also outlines a new test method for determining the new cut scores. The new ASTM F2992-15 test method allows for only one type of machine to be used – the TDM-100. Under the previous ANSI standard, the old test method ASTMF1790-05, the testing could be performed on either the TDM-100 machine or the CPPT machine. By ensuring uniform testing with one machine, it is easier to compare gram scores for a given material. So what exactly are the new standards? The ANSI 105 standards were always about comprehensive hand protection. They include testing to determine the level of protection for: The two most significant changes to the 2016 standards are an expansion of the levels of Cut Resistance, and the addition of a new Hypodermic Needle Puncture Resistance test. • Cut Resistance • Puncture Resistance • Hypodermic Needle Puncture Resistance • Abrasion Resistance • Chemical Permeation Resistance • Chemical Degradation Resistance • Ignition Resistance • Heat Degradation Resistance • Conductive Heat Resistance • Vibration Reduction • Dexterity You might be wondering what new cut level you will need compared with the level of protection that you are used to. The new standards enable you to make a more informed decision to ensure your employees are protected from specific cut hazards. The increased granularity within what used to be level 4 range will enable you to make distinctions that previously didn’t exist. The changes to cut protection testing do two things: First, they more accurately identify levels of cut resistance by using a 9-level scale. Previously, the highest level of cut resistance was level 5, and the cut resistance level 4 was very broad. Safety managers used to call us to ask whether a glove was “a high 4 or a low 4.” The new standards now separate out category 4 into three more narrowly graduated levels. They also expand the upper limit on cut resistance. Cut resistance is measured by how many grams of pressure can be applied to a razor blade moving across a swatch of the fabric before cutting through 0.8 in. (20 mm) or more. The gram score tells you how many grams of pressure the glove withstood before being cut. Second, the changes improve the accuracy in test results by designating a single test method. All tests now require using ASTM F2992-15 method on the Tomodynamometer (TDM-100) machine. Previously TDM or CPPT machines were accepted. Changes to the Levels of Cut Resistance Comparing the New Standards with Existing Product New Testing Standard • Make sure your crew is using the right gloves for the application • Contact your nearest White Cap Specialist for help in selecting the right glove for your application • Happy with the gloves you are using? If so, you may need to update your existing company glove standards to ensure they meet your desired cut resistance levels in-line with new ratings. What Does This Mean to You? The sample is cut by a straight-edge blade, under load, that moves along a straight path. The sample is cut five times each at three different loads with a new blade for each cut, and data is used to determine the required load to cut through the sample at a specified reference difference. This is referred to as the cutting force, which is then equated to a cut level. Understanding ASTM F2992-15 Test Methods ANSI Testing Standards The new ANSI standard now features nine cut levels, significantly reducing the gaps between each level and better defining protection levels for the cut resistant gloves and sleeves with the highest gram scores. The graph shows the differences between the old scale and the new scale. New ANSI cut scores will feature an “A” in front of the score. • A1 – Light cut hazards • A2 – Light/medium cut hazards • A3 – Light/medium cut hazards • A4 – Medium cut hazards • A5 – Medium/heavy cut hazards • A6 – High cut hazards • A7 – High cut hazards • A8 – High cut hazards • A9 – High cut hazards New Scale to Determine Cut Scores 7000g+ 6500g 6000g 5500g 5000g 4500g 4000g 3500g 3000g 2000g 2500g 1500g 1000g 0g 500g 200 499 200 499 500 999 500 999 1000 1499 1000 1499 1500 3499 1500 2199 2200 3500 2999 3000 3999 4000 4999 5000 5999 6000 NEW OLD So what exactly are the new standards? The ANSI 105 standards were always about comprehensive hand protection. They include testing to determine the level of protection for: The two most signifi cant changes to the 2016 standards are an expansion of the levels of Cut Resistance, and the addition of a new Hypodermic Needle Puncture Resistance test. ■ Cut Resistance ■ Puncture Resistance ■ Hypodermic Needle Puncture Resistance ■ Abrasion Resistance ■ Chemical Permeation Resistance ■ Chemical Degradation Resistance ■ Ignition Resistance ■ Heat Degradation Resistance ■ Conductive Heat Resistance ■ Vibration Reduction ■ Dexterity
