TS EN 374-1

TS EN 374-1 is a standard that defines the terminology and performance rules used for protective gloves intended to protect against chemicals and micro-organisms. It establishes a common technical language for selecting and assessing gloves that are meant to reduce user exposure to hazardous substances.

What the protection category means in practice

This subject is not just about material strength. For chemical protection, issues such as permeation, penetration and barrier behaviour are central; for protection against micro-organisms, the glove’s resistance in contact with liquids and contaminated media becomes important. The role of this standard is to unify the basic terms used in these areas and clarify the performance expectations associated with protective gloves.

Coverage and boundaries

• Covers terminology and performance requirements for gloves against chemicals.
• Defines the terms used in relation to protection against micro-organisms.
• Provides a shared vocabulary for evaluating protective gloves.
• The standard itself gives the general technical framework for glove selection; specific test methods and related performance aspects are handled together with referenced standards.

In general technical context, standards of this kind matter because they support consistent product definition, risk matching and comparison in occupational health and safety practice. Since chemical and biological risks are not always controlled by the same glove in the same way, clear terminology helps users and supply chains speak the same technical language. This record also carries a withdrawn status for TS EN 374-1; even so, it remains relevant as a reference point for the terminology used in protective glove practice for its period of application.