ISO 374-1-2024 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 374-1:2024 — Protective gloves against dangerous chemicals and micro-organisms — Part 1: Terminology and performance requirements for chemical risks. Specifies terminology and the minimum performance requirements, sampling and marking rules for gloves claiming protection against hazardous chemicals.

Abstract

This part of ISO 374 defines terms and sets the performance requirements for protective gloves intended to protect the user from chemical risks. It covers sampling, penetration, permeation and degradation considerations relevant to chemical protection, and establishes classification (Type A, B, C), performance levels and marking information manufacturers must provide.

General information

• Status: Published
• Publication date: July 2024 (Edition 2, 2024)
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• ICS / categories: 01.040.13; 13.340.40
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2024)
• Number of pages: 10

Scope

ISO 374-1:2024 applies to protective gloves that are intended to protect users against dangerous chemicals. It defines the terminology used across the ISO 374 series and sets minimum requirements and classification rules for claiming chemical protection. The standard is intended to be used together with the specific test-method parts of the series (resistance to penetration, resistance to degradation, and permeation test methods) and with general glove requirements standards when other hazards (mechanical, thermal, electrostatic) are relevant.

Key topics and requirements

• Standardized terminology for chemical protection (terms such as penetration, permeation, degradation, breakthrough time).
• Sampling rules for testing (typical specimens taken from palm area; additional samples required when cuffs are claimed to provide protection).
• Penetration (leakage) requirements — gloves must pass penetration tests defined in the companion testing part.
• Permeation requirements and performance levels (numeric breakthrough-time-based levels, typically expressed as >10, >30, >60, >120, >240, >480 minutes for levels 1–6).
• Classification into Type A, Type B or Type C based on minimum permeation performance against a specified set of test chemicals (Type A = high level / ≥6 chemicals; Type B = ≥3 chemicals; Type C = ≥1 chemical with lower minimum level).
• Degradation assessment — methods to evaluate and report material changes after chemical exposure; results must be provided with user information.
• Marking and information requirements — pictogram, type designation (A/B/C), code letters for tested chemicals, performance levels and degradation/permeation data to be supplied to users.
• Reference to appropriate test methods (resistance to penetration, permeation testing methods and degradation test methods) and links to related parts of the ISO 374 series and other normative test documents.

Typical use and users

Primary users are PPE manufacturers (design, testing and marking of chemical-protective gloves), independent test laboratories (conducting penetration, permeation and degradation testing), safety professionals and procurement specialists (selecting gloves for workplace hazards), conformity assessors and regulators, and end users in laboratories, chemical processing, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and other sectors where contact with hazardous chemicals or micro-organisms may occur.

Related standards

Key related documents and parts of the glove and PPE standard family include ISO 374-2 (resistance to penetration), ISO 374-4 (resistance to degradation), ISO 374-5 (micro-organism risks), ISO 21420 (general requirements for protective gloves), EN/ISO test methods for permeation (e.g., EN 16523-1 and alternatives such as ISO 6529), and mechanical-protection standards such as EN 388. Guidance materials and selection guidance (e.g., ISO/TR guidance documents) also complement ISO 374-1.

Keywords

protective gloves, chemical protection, permeation, penetration, degradation, breakthrough time, Type A, Type B, Type C, glove marking, ISO 374, PPE, glove testing

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 374-1:2024 defines terminology and minimum performance and marking requirements for gloves claiming protection against dangerous chemicals.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers definitions, sampling and classification rules, minimum performance thresholds for permeation (breakthrough times), requirements for penetration and degradation testing (when claiming chemical protection), and marking and user information obligations for manufacturers.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Glove manufacturers, independent testing laboratories, safety managers and procurement officers, conformity assessment bodies, regulators and end users working with hazardous chemicals or micro-organisms.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 374-1:2024 is the current edition (Edition 2, published in July 2024). It revises and replaces the previous ISO 374-1:2016 edition (and its amendment).

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 1 of the ISO 374 series addressing chemical and micro-organism risks; other parts cover penetration (Part 2), degradation (Part 4), micro-organisms (Part 5) and associated test methods.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Chemical protection, permeation, breakthrough time, penetration, degradation, glove marking, Type A/B/C, ISO 374.