EN 388:2016 Markings Decoded: Reading the Six-Symbol Pictogram

EN 388:2016 Markings Decoded: Reading the Six-Symbol Pictogram

You have seen the small shield pictogram on the back of a safety glove, followed by a code such as 4X42C. For many glove buyers, that code is a mystery. You ask for a cut-resistant glove, the supplier sends a photo of the pictogram, and you are expected to nod and place the order. But when the goods arrive and the cutting room reports gloves failing in the first week, or when a distributor’s customer asks for proof behind the printed level, that little code suddenly matters a great deal.

EN 388:2016 is the European standard for testing protective gloves against mechanical risks: abrasion, blade cut, tear, puncture and impact. The 2016 edition replaced the 2003 version and introduced the six-position marking used today. Reading each position correctly is how importers, PPE distributors, brands and end-user purchasers verify that a glove is what the supplier claims. This article explains all six positions and gives you a photo checklist for reviewing supplier samples.

What the Six Positions Mean

Under EN 388:2016, the pictogram is followed by six characters in a fixed order. Positions 1 to 4 cover abrasion, blade cut, tear and puncture. Position 5 covers the TDM cut test. Position 6 covers impact protection. Any position that was not tested is marked with an X.

Positions 1 to 4: Abrasion, Coupe Cut, Tear and Puncture

Position 1 is abrasion resistance, reported as a level from 1 to 4. The test rubs the material against abrasive paper under pressure and counts cycles before a hole forms: 100 cycles for level 1, 500 for level 2, 2,000 for level 3 and 8,000 for level 4. Abrasion matters wherever gloves rub against rough surfaces all day, from sheet metal handling to warehouse work. A glove with a weak abrasion score will wear through at the palm even if its cut score looks impressive.

Position 2 is the Coupe blade cut test, reported as an index level from 1 to 5, with thresholds of 1.2, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 and 20.0. Here is the detail many buyers miss: the Coupe test is unreliable on high-performance cut materials such as glass fibre, steel fibre or aramid yarns, because the blade dulls during the test and the result can look better than it really is. That is why the 2016 edition requires the TDM test in position 5 whenever the Coupe result is doubtful. A marking with an X in position 2 and a letter in position 5 is normal and correct for modern high-cut gloves; it means the manufacturer skipped the unreliable Coupe test and went straight to TDM. Do not treat that X as a defect.

Position 3 is tear resistance, reported as a level from 1 to 4 based on the force in newtons needed to tear the sample: 10 N, 25 N, 50 N and 75 N. Tear strength protects against snagging and ripping when gloves catch on sharp edges or wire ends. Buyers sometimes ignore this position because cut scores dominate the conversation, but a glove that cuts well and tears easily can fail when workers pull and twist it hard.

Position 4 is puncture resistance, reported as a level from 1 to 4 based on the force needed to push a steel stylus through the material: 20 N, 60 N, 100 N and 150 N. This simulates puncture by nails, screws, wire tips and splinters. Note that it is a blunt-puncture test, not a needlestick test; sharps hazards are evaluated under separate standards.

Position 5: The TDM Cut Level, A to F

Position 5 is the TDM cut test, reported as a letter from A to F, and it is the position that matters most for cut-protection claims. The test draws a straight blade across the sample under increasing load until cut-through, using a fresh blade edge each time, so it avoids the blade-dulling problem of the Coupe test and gives far more trustworthy results on high-performance materials.

The letter scale and its newton values are fixed:

• A: 2 newtons
• B: 5 newtons
• C: 10 newtons
• D: 15 newtons
• E: 22 newtons
• F: 30 newtons

Compare this letter first when evaluating two gloves. A glove marked 4X42C offers C-level TDM cut protection; 4X43D offers D-level, a genuine step up in cutting force. Match the letter to the hazard: light assembly may be served by A or B, glass handling and metal stamping typically demand D to F. A supplier who talks only about the old 1-to-5 Coupe levels and avoids the TDM letter is not giving you the full picture.

Position 6: Impact Protection, P or X

Position 6 covers impact protection as a pass-or-fail result. A P means the glove passed the impact test, with transmitted force below the permitted threshold in the tested zones. An X means the glove was not impact-tested, which is completely normal for most cut-resistant knitted gloves. A F indicates a tested glove that failed to meet the requirement. If you are buying impact gloves for oil and gas, mining or heavy maintenance, the P is the entire point of the purchase and must be present and supported.

Photo Checklist: Spotting Non-Compliant Markings

Most sourcing starts with supplier photos. You can catch many problems before spending on samples:

• Check the order and count. The sequence is always abrasion, Coupe, tear, puncture, TDM letter, impact. Markings with only four numbers belong to the old 2003 edition and should not appear on newly manufactured gloves sold as EN 388:2016 compliant.
• Check the character set. Positions 1 to 4 take digits or X; position 5 takes a letter A to F or X; position 6 takes P or X. A TDM letter beyond F does not exist in the standard.
• Expect X in position 2 with a real TDM letter. That combination signals a properly tested modern cut glove. Be cautious of the reverse: a high Coupe number with no TDM letter on a glove advertised as highly cut-resistant.
• Verify the CE mark and standard reference. The glove or packaging should show the CE mark and reference EN 388:2016. A pictogram with numbers but no CE mark, no standard year and no manufacturer identification is decoration, not a compliant marking.
• Compare markings across the photo set. The code on the glove back, the hang tag, the carton label and the test report should all match, including the model name. Mismatches are a classic sign of a borrowed report.
• Watch for inflated combinations. Top cut letters on every model in the cheapest quote sheet should make you pause until independent test evidence confirms them.

How INTEGRITY GLOVE Uses This Standard

We treat the TDM letter as the honest measure of cut protection and mark our gloves position by position exactly as EN 388:2016 requires. Tell us the TDM level your application needs plus the abrasion, tear and puncture levels your environment demands, and we will match a liner and coating combination to those numbers rather than pushing the highest letter at the highest price.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the Coupe level and the TDM letter?

Coupe uses a rotating circular blade and reports an index from 1 to 5; TDM uses a straight blade with increasing load and reports a letter from A to F with defined newton values. Coupe becomes unreliable on high-performance cut materials because the blade dulls, so the TDM letter is the result to rely on.

Is an X in the marking a bad sign?

No. X simply means that position was not tested. It is normal in the Coupe position on TDM-tested high-cut gloves and normal in the impact position on gloves never designed for impact protection.

Can a glove show both a Coupe level and a TDM letter?

Yes, the standard allows both. Many manufacturers of high-cut gloves mark X for Coupe and give the TDM letter because the Coupe result would be unreliable. Either format is compliant if the results are genuine.

What does the P in position 6 guarantee?

It means the glove passed the impact test in EN 388:2016, with transmitted force below the threshold in the tested zones. It does not promise protection against every impact or crush injury.

How do I check whether a supplier’s marking is genuine?

Ask for the test report behind the marking and confirm the model number, the report photo and the sample marking all agree. Then ask for the EU Declaration of Conformity referencing EN 388:2016. A supplier who produces both promptly is far more credible than one who sends only a catalogue photo.

Talk to INTEGRITY GLOVE

If you are sourcing cut-resistant gloves and want markings you can defend in front of your own customers, contact us. Send your target EN 388:2016 profile, your application and your estimated volumes to [email protected] or WhatsApp +86 1515 289 1159. For MOQ and lead time, please contact us for details.