Import a glove or look at an American brand and you often see a second code next to EN388 — A4, ANSI A6. Same glove, so why two ratings? Because the US measures gloves differently from Europe. (← continued from Work Glove Certifications: The Full Map)
Summary
The US standard ANSI/ISEA 105 measures cut in grams (g), abrasion in cycles, and puncture in newtons (N). Impact is a separate standard, ANSI/ISEA 138, scored in kN of transmitted force. What EN388 expresses as “levels 1–5,” the US expresses as “how many grams it takes to cut through.” The core difference is philosophy: Europe sorts into bins, America writes the absolute number.
Why two codes get stamped
The reason both EN388 and ANSI appear on one glove is that there are two markets. To sell in Europe you pass EN tests; to sell in the US you pass ANSI tests.
But the two standards use different units. It is like one ruler in centimeters and one in inches. So a 1-to-1 conversion table like “EN388 cut level 5 = ANSI A6” officially does not exist. Even when the test machine is the same, the result is written in a different unit.
The big picture of reading a code — what order the digits sit in, what X and 0 mean — is already covered in How to Read EN388. This article looks only at the American numbers.
Cut A1–A9: the weight needed to cut through
The ANSI cut level is set by how much weight (load) it takes to make a blade cut through the fabric. More weight means harder to cut.
The test uses a machine called the TDM-100 (method ASTM F2992). A straight razor blade carries a load and makes a single 20 mm straight pass across the fabric. The weight in grams needed to cut through is recorded, with a fresh blade each time.
| ANSI cut level | Grams to cut through | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | 200–499 | basic cotton glove |
| A2 | 500–999 | light assembly |
| A3 | 1,000–1,499 | general work |
| A4 | 1,500–2,199 | sheet metal / glass entry |
| A5 | 2,200–2,999 | metal fabrication |
| A6 | 3,000–3,999 | sharp plate |
| A7 | 4,000–4,999 | heavy glass / metal |
| A8 | 5,000–5,999 | heavy duty |
| A9 | 6,000+ | top level |
Levels are always defined as a lower bound (≥). “A4” means “holds at least 1,500 g,” not exactly 1,500 g.
Abrasion and puncture: cycles and newtons
ANSI 105 also rates abrasion (wear) 0–6 and puncture 0–5. The units shift again.
Abrasion is the number of cycles an abrasive wheel takes to wear a hole through the fabric (ASTM D3389/D3884, H-18 wheels). Levels 0–3 are tested at a 500 g load; levels 4–6 at a heavier 1,000 g.
| Abrasion level | Load | Cycles |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 500 g | ≥ 100 |
| 2 | 500 g | ≥ 500 |
| 3 | 500 g | ≥ 1,000 |
| 4 | 1,000 g | ≥ 3,000 |
| 5 | 1,000 g | ≥ 10,000 |
| 6 | 1,000 g | ≥ 20,000 |
Puncture is the force in newtons to push a blunt probe through: L1 ≥10N, L2 ≥20N, L3 ≥60N, L4 ≥100N, L5 ≥150N. Watch out: EN388 puncture levels are 20·60·100·150N — the bins start differently. The same “puncture level 2” points to a different force in the US versus Europe, so don’t conflate them.
Impact is a separate standard: ANSI 138
A hammer blow or dropped part striking the back of the hand is a completely different hazard from a cut. So the US built a separate impact-only standard, ANSI/ISEA 138 (2019).
The test drops 5 joules of impact energy onto back-of-hand locations and measures the force transmitted (kN) through the glove to the hand. Finger and knuckle zones are measured separately, and the rating is set by the weaker zone.
| Impact level | Transmitted force (mean) |
|---|---|
| 1 | ≤ 9.0 kN |
| 2 | ≤ 6.5 kN |
| 3 | ≤ 4.0 kN |
The numbers run backwards. For cut, higher level is better; for impact, less transmitted force is better. Level 3 blocks the most shock from reaching your hand. If you have ever dropped a hammer, you know the idea: impact is not stopped, it is absorbed and reduced.
US grams vs EU levels, if you must compare
Authoritative bodies give no official conversion between ANSI and EN cut levels. Still, a rough unit conversion gives a feel.
One newton is about 102 gram-force. The top level of Europe’s modern cut test (EN ISO 13997) is F = 30N, roughly 3,000 g, which is about ANSI A6. The US extends past that to A7·A8·A9 at 6,000 g (about 60N). So the very high cut range is sliced more finely on the American scale.
But this is unit arithmetic, not an official equivalence. Don’t declare “ANSI A4 = EN D.” In reality the blade, motion and fabric conditions differ, so gloves diverge. If you need to compare, check both test reports separately.
How Korea sees it
ANSI is a US standard, so it has nothing to do with Korea’s mandatory certification. Domestically, mechanical-risk gloves (cut, abrasion) follow KS K ISO 23388 — the same ISO family as EN388. Korea and Europe share one ISO root; the US is a separate branch.
The practical rule when choosing imported gloves is simple: compare on one scale. Rank ANSI gloves against each other by grams (A-levels), rank EN gloves by levels, and don’t force the two onto one line.
So what level do you need
General hand work like construction and interior fit-out is usually fine with ANSI A2–A4 (or EN388 cut B–C). Handle glass, sheet metal or steel often and you want A5+; for demolition or heavy-equipment work where the back of the hand takes blows, also check impact level 2+.
Higher looks better, but it also means thicker and less dexterity. A study comparing cut-resistant gloves (Med Lav, 2025) found protection and dexterity/grip are a trade-off. The level that matches the hazard is the safest. Overkill makes you clumsy and invites a different accident.
Sources
Primary standards:
– ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 (ISEA, cut/abrasion/puncture)
– ANSI/ISEA 105 abrasion gram-load clarification (official ISEA PDF)
– ANSI/ISEA 138-2019 (impact)
Academic:
– Epidemiology of hand/finger lacerations (Sandler et al., J Emerg Med 2022, PMID 35177285) — 240k+ US ED hand lacerations/yr
– Cut-glove protection vs dexterity trade-off (Med Lav 2025, PMID 40536301)
Reference (secondary): EN388 vs ANSI 105 test comparison (Mechanix)
⚠ Claude Opus 4.8 (2026-06-28): The ANSI/ISEA 105 and 138 standard texts (paywalled) were not read directly. Level boundaries and test conditions are cross-checked against the official ISEA abrasion clarification PDF and multiple authoritative secondary sources. Verify against the purchased standards before relying on them.
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