A glove for winter outdoors or a freezer carries a snowflake pictogram and three digits. But not all “cold gloves” are alike. Blocking cold wind and gripping a frozen pipe are different ratings. (← continued from Work Glove Certifications: The Full Map)
Summary
EN 511 splits “cold” into three hazards with levels. The three digits under the snowflake run in this order: convective cold (cold air, 0–4), contact cold (cold surfaces, 0–4), and water penetration (0 or 1). Convective cold is scored by insulation value (ITR), contact cold by thermal resistance (R), and water by whether it leaks after a 30-minute soak. Higher numbers mean better cold protection.
Cold is not one type either
The same “cold” pulls heat from your hand in different ways, and each needs a different defense. So EN 511 splits into three boxes.
Cold wind carrying heat off your hand (convective cold) is different from a frozen metal handle sucking heat out on contact (contact cold). And a wet glove loses its insulation and chills faster. So water resistance is rated too.
The 3-digit code under the snowflake
The digits below the snowflake are always in the same order — three of them. The first two are levels 0–4; the last is 0 or 1.
| Position | Hazard | What is measured | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (a) | Convective cold | insulation value ITR (heat lost to cold air) | 0–4 |
| 2 (b) | Contact cold | thermal resistance R (heat lost to a cold surface) | 0–4 |
| 3 (c) | Water | water penetration after a 30-min soak | 0 / 1 |
So 220 means convective cold 2, contact cold 2, no water protection (it leaks).
Convective cold: how much cold air it blocks
Convective cold is the ability to stop cold wind from carrying heat off your hand. It is scored by insulation value ITR (unit m²·°C/W) — higher is warmer.
| Convective level | ITR (m²·°C/W) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.10 – 0.15 |
| 2 | 0.15 – 0.22 |
| 3 | 0.22 – 0.30 |
| 4 | ≥ 0.30 |
In plain terms, a thick lining that traps more air raises ITR — the same reason a thicker winter coat is warmer.
Contact cold: gripping a cold surface
Contact cold is the ability to stop heat loss when you touch a cold object directly, like a frozen pipe or freezer handle. It is scored by thermal resistance R (m²·°C/W).
| Contact level | R (m²·°C/W) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.025 – 0.050 |
| 2 | 0.050 – 0.100 |
| 3 | 0.100 – 0.150 |
| 4 | ≥ 0.150 |
If convective cold is “cold air,” contact cold is “cold metal.” If you have ever grabbed a bare shelf in a freezer, that sting is contact cold.
Water: just 0 and 1
The last digit is simple. Soak the glove in water for 30 minutes: if no water reaches the inside, it scores 1; if water penetrates (or it was not tested), 0.
Why does water matter? A wet glove loses its insulation. Water moves heat far faster than air, so even a thick glove chills quickly once soaked. In rain, snow or wet work, water 1 matters as much as the first two levels.
The hidden prerequisite: fail EN388 and your cold levels drop
Cold gloves have a catch too. To earn an EN 511 rating, the glove must pass at least level 1 in EN388 abrasion and tear. A glove that blocks cold but wears through immediately is not recognized.
Furthermore, to claim level 2 or higher in convective or contact cold, EN388 abrasion and tear must also be level 2+. If not, the cold level is capped at 1. In other words, “warm” assumes “reasonably durable.”
How Korea sees it
A KS standard number matching EN 511 exactly could not be confirmed by public search, so none is stated by guess. EN 511 is a European (CEN) standard, not an ISO one, so a 1-to-1 “KS K ISO ~” mapping likely does not exist. Cold gloves are not a mandatory-certification item in Korea (only chemical and electrical gloves are).
So which glove do you pick
Work backwards from the use. Winter outdoor work → convective cold 2–3; freezers/cold storage where you grip cold objects often → contact cold 3+; wet conditions → water 1. Read the digit among the three that matches your cold.
Thick cold gloves reduce dexterity — but so does a cold hand. One study (Chapman et al., Physiological Reports 2025) reports that dexterity drops sharply once finger skin temperature falls below about 22.9°C. Too thin and you go numb with cold; too thick and you go clumsy. The level that matches the hazard is the safest.
Sources
Primary standard:
– EN 511:2006 (CEN/iTeh, protective gloves against cold)
Academic:
– Hand cooling and dexterity thresholds (Chapman et al., Physiological Reports 2025, PMID 40343410) — dexterity drops below ~22.9°C finger temp
Test body (secondary):
– Understanding EN 511 contact cold (Tilsatec)
– EN 511 levels explained (HANVO Safety)
⚠ Claude Opus 4.8 (2026-06-28): The EN 511:2006 standard text (paywalled) was not read directly. The ITR/R level boundaries are cross-checked against multiple agreeing authoritative secondary sources. The Korean KS equivalent could not be confirmed and is left unverified. Verify against the purchased standard before relying on it.
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