A lot of our customers ask us which cut test rating they should use under EN388 to specify their hand protection. 

(What’s EN388 you say?? - Here’s an explainer Click Here)  

They want to know whether they should go for the simplicity of the coupe cut test or the accuracy of the ISO cut test. 

(You can read an explainer of each method here Click Here) 

Interestingly, it is only a requirement of the official EN388 paperwork to use the ISO cut test when the blade is dulled or blunted under the coupe cut test. 

However, on almost all tests on gloves with high cut resistance the blade blunts at the level where a rating of “3” is given. 

This means that under the new test any glove with high cut resistance is now rated “X” (or fail) under the coupe cut test and then has a rating (typically above “C”) under the ISO cut test. 

It’s important to realise that the two tests have no correlation, no rating on either test can be tied to each other as they use completely different testing methods. 

The way we suggest using the 2 tests is to treat the coupe cut test as an indicator.  Is the glove suited to low cut risk tasks or high cut risk tasks? 

If the glove is suited to high cut risk tasks, then you can use the ISO cut test as a guide to its effectiveness and durability for different roles. 

Which rating you specify under each of these tests will depend on your risk assessment and roles/tasks. 

If you want to discuss this with us or talk about some specific hand protection you require then get in touch with us on 01143 741999 or at info@pksafetyuk.com.