Up To 250 °C

Understanding EN 407 Level 2 Contact Heat

EN 407:2020 tests six thermal risks; contact heat (test method EN ISO 12127-1) is the one that defines this collection. A heated cylinder is pressed against the glove and a calorimeter measures how fast the wearer's side rises by 10°C. Level 2 means that rise takes at least 15 seconds at 250°C - levels run 1 (100°C) through 4 (500°C).

Why Level 2 Is So Common

Claiming Level 3 or 4 contact heat requires the glove to also score at least Level 3 on the separate flame spread test - without that, the reported contact heat rating is capped at Level 2 regardless of insulation. That's a big reason 250°C gloves dominate general industrial handling rather than higher grades.

Materials and Construction

This range includes leather general-handling and gauntlet gloves, plus aramid/Kevlar-blend options. Leather offers durability against abrasion from racks, presses and rough stock. Aramid blends favour dexterity for precision handling tasks. Options include:
• Leather gauntlet styles for foundry-adjacent and fabrication work
• Aramid/Kevlar-blend gloves for lighter, more dextrous handling
• Extended 35-45cm cuffs for forearm protection near furnaces or hot presses

Common Specification Mistakes

Buyers sometimes assume contact heat rating alone covers molten metal splash risk - it doesn't; that's tests 5 and 6 on EN 407, separate from contact heat. If your task involves splash exposure or prolonged flame contact, Level 2 at 250°C isn't the right spec - check individual listings for splash and flame ratings before you buy.