Up To 500 °C

How EN 407 Contact Heat Testing Works

EN 407 tests gloves against six thermal hazards, each graded 0–4. Contact heat—the critical spec for this collection—requires glove material pressed flat against a heated metal cylinder. Level 4 certification means the glove delays a 10°C internal temperature rise for at least 15 seconds at 500°C. That's a measured performance threshold, not a guideline. For context: Level 2 gloves achieve the same 15-second delay at 250°C; Level 3 manages 11–14 seconds at 350°C. The thermal gap between levels is substantial, which is why specifying the correct rating for your actual exposure matters more than simply choosing the toughest glove available.

Stick Welding and Why Level 4 Is Standard

Stick welding (SMAW) creates arc temperatures above 3,000°C. The base metal heats to 400–500°C within seconds—and you're not just exposed to radiant heat, you're touching that metal. Adjusting workpiece position, removing slag, checking penetration, setting up the next pass: all require direct contact with surfaces at 350–500°C. Level 3 gloves might protect briefly, but sustained handling throughout a shift demands the thermal margin Level 4 provides. Extended cuffs (15–18 inches) protect forearms during overhead work where spatter and radiant heat hit exposed skin. Many models in this collection also carry convective heat ratings (Level 3–4) for flame and hot air resistance, plus molten metal splash protection (Level 1–3) against spatter.

Foundry Operations: Contact Heat Plus Radiant Heat

Freshly poured castings emerge at 400–600°C. Workers must grip these components—often for 30–60 seconds—to remove moulds, reposition for cooling, or transport to finishing. That's where contact and radiant heat protection overlap. Aluminised fabric gloves excel here: the reflective outer layer deflects intense radiant heat from furnaces and molten metal (95–97% rejection), while thick insulating inner layers handle contact heat when gripping a hot casting. Options in this range combine Level 4 contact heat (500°C), Level 3–4 radiant heat resistance, and molten metal splash ratings—with select aluminised models tested up to 1000°C for furnace and extreme foundry environments. Check individual listings for exact performance levels—foundry gloves vary in construction depending on whether you're pouring, handling moulds, or moving castings.

Material Trade-Offs: Insulation vs. Dexterity

Achieving high-temperature protection requires substantial insulation, which adds bulk. Kevlar aramid gloves offer the best dexterity—para-aramid fibres resist degradation to 425°C without melting, with added cut and tear resistance. Pure Kevlar typically reaches Level 3 (350°C); Level 4 Kevlar gloves add insulation layers at the cost of some flexibility. Heavy leather with terry cloth or wool felt linings achieves Level 4 through multiple insulating layers (3–5mm) trapping air and delaying heat transfer—split cowhide (1.2–1.6mm) forms the outer shell. For environments pushing toward 1000°C, aluminised constructions add a reflective barrier to handle extreme radiant exposure where leather and Kevlar alone aren't sufficient. Modern designs use strategic placement—thicker insulation on palms and fingers (high contact zones), thinner materials on backs of hands and between fingers (lower exposure). The best glove is the one that protects your actual temperature exposure while letting you do the job.

Common Specification Mistakes

Buyers often specify the highest-rated glove for every hot work task, assuming a higher rating equals better safety. In practice, overspecification adds unnecessary bulk for jobs that don't push 500°C—let alone 1000°C. If you're handling materials at 250–300°C intermittently, Level 3 gloves (350°C rated) provide adequate protection with better dexterity. The inverse mistake: choosing on peak temperature alone without factoring in contact duration or frequency. A surface that briefly touches 500°C may need less protection than sustained 400°C handling over a full shift. Review your actual exposure—what temperature, how long, how often—then match the glove's tested performance to that reality. EN 407 ratings tell you what the glove survived in the lab; your job is to map that to the metalwork, casting, or welding task at hand.