Information on the most widely used ASTM standards within the materials testing industry
EN 13594:2015 – Protective gloves for professional motorcycle riders - Requirements and test methods.
EN 13594 is a highly specialized product standard that defines the minimum requirements for protective gloves intended for professional motorcycle riders. Its core principle is to ensure that these gloves provide critical protection in the event of a crash (abrasion, cut, tear, and impact) while also allowing for the dexterity and tactile sensitivity needed to safely operate motorcycle controls. Unlike general-purpose standards, it assumes a high-risk environment where glove failure could be catastrophic.
Performance Levels:
Level 1: Basic protection, minimal ergonomic loss;
Level 2: Higher protection (stricter thresholds).
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| Level 2 with knuckle protection |
Test Methods details introduction:
| 1, Seam Strength (Annex B) | |
| Method: | Test seams (main assembly, fourchettes) in tension; measure force per unit width (N/mm). |
| Equipment: | Tensile tester 2~5KN, test speed 100mm/min; with tensile grips with clamping width above 30mm. |
| Performance Levels: | Main seams: Level 1 ≥ 6 N/mm; Level 2 ≥ 10 N/mm Fourchettes: Level 1 ≥ 4 N/mm; Level 2 ≥ 7 N/mm |
| Principle: | Seams must not fail under crash loads. |
| Specimen: | Rectangular test pieces shall, whenever possible, be cut from gloves with the seam to be tested across the centre of the test piece. If the glove is not large enough, the width of the central area of the test piece may be reduced, but not to less than 10 mm. The material either side of the seam is ideally 40 mm long, but this length may be reduced to 20 mm if longer samples are not available.
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| 2, Cut Resistance (EN 388) | |
| Method 1: | Coupe test (rotating blade) |
| Equipment: | Coupe tester; Cut resistance tester |
| Performance Levels: | Level 1 ≥ EN 388 cut level 2; Level 2 ≥ cut level 3. |
| Principle: | Palm (Level 1) / all layers (Level 2). |
| Specimen: | 2 rectangular specimens; Length 60mm, Width 100mm, used for conventional materials (leather, cotton). |
| ISO 13997 (TDM‑100 Linear Blade Cut Test): | |
| Method 2: | 20 mm blade moves at 100 mm/min; force to cut 20 mm length recorded. |
| Equipment: | TDM‑100 Linear Cut Tester / TDM (Tomodynamometer) machine with a straight blade. |
| Performance Levels: | Level 1 ≥ EN 388 cut level 2; Level 2 ≥ cut level 3. |
| Principle: | The blade is drawn across the specimen with increasing force until a 20mm cut is achieved. The force required is the result.
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| Specimen: | 2 rectangular specimens; mandatory for high‑performance materials (Kevlar, Dyneema) to avoid blade dulling. |
| 3, Tear Resistance Test (EN 388) | |
| Method: | The two legs of the specimen are gripped and pulled apart at a constant speed of 100 mm/min. The average maximum force to continue tearing is recorded. |
| Equipment: | Universal Tensile Tester (force range 0‑100 N, accuracy ±1%). Tear test fixture.
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| Performance Levels: | Level 1 ≥ 10 N; Level 2 ≥ 25 N. |
| Principle: | Resistance to crack propagation from initial damage. |
| Specimen: | A "trouser-shaped" specimen with a pre-cut nick.
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| 4. Impact Abrasion Resistance (Annex C) | |
| Method: | As per EN 863. A steel blunt conical probe (1mm tip, 4.5mm diameter, 30° cone) is driven through the specimen at 100 mm/min. The maximum force is recorded. |
| Equipment: | Cambridge Impact Abrasion Resistance Tester; Loading weight: 49N; Test speed: 1m/s-2m/s, 1m/s-8m/s
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| Performance Levels: | Level 1 ≥ 4 s; Level 2 ≥ 8 s. |
| Principle: | Simulates road sliding abrasion after impact. |
| Specimen: | 4 gloves (different sizes); palm area (all layers). |
| 5, Knuckle Impact Protection (Clause 4.11) | |
| Method: | 2.5 kg striker (flat 80 mm face) dropped to deliver 5 J energy; measure transmitted force via sensor. |
| Equipment: | Impact tester (per EN 1621‑1), piezoelectric force sensor (0–60 kN, ±2% accuracy), 100 mm radius convex anvil. |
| Performance Levels: | Level 1 (optional): Mean ≤ 7 kN; single ≤ 9 kN; Level 2 (mandatory): Mean ≤ 4 kN; single ≤ 6 kN |
| Principle: | Absorbs impact energy to reduce fracture risk. |
| Specimen: | 4 gloves; test knuckle/back‑of‑hand protectors; 4 impacts per glove. |
Test Application:
Police motorcycle units
Motorcycle couriers and delivery riders
Riding instructors
Any commercial or occupational riding where it is worn as PPE for work.
Related standard of EN 13594:
| Standard | Relationship | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| EN 388:2016+A1 | Normative reference (mechanical tests) | EN 388 = general mechanical gloves; EN 13594 = motorcycle‑specific (impact abrasion, restraint) |
| EN 1621‑1 | Impact test method reference | EN 1621‑1 = motorcycle body armor (50 J); EN 13594 = gloves (5 J) |
| EN 420 | Innocuousness requirements | Shared chemical safety for all PPE gloves |
| ISO 2231 | Standard conditioning | Ensures test repeatability across labs |
| EN 13595 | Motorcycle protective clothing (jackets/pants) | Complements EN 13594 for full upper‑body crash protection |
| ASTM F1976 | US motorcycle glove equivalent | Different abrasion/impact thresholds; EN 13594 is EU harmonized |
Importance for the Protective Gloves Industry:
Life-Saving Specialization: It recognizes that motorcycle riders face unique, high-energy impact and slide hazards that general work gloves are not designed to withstand. It sets a life-saving benchmark specifically for this scenario.
Basis for Legal Certification (CE Marking): As a harmonized standard under the EU PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425, it provides the definitive route for a motorcycle glove to be legally CE marked as Category II PPE for professional use. This is a legal requirement for sale in the EEA.
Drives High-Performance Innovation: The stringent requirements (especially the 4/7-second abrasion and 9kN impact) push manufacturers to use advanced materials like double-layer goat leather, Kangaroo leather, premium synthetic fabrics, and sophisticated multi-density armor for protectors.
Ensures Holistic Design: By testing not just the material but also strap retention, protector performance, and coverage length, the standard ensures the glove will function as a coherent protective system during a crash, not just as a covering.
Builds Rider and Employer Confidence: For professional riders and their employers, the EN 13594 label provides critical assurance that the glove has been tested to a severe, motorcycle-specific protocol. It helps in fulfilling occupational health and safety (OHS) duties by providing verifiably suitable PPE for a high-risk job.
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EN 388:2016+A1:2018 – Protective gloves against mechanical risks, a cornerstone standard in the global PPE industry.
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Splitting test procedure:
All test methods are performed at a constant strain rate of 20 mm/min.
At the beginning of the test, adjust the distance between the jaws to ±3mm of the required specimen length.
The specimen is mounted in the center of the jaws. Note that the length of the specimen should be parallel to the direction of the force.
Start the pull machine and continue until the sample is destroyed. Stop the device, record and report the maximum load with an accuracy of 2% of the full-scale reading. Reports the corresponding displacement in millimeters, with one decimal place reserved.
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