Home >> Application >> By Standard >> Others >> EN 13594 Test Method of Protective gloves for motorcycle riders

EN 13594 Test Method of Protective gloves for motorcycle riders

Share:

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).

EN 13594 Test Method of Protective gloves for motorcycle riders

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.

 EN 13594 Test Method of Protective gloves for motorcycle riders

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. 

EN 13594 Test Method of Protective gloves for motorcycle riders

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.

EN 388 Protective Gloves Against Mechanical Risks

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.  

EN 388 Protective Gloves Against Mechanical Risks

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.

EN 388 Protective Gloves Against Mechanical Risks

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

EN 13594 Test Method of Protective gloves for motorcycle riders

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: 

StandardRelationshipKey Difference
EN 388:2016+A1Normative reference (mechanical tests)EN 388 = general mechanical gloves; EN 13594 = motorcycle‑specific (impact abrasion, restraint)
EN 1621‑1Impact test method referenceEN 1621‑1 = motorcycle body armor (50 J); EN 13594 = gloves (5 J)
EN 420Innocuousness requirementsShared chemical safety for all PPE gloves
ISO 2231Standard conditioningEnsures test repeatability across labs
EN 13595Motorcycle protective clothing (jackets/pants)Complements EN 13594 for full upper‑body crash protection
ASTM F1976US motorcycle glove equivalentDifferent 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.

Related products and device

EN 13594 Tear Universal Testing Machine

WDW Series Computer Control Electronic Universal Testing Machine made by UNITEDTEST range from 100N to 600KN load capacity with various models like single columns, table type, door frame type etc., is used to perform tension, compression, flexure/bending, shearing, peeling etc., test for metal and nonmetal specimens. Matched with UNITEDTEST design and produced various test fixture, like peel, flexure, puncture, tear, pneumatic grip, belt tension etc., this UTM can be used to almost all materials include but not limited to steel rod, rubber, steel wire, plastic, seat belt, textile, wood, panel etc., mechanical performance inspection.

Puncture Test Fixture

Puncture Test Fixture is a standardized attachment for constant-rate-of-traverse (CRT) tensile testing machines, used to determine the bursting strength of textile fabrics by forcing a polished steel ball through a clamped specimen at a constant rate until rupture.

EN 388 tear test fixture

Tear fixture ASTM D1004, vise grip or self-tightening roller grips are the most popular for this application and the least expensive. They can be provided with a rubber faced surface to measure the tear resistance strength of flexible plastic film and sheeting.

EN 388 Martindale Abrasion Tester

Martindale Abrasion Tester simulates real-world wear and friction in a controlled, accelerated manner to predict a material's durability and appearance retention over time. suitable for testing the abrasion resistance and pilling tendency of knitted fabrics, woolen fabrics.

EN 13594 Glove Cut Resistance Tester, Coup Test

Glove/Footwear Cut Resistance Tester is a specialized instrument designed to objectively measure the resistance of protective materials, or PPE personal protective equipment (like those used in gloves, sleeves, and footwear components) to cutting by sharp edges, typically blades.

Related Standard

EN 863 Puncture resistance Test of Protective clothing

EN 863 Protective clothing Mechanical properties Test method: Puncture resistance 


EN 863 specifies a test method for determining the puncture resistance of materials used in protective clothing and their assemblies (e.g., seams). Expressed as the maximum force (in Newtons) needed to push a standard spike through specimens at a defined speed. It is a foundational mechanical test for PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) compliance, widely used in industrial, medical, and occupational safety sectors. 

EN 388 Protective Gloves Against Mechanical Risks

EN 388:2016+A1:2018 – Protective gloves against mechanical risks, a cornerstone standard in the global PPE industry.


EN 388 is a type testing and performance classification standard for gloves designed to protect against physical and mechanical hazards such as abrasion, cut, tear, and puncture. Its principle is to subject glove samples to a series of standardized laboratory tests, each generating a numerical performance level.

ASTM D6797: Ball Burst Puncture Test for Bursting Strength of Nonwoven Barrier Fabrics

ASTM D6797 is a standard test method for measuring the bursting strength of woven and knitted textiles using a constant-rate-of-extension (CRE) tensile tester with a ball burst fixture, providing precise, repeatable data for fabric performance evaluation, quality control, and compliance, essential for validating high-elongation textiles in real-world applications. 

ASTM D6797 titled "Test Method for Bursting Strength of Fabrics Constant-Rate-of-Extension (CRE) Ball Burst Test." While similar in name to ASTM D3787, it has a distinct focus and methodology.

ASTM D3787 Textile Ball Burst Constant Rate Traverse CRT Test

ASTM D3787 Standard Test Method for Bursting Strength of Textiles;Constant-Rate-of-Traverse (CRT) Ball Burst Test.

ASTM D3787 is a standard test method for measuring the bursting strength of high-elongation textiles via a constant-rate-of-traverse (CRT) ball burst setup, providing repeatable data for material selection, quality control, and compliance, critical for ensuring fabric performance in end-use scenarios. 

ISO 12236 Static Puncture Test (CBR test) for Geosynthetics

ISO 12236 puncture test (CBR test) is the principal international standard for measuring the static puncture resistance of geosynthetics using a 50-mm plunger. Its results are a key indicator of a material's performance in applications requiring resistance to localized, sustained pressure.

ASTM D4595 Tensile Test of Geotextiles by the Wide-Width Strip

ASTM D4595 Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Geotextiles by the Wide-Width Method


ASTM D4595 covers the measurement of tensile properties of geotextiles using a wide-width strip specimen tensile method. This test method is applicable to most geotextiles that include woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, layered fabrics, knit fabrics, and felts that are used for geotextile application.


ASTM D4533 Trapezoid Tearing Strength Test of Geotextiles

ASTM D4533 test used to measure the force required to continue or propagate tearing in woven or non-woven geotextiles, using the trapezoidal method for testing. The trapezoidal tearing method is a test that generates tension along a reasonably defined path, allowing the tear to propagate across the width of the specimen. The trapezoidal tear strength of woven fabrics is mainly determined by the characteristics of the yarns clamped in the fixture.

ISO 10319 Geotextile Wide Width Strip tensile testing

ISO 10319: Geosynthetics -- Wide-width tensile test

ISO 10319 describes an index test method for the determination of the tensile properties of geosynthetics (polymeric, glass, and metallic), using a wide-width strip. It is applicable to most geosynthetics, including woven geotextiles, nonwoven geotextiles, geocomposites, knitted geotextiles, geonets, geomats, and metallic products. It is also applicable to geogrids and similar open-structure geotextiles, but specimen dimensions might need to be altered. It is not applicable to polymeric or bituminous geosynthetic barriers, while it is applicable to clay geosynthetic barriers.


ISO 10319 specifies a tensile test method that covers the measurement of load elongation characteristics and includes procedures for the calculation of secant stiffness, maximum load per unit width and strain at maximum load. Singular points on the load-extension curve are also indicated.

ISO 13426-1 Geotextiles Strength of internal structural junctions

ISO 13426-1:2019 Geotextiles and geotextile-related products — Strength of internal structural junctions — Part 1: Geocells


ISO 13426-1 test describes index test methods for the determination of the strength of internal structural junctions of geocells under different loading conditions.


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.

< Previous: EN 50086-2-4 Testing Methods of Conduit systems for cable management

> Next: EN 388 Protective Gloves Against Mechanical Risks

Require More Customized Solutions?

We offer customization to meet your specific needs. Our expert team will collaborate with you to develop the perfect product for you
Customize Now

Beijing United Test Co., Ltd.