ANSI ABRASION STANDARD INFORMATION

The term "abrasion" refers to the process of scraping or wearing away by means of friction. Workers face a multitude of hazards in the industrial workplace, many of which are associated with the risk of abrasion to the hands when handling various tools and materials. Lack of proper hand PPE can leave workers vulnerable to injuries such as irritation from repetitive rubbing and scraping of the skin. Abrasion resistant gloves provide a barrier against the wear and tear of abrasive environments and materials using protective layers of synthetic fabrics and deliver the comfort, performance, and protection needed to keep workers safe throughout their workday. 

What is the ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 Abrasion Standard? 

ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 is a North American standard updated in 2016 measuring hand protection across a variety of Industrial risks. Set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and by the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), the ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 standard measures abrasion resistance for Industrial work gloves on a seven-level scale of 0 to 6. 

The standard is based on ASTM D2289-10 and ASTM D3884-09 abrasion testing methods which measure the number of cycles required for an abrasion wheel to break down the glove material. Levels 0 to 3 are measured with a 500-gram load on the abrasion wheel while levels 4 to 6 are measured with a 1,000-gram load. The glove material is then mounted and abraded by the spinning wheel until the material is worn through, creating a hole, under the corresponding weight. The greater the number of cycles it takes to break the material down, the higher the abrasion rating. The results are shown in the new ANSI abrasion standard rating chart below: