The puncture (hypodermic needle) performance rating of a glove measures the amount of force (in Newtons) applied for failure to occur. When a glove is tested in accordance with ASTM F2878-10, the puncture resistance is classified as shown below:
| Level | Puncture (Newtons) |
|---|---|
| 0 | < 2 |
| 1 | ≥ 2 |
| 2 | ≥ 4 |
| 3 | ≥ 6 |
| 4 | ≥ 8 |
| 5 | ≥ 10 |
Higher puncture forces indicate a greater puncture resistance.
The American National Standards Institute / International Safety Equipment Association (ANSI/ISEA) 105-2016 American National Standard for Hand Protection Classification is the latest revision of a voluntary consensus standard first published in 1999, and revised in 2005, 2011 and 2016.
This standard addresses the classification and testing of hand protection for specific performance properties related to chemical and industrial applications. It provides, or refers to, appropriate test methods and provides pass/fail criteria used by manufacturers to classify their products. End users can use this information to review the documentation received from their supplier to help verify the gloves they are considering meet their needs.