EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
COLD RESISTANT GLOVES
Working in Cold Conditions?
Exposure to cold temperatures without proper hand protection can limit the blood flow, causing numbness and lack of hand mobility / dexterity. Reduced dexterity can lead to dropped items that can cause other serious injuries. Long-term exposure and extreme temperatures without proper protection can lead to hypothermia and frostbite. Workers can easily prevent these injuries by keeping their hands insulated and protected by wearing the right gloves.
Working in Cold Conditions?
Exposure to cold temperatures without proper hand protection can limit the blood flow, causing numbness and lack of hand mobility / dexterity. Reduced dexterity can lead to dropped items that can cause other serious injuries. Long-term exposure and extreme temperatures without proper protection can lead to hypothermia and frostbite. Workers can easily prevent these injuries by keeping their hands insulated and protected by wearing the right gloves.
What you will learn
- Material and technologies used in cold-resistant gloves
- Safety standards and tests used to verify cold resistance in gloves
- Questions to ask before choosing gloves for cold protection
Material and technologies used in cold-resistant gloves
Cold resistant gloves utilize materials that trap air to provide insulation—preventing the external temperature from interfering with the hands’ temperature, also known as thermal control. These materials create air pockets within the glove, serving as a barrier between the hand and the cold environment. Common materials used to achieve cold resistance include Thinsulate™ and acrylic / fleece.
Thinsulate™
Thinsulate™ is a breathable and moisture-resistant insulator that offers optimal warmth in cold environments. It effectively traps air to keep hands warm while allowing moisture to escape. Thinsulate™ liners offer better warmth compared to fleece but also comes at a higher cost. The level of Thinsulate™ used for lining is measured in GSM (grams per square meter), indicating the thickness of the liner. Typically, 100 GSM is sufficient to keep hands warm without sacrificing dexterity in most winter temperatures down to -25°C. A 200 GSM lining is used for heavy-duty winter safety gloves; however this also makes the gloves thicker, heavier, and consequently less dexterous.
Thinsulate™
Thinsulate™ is a breathable and moisture-resistant insulator that offers optimal warmth in cold environments. It effectively traps air to keep hands warm while allowing moisture to escape. Thinsulate™ liners offer better warmth compared to fleece but also comes at a higher cost. The level of Thinsulate™ used for lining is measured in GSM (grams per square meter), indicating the thickness of the liner. Typically, 100 GSM is sufficient to keep hands warm without sacrificing dexterity in most winter temperatures down to -25°C. A 200 GSM lining is used for heavy-duty winter safety gloves; however this also makes the gloves thicker, heavier, and consequently less dexterous.
Acrylic or Fleece
Acrylic or fleece liners are the most common lightweight options. They are warmer than cotton or foam lining and less bulky than other insulations. Gloves with acrylic or fleece liners can also be sufficient for indoor workspaces that are kept at cooler temperatures.
Acrylic or Fleece
Acrylic or fleece liners are the most common lightweight options. They are warmer than cotton or foam lining and less bulky than other insulations. Gloves with acrylic or fleece liners can also be sufficient for indoor workspaces that are kept at cooler temperatures.
Compression-resistant materials & waterproof membrane
Insulation works by trapping air. Compression of insulation materials when working with heavy objects can reduce warmth provided to the wearers’ hands due to the loss of trapped air. To counter this, compression-resistant materials like foam or rubber are strategically placed in areas such as fingertips and palms to maintain insulation. Compression-resistant materials also create a barrier of separation from contact with cold objects, further reducing heat loss.erproof gloves.”
Note: Finding the right balance between insulation and dexterity is crucial. While increased insulation provides greater warmth, it can compromise dexterity. For example, mitts retain heat more effectively as the fingers are closer together, sharing body warmth. However, you end up losing range of motion. This is why mitts are ideal for extremely cold temperatures where dexterity isn’t the primary focus, but staying warm is.
Cold-resistant gloves with a waterproof membrane (or impermeable liner) can also reduce the risk of cold related injuries as it prevents hands from getting wet that can exacerbate the risk of hypothermia. The waterproof membrane also acts as a wind barrier in cold conditions.
To learn more about how a waterproof membrane helps to keep hands dry and comfortable, checkout “Everything you need to about waterproof gloves.”
Safety standards and tests used to verify cold resistance in gloves
Superior Glove cold test
All our winter gloves are tested in a specialized laboratory cold chamber.
Cold protection on our products is represented by the following icon that clearly communicates the lowest temperature rating established by laboratory results:
Testing Method:
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- Gloves are placed on a metal hand form, wired with sensors, and heated internally to 98.6°F (35°C) to mimic the human hand
- Tiny pores on the metal hand simulates “sweating” to mimic what happens when a real hand is in a glove
- Meanwhile, the chamber replicates humidity, wind chill, and cold temperatures
- Data compiled from these elements allow us to provide a rating that indicates the lowest possible temperature protection a glove can comfortably provide
EN511 – European Standard Cold Test
EN 511 is the European test used to assess Thermal gloves offering protection against Cold hazards. The results are shown as numbers under the symbol EN511:2006.
A. Test for thermal insulation against convective cold.
This test indicates how well a glove insulates and maintains the hand temperature against the surrounding cold air.
A mannequin hand is heated to body temperature which is enclosed in a chamber with a fan that blows air over the glove set to 20ºC lower than the gloved hand, the power required to maintain the hand temperature is taken.
The higher the power requirement, the lower the glove’s thermal resistance, which is shown with a lower convective cold score—scored between 0 and 4.
B. Test for contact cold (conduction)
This test measures the thermal resistance of the glove—heat transfer when the glove is holding a cold object.
The test for contact cold places the glove material between two metal plates at different temperatures. The temperature drop is measured across the test glove material and used to calculate its thermal resistance between 0 and 4.
C. Test for water penetration
The glove is submerged in water for 30 minutes, if water passes through to the inside, it is considered a Fail, shown with 0. If, after 30 minutes, the water hasn’t penetrated to the inside, the glove will score a Pass, shown as 1.
QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE CHOOSING COLD PROTECTION
Cold is rarely a standalone hazard in many situations. In cooler environments, you not only have to choose the gloves that offer the best thermal protection for your workers but also protection from the other possible hazards like cut, impact, abrasion, and more.
Before deciding on cold-resistant gloves, ask a few questions to ensure the best option for the task.
01
How cold is it?
Check the cold rating and materials and choose the appropriate gloves for the temperature. If dexterity is not a concern, mitts might be a better option for extreme weathers to keep your hands warmer since your fingers are closer together, sharing body warmth.
02
Will your workers be exposed to sleet or snow?
Gloves with long or adjustable cuffs will ensure no snow gets inside the gloves or sleeves.
03
Are your workers likely to come in contact with water?
Wet skin experiences a 25% higher heat loss rate compared to dry skin. In that case, choose gloves that also offer water resistance.
04
Does the job require lifting heavy objects?
Working with heavy objects can compress the insulation, reducing the warmth it provides. In that case, choose safety gloves that have compression-resistant insulation.
05
What other hazards are present?
Your workers are likely to be exposed to other hazards like cut, impact, puncture, abrasion, etc., when working in cold conditions. Choose cold-resistant gloves with other appropriate mechanical protection to keep workers safe.
06
Do your workers require extra grip?
Cold-resistant gloves with latex, PVC, and silicone palm coatings retain their grip and flexibility in cold temperatures.
