Two boxes of nitrile gloves can look alike and still be documented for different tasks. EN 455 concerns disposable medical gloves. The EN ISO 374 series concerns protection against dangerous chemicals and microorganisms. A reference to one series therefore does not automatically indicate that the requirements in the other have been met.
When purchasing, the task is to link the needs of the workplace to the documentation for the exact item number. Color, gram weight and words like “strong” cannot replace that check.
What is the difference between EN 455 and EN ISO 374?
| Standard | What should you check? |
|---|---|
| EN 455 series | Documentation for disposable medical gloves, including tightness, physical properties, biological assessment and durability. |
| EN ISO 374-1 | Documentation on chemical risks. See also the specific chemicals and test results. |
| EN ISO 374-5 | Documentation on microorganisms. Check the specific labeling and the protection area specified by the manufacturer. |
The overview shows the different purposes of the standards. It is not a statement that a particular glove fulfills them all. The Danish Standard describes EN 455 as a basis for purchasing medical gloves; ISO describes chemicals and microorganisms in each part of the 374 series. See the sources below.
A standard reference is not a universal chemical guarantee
A glove marked with EN ISO 374 is therefore not suitable for all cleaning agents, oils or solvents. Ask for the manufacturer's data for the particular chemical or mixture used by the employee, in the relevant concentration.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration refers to point 8 of the safety data sheet for information on protective equipment, including glove material, thickness and breakthrough time. Compare the information with the glove's own documentation and the actual working method. A general choice of material such as "nitrile" is not a complete requirement specification.
For cleaning work, you can also use our guide for nitrile gloves for cleaning, which is based on the work assignment.
Five information that should accompany the offer
- Unambiguous model: Manufacturer, product name and item number must correspond to the box, the data sheet and the item offered.
- Intended use: Which tasks the product is intended for and which limitations describe the manufacturer?
- Documentation basis: Ask for relevant declaration of conformity, instructions for use and standard references with part numbers and editions.
- Test data for special risks: Get the relevant results for chemicals or other exposures. Do not substitute another model from the same manufacturer.
- Practical Use: Check sizes, fit, storage, durability and replacement instructions.
This is a shopping checklist. It does not replace the workplace's risk assessment or the separate requirements that apply to the specific application.
How to compare two offers
Create one line per item number in the comparison. Write work task, documentation reference, size, number of gloves per box and price per glove. Mark missing documents as unresolved rather than assuming that two products with the same material are equally suitable.
An offer can only be meaningfully compared on price when both products match the need. If the documentation is missing, it should be clarified before the product is approved for the task.
See Nordic Safety's nitrile gloves or compare types of disposable gloves. If you need documentation for a specific item number, you can contact us with product name and use.
Sources and professional basis
- Danish Standard: selection and purchase of medical gloves.
- Danish Standard: overview of, among other things, the EN 455 series parts.
- ISO: the purpose of ISO 374-1 and ISO 374-5. The ISO overviews document the subject matter of the standards; check the EN edition to which the product's documentation refers.
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration: chemistry, protective equipment and the safety data sheet point 8.
See the nitrile range: nitrile gloves 5 g – 100 pcs. or all nitrile gloves. Documentation requirements must be assessed on the specific variant.
Professional sources checked 10 October 2026.
