Hand protection against electrical hazards is a very broad concept. In practice, two completely different types of protective gloves are often confused:
- antistatic gloves (ESD) and
- electrically insulating (dielectric) gloves.
Although both product groups are related to protection against the effects of electricity, their application, construction and standards are diametrically different. In this article, we explain how they differ, when they are required and how to avoid mistakes when selecting them.
1. Antistatic gloves (ESD)
Use:
- Working in areas at risk of electrostatic discharge,
- Electronics production and assembly (e.g. PCBs, integrated circuits),
- Precision industry, laboratories, automotive.
Protection purpose:
- Protecting electronic devices from damage caused by electrostatic discharge (ESD).
- The gloves do not protect the user from electric shock – they are not electrically insulating gloves!
Characteristics:
- Made of conductive materials (with a touch of carbon fiber),
- They conduct charges from the body to ground,
- Low resistance – typically below 10⁸ Ω,
- Often thin, fitted, providing precision.
Standard:
- EN 16350 – concerns the antistatic properties of clothing and gloves.
2. Electrically insulating (dielectric) gloves
Use:
- Working under voltage or in its immediate vicinity,
- Energy, installation, technical services, work on transformer stations.
Protection purpose:
- Protecting the user from electric shock,
- Isolating the hand and forearm from the power source.
Characteristics:
- Thick, flexible, made of natural or synthetic latex,
- Tested for breakdown voltage,
- Often require the use of outer leather gloves (mechanical protection).
Standard:
- EN 60903 (IEC 60903) – the basic standard for electrically insulating gloves
- Gloves are classified according to their maximum working voltage.