Last reviewed: 10 September 2026
In safety equipment most of the price difference comes not from the brand but from the class. Of two gloves that look alike, one may score 1 for cut resistance under EN 388 and the other 5; both are "work gloves" but they do not do the same job. This guide explains the codes you should state when ordering. Writing the right code brings both the right product and a comparable price.
The EN numbers you meet most often
- EN 397 — industrial safety helmets: defines impact and penetration resistance.
- EN 166 — personal eye protection: the base standard for spectacles and visors.
- EN 388 — gloves against mechanical risks: separate scores for abrasion, cut, tear and puncture.
- EN ISO 20345 — safety footwear: toe protection is mandatory; classes such as S1, S2 and S3 add further properties.
- EN ISO 20471 — high-visibility clothing: classes 1, 2 and 3 by the amount of fluorescent and reflective material.
- EN 149 — filtering half masks: FFP1, FFP2 and FFP3 protection levels.
The four digits on a glove
The EN 388 mark carries a hammer pictogram with digits beside it. The order is fixed: abrasion, cut, tear, puncture. Higher digits mean higher resistance, so a glove marked "4543" scored 4 for abrasion, 5 for cut, 4 for tear and 3 for puncture. Writing the required scores instead of "work gloves" brings both the right product and comparable quotes.
What S1, S2 and S3 mean on footwear
All of them include toe protection; the difference is in what is added. S1 offers antistatic properties and energy absorption at the heel, for indoor use. S2 adds resistance to water penetration on the upper. S3 brings penetration resistance in the sole and a cleated outsole; because site ground carries nails and rubble, S3 is what is usually specified for field work. Buying the wrong class does not make the boot useless, but it will not meet the protection expected of it.
CE categories: I, II and III
Personal protective equipment falls into three categories by risk level. Category I covers simple risks and the manufacturer’s own declaration is enough. Category II is intermediate risk; a notified body examines the product. Category III covers fatal or irreversible risks — respiratory protection, work at height, chemicals — and there the production process itself is under continuing surveillance. If a supplier offers only their own declaration for a Category III product, treat it as a warning sign.
What to state when ordering
- The standard number and the class or score required: "EN ISO 20345 S3" or "EN 388 4543".
- Size breakdown: quantity per size, not just a total.
- Colour and any corporate printing; printing lengthens the production time.
- Any destination requirement: some markets ask for their own conformity certificate.
- The working environment: state it if there is heat, water, chemical or electrical risk — the class follows from that.