EN 16350 sets the requirements for the electrostatic properties of protective gloves. It exists to address a specific problem: in an explosive atmosphere (ATEX) the static charge accumulated on a glove can be enough to ignite flammable vapour or dust.
The requirement
The vertical resistance of the glove must be below 1.0 × 10⁸ ohms, measured at 23 °C and 25% relative humidity. That low humidity is what makes the test demanding — static builds far more readily in dry air.
A critical condition
An antistatic glove only works if the charge has somewhere to go. That means the wearer also needs antistatic footwear (the A marking in EN ISO 20345) and a conductive floor. Missing one element breaks the whole chain.
Note that EN 16350 is not an electrical insulation standard — the opposite. It requires the glove to conduct. Protection against electric shock is covered by a quite different standard (EN 60903).