EN 511 sets the requirements for gloves protecting against convective and contact cold down to −50 °C. It covers both climatic cold and contact with cold objects.
The three positions
| Position | Test | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Convective cold — thermal insulation in cold air | 0–4 |
| 2 | Contact cold — thermal resistance against a cold surface | 0–4 |
| 3 | Water penetration — 0 lets water through, 1 resists for 30 minutes | 0 ან 1 |
Why the third digit matters most
A wet glove loses most of its insulation — water conducts heat far better than air. In wet conditions (cold stores, fishing, outdoor work in rain) a third digit of 1 is effectively mandatory, even if the first two figures are lower.
A practical note: a very thick glove destroys dexterity and gets taken off — which raises the frostbite risk rather than lowering it. A thinner, well-insulated glove often beats a bulky one you cannot work in.
