ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 Explained: A North American Guide to Essential Performance Levels and Test Methods for Hand Protection

If you work in manufacturing, metal fabrication, glass handling, warehousing, food processing, recycling, or construction in the United States, you have probably seen glove ratings such as A5 or 3 used to describe cut, abrasion, and puncture protection. 

But what do those performance levels actually mean, and how should safety professionals interpret them when selecting gloves for real workplace hazards? 

ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 is the American hand and arm protection classification standard used to communicate tested performance for key glove properties, helping employers and end users compare products more consistently and select protection that fits the task. 

The 2024 edition keeps the familiar performance scales for cut, abrasion, and puncture resistance, while introducing a more standardized marking system for product labelling and updating referenced methods and conformity language. That makes it easier for buyers to compare gloves across brands and specifications. 

In this guide, we break down the essential ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 performance levels, the main test methods behind them, what the new pictogram means, and how to interpret the ratings when choosing gloves for your application. 

• Additional properties such as chemical permeation and other referenced performance criteria where applicable

It is important to understand that ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 is a classification standard. It tells you how a product performed in specific tests, but it does not by itself guarantee suitability for every task, hazard combination, or exposure condition. Selection still needs to be based on the actual job, materials handled, temperature, exposure time, and user requirements. 

You will typically see ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 mechanical ratings shown in a standardized badge or product marking that combines the glove’s cut, abrasion, and puncture classifications. 

Example: ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 – Cut A5 / Abrasion 4 / Puncture 3 

Each rating represents a separate tested performance category. 

Breaking Down ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 Essential Performance Levels 

1. Abrasion Resistance 

Abrasion resistance measures how well a glove material stands up to rubbing, scraping, and repeated surface wear. Under ANSI/ISEA 105-2024, abrasion performance is classified on a 0 to 6 scale based on the number of cycles the material can withstand before failure. 

Higher abrasion levels generally support longer wear in rough-contact environments. ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 references abrasion testing methods such as ASTM D3389 and ASTM D3884, with the result expressed as cycles to failure. 

2. Cut Resistance 

Cut resistance is the most widely referenced ANSI glove rating in the US market. It measures the force needed for a blade to cut through the material over a 20 mm blade travel, and the result is expressed on an A1 to A9 scale. 

ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 uses ASTM F2992 as the primary cut test method. Results are reported in grams of cutting load, then converted into the corresponding ANSI/ISEA-105 performance level. 

A higher A-level indicates that a greater force was required was required to be cut through the material during laboratory testing. In general, A1 to A3 are used for light cut hazards, A4 to A6 for medium to high hazards, and A7 to A9 for very demanding applications involving sharp metal, glass, or other severe cut risks. 

However, cut resistance should never be viewed in isolation. Grip, coating type, abrasion durability, puncture exposure, fit, and dexterity can all influence whether a glove is appropriate for the job. 

How the ANSI Cut Test Works In ASTM F2992 testing, a straight blade passes once across the material under controlled conditions using a specified cutting speed and travel distance. Multiple cuts are performed using varying loads until the force required to achieve cut-through over a 20 mm reference distance is determined. The cutting force is then measured in grams and classified into the corresponding ANSI/ISEA 105 performance level.

Other considerations: 

• Results are expressed in grams and classified as A1-A9 

• The method is designed to support more consistent comparison across modern cut-resistant materials and provides improved accuracy when assessing higher cut resistance performance levels. 

Because the result is tied to cutting load, US safety teams can more easily compare glove specifications across suppliers and product families. 

That said, the right glove is still the one that balances protection with comfort and task performance. 

3. Non-Needlestick Puncture Resistance 

How Puncture Resistance Is Tested 

ANSI puncture resistance is generally determined using a stylus-type puncture test. A minimum of 12 specimens are tested, and the force required to puncture the material is measured in newtons (N). The results are then used to assign the corresponding ANSI/ISEA 105 puncture resistance performance level. 

Just as important, this is not a hypodermic needle test. A high ANSI puncture score does not mean the glove will protect against syringes, fine-gauge sharps, or every pointed hazard. 

What Changed in the 2024 Edition?  

One of the biggest practical changes is standardized product marking for cut, abrasion, and puncture resistance. Instead of brand-specific graphics, manufacturers can now use a more consistent badge format that helps users compare products faster. 

Understanding the New ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 Labelling 

On products, packaging, or technical literature, users may see a single marking that shows the glove’s cut level, abrasion level, and puncture level together. 

If an X appears in one of those positions, it generally indicates that the product was not tested to that classification or the classification is not claimed. 

The 2024 edition also emphasizes demonstrating conformity to claimed classifications, with reference to ANSI/ISEA 125-2021 for conformity assessment approaches. 

How to Choose the Right ANSI Levels 

When selecting gloves for the US market, start with the actual hazard: what is being handled, how sharp it is, how much force is involved, how often contact occurs, whether heat is present, and how much dexterity the worker needs. 

• Use cut level as a starting point, not the only decision factor 

• Match abrasion level to expected wear and surface contact 

• Check puncture performance if pointed materials or rough scrap are present 

• Consider conductive heat classification where hot parts or surfaces are involved 

• Verify grip, coating, fit, comfort, and user acceptance before standardizing a glove 

Download our handy cheat sheet below so you can always refer back to it whenever you need a reminder of these key performance indicators.

Quick ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 Example Explained 

ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 – Cut A5 / Abrasion 4 / Puncture 3 

This combination could be a reasonable starting point for applications such as metal handling, stamped parts, appliance manufacturing, or glass-adjacent tasks, depending on the exact hazards, grip needs, and exposure conditions. 

To improve your workplace hand protection, choosing gloves that meet ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 standards is key. Explore our high cut-resistant gloves and learn how we can support your team in staying safe and compliant.