Understanding Cut Rating
What is a Cut Rating?
A cut rating is the measurement, by grams of pressure, a razor blade needs to cut through a fabric swatch to a depth of 0.8” (20mm). The gram scores tell how many grams of pressure the gloves withstood before being cut.In 2016, American National Standards Institute and International Safety Equipment Association (ANSI and ISEA), due to fabric innovations and manufacturing developments, conducted extensive tests and updated their already world-class safety standards for work gloves based on the work challenges listed:
- Cut Resistance
- Puncture Resistance
- Hypodermic Needle Puncture Resistance
- Abrasion Resistance
- Chemical Permeation Resistance
- Chemical Degradation Resistance
- Chemical Degradation Resistance
- Ignition (Flame) Resistance
- Heat Degradation Resistance
- Conductive Heat Resistance
- Vibration Reduction
- Dexterity
Two significant updates added were resistance from hypodermic needle punctures and more rigorous cut resistance standards. Cut resistance, or cut ratings, were increased from five to nine levels.
Cut Level 1 (A1)
200 – 499 GRAMS: Light to medium duty. Use for assembly, maintenance, and repair, material handling, warehouse shipping and receiving.
Popular ANSI Cut Level 1
Cut Level 1 (A2)
500 – 999 GRAMS: Light to medium duty.For automotive, construction, maintenance, assembly, repair, material, and metal handling.
Popular ANSI Cut Level 2
Cut Level 3 (A3)
1,000 – 1,499 GRAMS: Medium to heavy duty. For automotive, construction, maintenance, assembly, and repair, material, and metal handling.
Popular ANSI Cut Level 3
Cut Level 4 (A4)
1,500 – 2,199 GRAMS: Medium duty.Use for assembly, automotive, construction, glass fixture installation, material, and metal handling.