“Chemical resistant” on a glove is a claim about specific chemicals, not a property of the glove. CCOHS puts it plainly: no glove material remains impervious to a chemical forever, and no one glove material is resistant to all chemicals. This guide explains what the EN 374 marking certifies, reads the chemical codes printed on the Ronco gloves in ERE’s hand protection collection exactly as each product record states them, and shows which chemicals those codes leave unanswered.
In this guide
- What Does “Chemical Resistant” Actually Mean on a Glove?
- How Do Permeation, Breakthrough Time, Penetration and Degradation Differ?
- What Do EN 374 Type A, B and C Certify?
- Which EN 374 Codes Do ERE’s Chemical Gloves Print?
- Which Chemicals Do Those Codes Leave Unanswered?
- Nitrile, Neoprene, PVC or Latex: What Do ERE’s Records Say Each Is For?
- Are Disposable Nitrile Gloves Chemical Resistant?
- How Do You Choose Chemical Resistant Gloves, Step by Step?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Does “Chemical Resistant” Actually Mean on a Glove?
It means the maker claims resistance to some chemicals under some test conditions, and nothing more. CCOHS calls the safety data sheet phrase “wear impervious gloves” of very limited value and technically inaccurate (CCOHS, Chemical Protective Clothing – Glove Selection).
Three different things can sit behind the words on a Ronco product page: a rating word such as “High” or “Moderate” in the feature list, a list of chemical families in the description, or an EN 374 marking with letters. Only the last is a standardized test result. The first two are the maker’s own wording, and this guide reports them as written.
How Do Permeation, Breakthrough Time, Penetration and Degradation Differ?
They are four different ways a glove fails, and a chemical chart usually reports the first two. CCOHS defines them as follows (CCOHS, Chemical Protective Clothing – Glove Selection).
- Permeation: the chemical diffuses through intact material, measured as a rate; the higher the rate, the faster it moves.
- Breakthrough time: how long a chemical takes to permeate completely through the material, detected on the inside surface.
- Penetration: the chemical leaks through seams, pinholes or other imperfections.
- Degradation: physical deterioration on contact, where the material may harden, stiffen, turn brittle, soften, weaken, swell or dissolve.
CCOHS adds that the contact period, meaning how long the worker could touch the chemical, influences the type and thickness of the material and the choice of lined or unlined gloves. That is why a single “mil” figure never settles the question.
What Do EN 374 Type A, B and C Certify?
They certify permeation performance against a fixed list of 18 chemicals. Six performance levels exist, set by measured breakthrough time, and the Type depends on how many listed chemicals reach which level (EN ISO 374-1:2016 + A1:2018) (SATRA).
| Measured breakthrough time | Permeation performance level |
|---|---|
| > 10 min | 1 |
| > 30 min | 2 |
| > 60 min | 3 |
| > 120 min | 4 |
| > 240 min | 5 |
| > 480 min | 6 |
- Type A: level 2 or greater against at least six of the listed chemicals.
- Type B: level 2 or greater against at least three of the listed chemicals.
- Type C: at least level 1 against at least one of the listed chemicals.
The 18 chemicals and their code letters, as SATRA lists them:
| Letter | Chemical | Letter | Chemical |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Methanol | K | 40% sodium hydroxide |
| B | Acetone | L | 96% sulphuric acid |
| C | Acetonitrile | M | 65% nitric acid |
| D | Dichloromethane | N | 99% acetic acid |
| E | Carbon disulphide | O | 25% ammonium hydroxide |
| F | Toluene | P | 30% hydrogen peroxide |
| G | Diethylamine | S | 40% hydrofluoric acid |
| H | Tetrahydrofuran | T | 37% formaldehyde |
| I | Ethyl acetate | J | n-heptane |
Two related marks are easy to confuse with these. Gloves claiming protection against micro-organisms must carry a pictogram referencing EN ISO 374-5 (with the word VIRUS only if virus protection is claimed), and that mark says nothing about chemical permeation (SATRA). Other chemicals and mixtures can be tested to EN 16523-1, with the breakthrough times given in the user instructions.
Which EN 374 Codes Do ERE’s Chemical Gloves Print?
Five ERE glove records print chemical letters, and the rest print none. The table reads each record’s own wording; the “what the letters name” column is our decoding of those letters against the SATRA list above.
| Glove (ERE record) | Construction | Marking as the record prints it | What the letters name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Integra Plus 79-455 | PVC/NBR copolymer triple-dip, cashmere fleece liner, 300 mm gauntlet, cold rated to −30°C | EN 374: AJKL; EN 388: 4121 | Methanol, n-heptane, 40% sodium hydroxide, 96% sulphuric acid |
| Integra 77-325 | Triple-dipped PVC, cotton interlock liner, 12 in. gauntlet | EN 374-1:2016 Type B (AJKL); EN 388 4121X | Methanol, n-heptane, 40% sodium hydroxide, 96% sulphuric acid |
| Integra 77-395 | Triple-dipped PVC, 28 in. overall with 19 in. forearm protection, cotton interlock liner | EN 374-1-2016 Type B (JKL-10) | n-heptane, 40% sodium hydroxide, 96% sulphuric acid (the record does not explain the “-10”) |
| Sol-Fit 29-953/958 | Unlined nitrile, 22 mil; 15 in. (29-953) and 18 in. (29-958) | EN 374-1:2016 AJKLNO / AJKLOP | Six letters each: methanol, n-heptane, sodium hydroxide, sulphuric acid, plus acetic acid and ammonium hydroxide (AJKLNO) or ammonium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide (AJKLOP) |
| Canners | Natural latex, 16 mil, unlined, 12 in. | EN 374-1 (KLN); EN 388 (1011X) | 40% sodium hydroxide, 96% sulphuric acid, 99% acetic acid |
By the SATRA definitions, four letters is enough for Type B, and six letters is the count Type A requires, which is our reading and not a claim printed on the Sol-Fit record. The records print letters but not the level reached for each one, so ask for the breakthrough times before you rely on a letter. Two other records print an EN 374 reference without letters: Neo-Fit 16-263 prints “EN 374-1 Type B”, and Sol-Fit 29-513/913 prints “EN 374-1:2016”.
Which Chemicals Do Those Codes Leave Unanswered?
Eleven of the 18 test chemicals appear on no ERE glove record. The letters that do appear anywhere are A, J, K, L, N, O and P.
Not printed on any record: acetone (B), acetonitrile (C), dichloromethane (D), carbon disulphide (E), toluene (F), diethylamine (G), tetrahydrofuran (H), ethyl acetate (I), 65% nitric acid (M), 40% hydrofluoric acid (S) and 37% formaldehyde (T). That does not show these gloves fail against them. It shows that ERE’s records offer no tested result for them, so a buyer handling any of those needs the maker’s permeation data before choosing, not the word “chemical” on the page.
Nitrile, Neoprene, PVC or Latex: What Do ERE’s Records Say Each Is For?
They say different things, and the wording is the maker’s, not a test. The table lists the reusable gloves with the thickness, length and chemical wording each record gives.
| Glove | Material and lining | Thickness / length | Chemical wording on the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household Gloves | Latex, flock-lined | 14 mil, 12 in. | “Chemical / Solvent Resistance – Moderate” |
| Dura-Fit | Latex, unsupported, flock-lined | 18 mil (orange, 13 in.) or 20 mil (yellow, 12 in.) | “Moderate”; “good resistance to a variety of chemicals” |
| Canners | Natural latex, unlined | 16 mil, 12 in. | Feature list: “Moderate”; description: “a high resistance to a variety of chemicals” |
| Neolex 56-562 | Neoprene over latex, flock-lined | 21 mil, 13 in. | “High”; hydraulic fluids, gasoline, alcohols, organic acids and alkalis |
| Neo-Fit 16-263 | Neoprene, flock-lined | 28 mil, 12 in. | “High”; hydraulic fluids, gasoline, alcohols, organic acids, alkalis and agricultural chemicals |
| Sol-Fit 29-513/913 | Nitrile, unlined | 11 mil, 12 in. (blue) or 13 in. (green) | Detergents, solvents, oils, fuels, alcohols, acids or fats |
| Sol-Fit 29-953/958 | Nitrile, unlined | 22 mil, 15 in. or 18 in. | Same Sol-Fit wording |
| Integra 77-225 | Double-dipped PVC, cotton interlock | 12 in. gauntlet | “High”; oils, grease and solvents |
| Integra Plus 79-325 | Triple-dipped PVC/NBR, cotton interlock | 12 in. gauntlet | Oils, greases, solvents, acids and a variety of other chemicals |
| Integra Plus 79-532 | Double-dipped PVC/nitrile blend on cotton interlock, rubberized safety cuff | Safety cuff | Resistance to petrochemicals, punctures and abrasions; EN 388:2016 (3x21x) |
| Integra 77-035 | Fully coated foam PVC, cotton interlock, knitwrist | Knitwrist | Oily or greasy parts, detergents or light chemical concentrations |
Read the table for what it is: three latex records say “Moderate” and the neoprene and one PVC record say “High”, but no record ties a rating word to a named chemical or a breakthrough time. Thickness does not rank the gloves either: the 28 mil Neo-Fit and the 11 mil Sol-Fit are different materials, so the mil figure alone cannot compare them. The material families themselves behave differently against specific chemicals, which is exactly what the maker’s permeation chart for your chemical settles.
Cuff length is a separate decision from material. Most records above are 12 in. gauntlets; the Sol-Fit 29-958 is 18 in., and the Integra 77-395 runs 28 in. overall with 19 in. of forearm protection for work above the wrist.
Are Disposable Nitrile Gloves Chemical Resistant?
Only as far as the record states, and the records state little. ERE’s disposable Ronco nitrile gloves print no EN 374-1 letters and no breakthrough times, so nothing printed on them supports immersion or long contact. CCOHS lists whether gloves are disposed of after use among the factors to weigh (CCOHS, Chemical Protective Clothing – Glove Selection).
- BluRite Plus: 4 mil, accelerator-free, powder-free, “chemo tested”; the record says it resists a wide variety of chemicals and asks you to contact ERE for more information.
- BluRite EC: 4 mil with a 12 in. extended cuff; feature list says “Chemical / Solvent Resistance – Moderate”.
- BluRite 6 EC: 6 mil, 12 in. extended cuff, exam grade; the record says it is tested against chemotherapy drugs and fentanyl.
- Riva 8EC: 8 mil, extended cuff, AQL 0.65; the feature list says reliable protection against a wide range of chemicals.
Those are the makers’ statements. Without letters or times, treat a disposable as protection against incidental contact, change it when it touches the chemical, and move to a reusable glove with printed data for anything longer. The hand protection range also includes the cut and heat sides of the same decision: see Cut Resistant Gloves: How to Read the Ratings and Choose a Cut Level in Canada and Heat Resistant Gloves: How to Read the Temperature and Level Claims in Canada.
How Do You Choose Chemical Resistant Gloves, Step by Step?
- List every chemical, with concentration. Section 8 of the safety data sheet covers exposure controls and personal protection (CCOHS, WHMIS – Safety Data Sheet); note the hazards beyond chemistry too, such as abrasion, tearing, puncture and temperature.
- Define the contact. Splash, repeated wipe-down or immersion, and for how long; CCOHS says the contact period influences material type, thickness and whether the glove is lined.
- Get the permeation data for your chemical from the maker. A breakthrough time for your chemical and material outranks any rating word or thickness.
- Check the EN 374-1 letters. Confirm your chemicals appear among the printed letters and that the Type (A, B or C) matches your risk; a chemical missing from the letters is untested on the label.
- Pick liner, cuff length, grip and size. Flock-lined or unlined, 12 in. gauntlet or forearm-length, dry or oily surfaces, and a trial pair before you buy by the bag.
- Set a replacement rule, then request a quote. Decide when gloves are discarded or decontaminated, train the crew on the glove’s limits, then ask ERE for availability and pack sizes.
Need help matching a glove to your chemicals?
ERE Inc. has been Canada’s environmental equipment specialist for 30+ years. Send us the chemicals, concentrations and contact time, and we will shortlist Ronco gloves by what each product record states and request the maker’s permeation data for you.
→ Request a Quote | 1-888-287-EREC | Browse Hand Protection | sales@ereinc.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Can chemicals go through nitrile gloves?
Yes. CCOHS states that no glove material remains impervious to a specific chemical forever, and that no one material is resistant to all chemicals. Permeation is a chemical moving through intact material, so a nitrile glove without pinholes can still be passed through; the breakthrough time for your chemical tells you how long you have.
Do nitrile gloves protect against all chemicals?
No. ERE’s Sol-Fit records name detergents, solvents, oils, fuels, alcohols, acids and fats, and the 29-953/958 prints EN 374-1 letters AJKLNO / AJKLOP; none of the ERE nitrile records prints acetone, toluene or dichloromethane results.
What is the difference between EN 374 Type A, B and C?
Type A means level 2 (over 30 minutes) or better against at least six of the 18 listed chemicals, Type B against at least three, and Type C level 1 (over 10 minutes) against at least one, per SATRA’s summary of EN ISO 374-1:2016 + A1:2018.
Are neoprene gloves better than nitrile gloves for chemicals?
Neither is better in general. ERE’s Neolex and Neo-Fit records name hydraulic fluids, gasoline, alcohols, organic acids and alkalis, while the Sol-Fit nitrile records name detergents, solvents, oils, fuels, alcohols, acids and fats. Compare the permeation data for your chemical rather than the material name.
How do I get the chemical resistance data for a Ronco glove?
Ask ERE. The product records print letters and rating words but not breakthrough times, so we request the maker’s data for the chemicals you name and quote the gloves that it supports.
Lire en français : Gants résistants aux produits chimiques : comment lire les codes EN 374 et choisir au Canada