A heat-resistant glove’s label can make three different claims: a temperature (“up to 450°F”), a level on the ANSI/ISEA 105 conductive-heat scale, or the levels of an EN 407 pictogram. They are separate tests, and “level 4” means contact up to 260°C on the first scale and 500°C on the second. This guide decodes both, then reads the heat figures on the Ronco gloves in ERE’s hand protection collection exactly as each product record states them, so you know which question to ask before you order.
In this guide
- What Does a Heat-Resistant Glove Label Actually Claim?
- Why Is “Level 4” 260°C on One Scale and 500°C on Another?
- What Do the Temperatures on ERE’s Thermo-Guard Mitts Mean?
- What Do ERE’s Welding-Glove Records Say About Heat?
- Are “Thermal” Gloves Heat-Resistant Gloves?
- What Else Decides Whether a Hot Part Burns Through a Glove?
- How Do You Choose a Heat-Resistant Glove, Step by Step?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Does a Heat-Resistant Glove Label Actually Claim?
It claims whichever of three things the maker chose to test and print, and none of them substitutes for another. A plain temperature is the maker’s stated limit. A level on ANSI/ISEA 105 comes from its conductive-heat test. EN 407 pictogram levels come from up to six separate thermal tests.
ISEA says the 2024 edition of ANSI/ISEA 105 addresses heat by classifying gloves on “ignition resistance, burning behavior, heat degradation, and conductive heat resistance” (ISEA, 5 Facts About ANSI/ISEA 105-2024). EN 407:2020 specifies six thermal properties, each with four performance levels: limited flame spread, contact heat, convective heat, radiant heat, small splashes of molten metal and large quantities of molten metal (SATRA).
An EN 407 label shows the level of each property in that order under a pictogram, with an X where a property was not claimed. The flame version of the pictogram means the maker claims at least level 1 for limited flame spread; the hot-contact version means it does not claim flame spread at all.
Why Is “Level 4” 260°C on One Scale and 500°C on Another?
Because the two standards define their levels differently. On ANSI/ISEA 105-2024’s conductive-heat scale, level 4 is contact up to 260°C (500°F). On EN 407:2020’s contact-heat scale, level 4 is a 500°C (932°F) test plate. Side by side:
| Level | EN 407:2020 contact heat (test plate, threshold time ≥ 15 s) | ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 conductive heat (ASTM F1060, contact temperature) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100°C (212°F) | up to 80°C (176°F) |
| 2 | 250°C (482°F) | up to 140°C (284°F) |
| 3 | 350°C (662°F) | up to 200°C (392°F) |
| 4 | 500°C (932°F) | up to 260°C (500°F) |
| 5 | — | up to 320°C (608°F) |
How each one passes also differs. EN 407 presses a heated metal cylinder (100, 250, 350 or 500°C) onto the material and times how long a sensor underneath takes to rise 10°C; the glove earns the level if that “threshold time” is at least 15 seconds (SATRA). The ANSI/ISEA route uses ASTM F1060 and classifies on at least 15 seconds to a second-degree burn with at least 4 seconds of alarm time between pain and burn (MCR Safety; Tilsatec). ASTM describes F1060 as measuring the thermal protective properties of materials “when contact is made with hot surfaces during a limited exposure up to 1 min” (ASTM F1060).
Two rules change how you read an EN 407 label. Levels 3 or 4 on any thermal property need at least level 3 on the limited flame spread test; without it, the highest level that can be reported is 2. And EN 407 does not apply to gloves for welders or firefighters, which have their own performance standards (SATRA).
The ANSI/ISEA temperatures above are as summarised by glove maker MCR Safety for the 2024 edition, because the standard itself is paywalled; Tilsatec’s technical note gives the same five-level structure with a top end above 320°C (608°F). Check which edition of ANSI/ISEA 105 a label refers to before comparing levels.
What Do the Temperatures on ERE’s Thermo-Guard Mitts Mean?
They are the maker’s stated limits, not graded levels. None of the five Thermo-Guard records cites a test method or a level, and the figures do not rise with fabric weight.
| Model | Construction (per the ERE record) | Heat figure as the record words it | Same figure in °C / °F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thermo-Guard 66-084 | 30 oz cotton terry, gauntlet cuff, light-to-medium-duty tasks | “Expected heat protection up to 100°C / 212°F” | 100°C (212°F) |
| Thermo-Guard 66-024-00 | 32 oz cotton terry, 17 in, ambidextrous | “Heat protection to 450°F” | 232°C (450°F) |
| Thermo-Guard 66-046-00 | 32 oz cotton terry, 14 in, gauntlet cuff, CFIA Bakers certificate on the record | “Heat protection up to 460°F” | 238°C (460°F) |
| Thermo-Guard 66-380-00 | 45 oz cotton terry, 18 in, Kevlar thumb patch, washable | “Heat protection up to 450 F” | 232°C (450°F) |
| Thermo-Guard 66-239 | silicone palm coating, polyester/cotton liner, extended cuff, size Large | “Expected Heat protection up to 250°C / 482°F” | 250°C (482°F) |
What the numbers say (our arithmetic from the records, not a manufacturer statement):
- The 32-oz 66-024-00 and the 45-oz 66-380-00 both state 450°F, while the 32-oz 66-046-00 states 460°F. The heavier mitt has about 41% more fabric weight and the same stated limit.
- 450°F is 232°C, below the 250°C (482°F) plate of EN 407’s contact-heat level 2, so it cannot be read as an EN 407 level. The 66-239’s 250°C (482°F) equals that plate temperature and the 66-084’s 100°C (212°F) equals level 1’s, but neither record says EN 407 was the method. Only a test report can say.
- The records for the 66-024-00 and 66-380-00 say the mitt is CFIA accepted “for use in bakeries and any food or industrial application where there is intermittent handling of hot surfaces.” ASTM F1060’s scope is contact during a limited exposure up to 1 minute. Both point the same way: short, intermittent contact, not holding a hot part.
What Do ERE’s Welding-Glove Records Say About Heat?
None of the three states a temperature, and only one states a level. That level is tied to the back of the hand, not the palm.
- Wrangler’s 75-282: grain leather MIG welder glove with an aramid liner and a 6-inch gauntlet cuff. The record lists ANSI/ISEA 105 Cut Level A5 and Conductive Heat Level 4 as separate entries, and says the fleece-lined back of the hand provides the Heat Level 4. On the 2024 scale above, level 4 is contact up to 260°C (500°F).
- Wrangler’s 75-251: cow grain leather glove sold for TIG welding and material handling, 4.5-inch gauntlet cuff “for extended heat resistant protection” and Twaron stitching. No temperature or level.
- Wrangler’s 75-450-10: split cowhide with a jersey insulated liner, “fully lined for added heat protection”, a one-piece back that “prevents exposed seams to sparks” and Twaron stitching. No temperature or level.
Two questions follow. First, which area did “Level 4” measure? EN 407’s contact-heat test evaluates the palm region plus any area of different construction that is meant to meet contact heat (SATRA), so a level earned by the back-of-hand lining says little about the palm you grip a hot part with. Second, molten metal is a separate hazard: EN 407 rates small splashes by the number of droplets (10, 15, 25 or 35 for levels 1 to 4) and large quantities by grams of molten iron (30, 60, 120 or 200), and the standard itself excludes welders’ gloves. A contact-heat level does not answer either one, so ask the maker which standard a welder glove was tested to.
Are “Thermal” Gloves Heat-Resistant Gloves?
No. ERE’s records describe the Ronco Thermal 77-600 and Iceberg 77-603 as gloves “ideal for applications under sub-zero conditions, including cold storage food facilities and cold season work”: a 7-gauge acrylic liner on the 77-600 and a double-layer shell with a latex coating on the 77-603. Neither record states a heat rating. On these two Ronco names “thermal” means insulation against cold, so read the description, not the name.
What Else Decides Whether a Hot Part Burns Through a Glove?
Contact conditions, not just the number on the label. SATRA lists the factors: heat moving through a glove depends on surface area, the actual temperature of the object, the conductivity and heat capacity of glove and object, and the contact pressure. Its example: a 70 to 80°C coffee cup can raise a blister because it is held under pressure, while a grinder spark of 1,000°C or more is barely noticed because it is tiny and touches lightly (SATRA).
What the ERE records let you compare beyond the temperature:
- Length and cuff. Overall length 18 in (66-380-00), 17 in (66-024-00) and 14 in (66-046-00); gauntlet cuff 6 in (75-282) and 4.5 in (75-251).
- Food contact and washing. The 66-024-00 and 66-380-00 records say “compliant for contact with food”; the 66-046-00 record lists a CFIA Bakers certificate and washable construction; the 66-380-00 is washable.
- Grip and wear points. A silicone palm on the 66-239 and a Kevlar thumb patch on the 66-380-00.
- Sizing. The terry mitts are one size; the 66-239 is listed in Large; the 75-282 comes in small to X-large and the 75-251 in large and X-large.
A glove is also the last line of defence, not the first: CCOHS says workplaces should “follow the hierarchy of controls when addressing hazards” (CCOHS). If a hot part can be moved with tongs or a fixture, do that first.
How Do You Choose a Heat-Resistant Glove, Step by Step?
- Name the hot object and the contact. Write down the surface temperature and whether the hand touches it briefly or holds it; ASTM F1060 covers contact of up to 1 minute.
- Ask which scale the label speaks. Request the EN 407 pictogram levels or the ANSI/ISEA 105 conductive-heat level, and the test report if all you have is a plain temperature.
- Match the level to your temperature with margin, on the right scale. Level 4 is 260°C on ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 and 500°C on EN 407:2020, so never compare the bare number.
- Ask which part of the glove was tested. Palm, back of hand and cuff can carry different ratings; the palm is what touches the hot part.
- Add the other hazards. Flame, molten metal, cut, puncture and abrasion each have their own rating and none is implied by a heat level.
- Check fit, cuff and use rules, trial a pair, then request a quote. Confirm cuff length, food-contact or washing needs and sizes, then ask ERE for availability and lead time on the models that pass the trial.
Heat is one hazard on a glove label; cut is another. For the cut side, see Cut Resistant Gloves: How to Read the Ratings and Choose a Cut Level in Canada.
Need help matching a heat rating to your process?
ERE Inc. has been Canada’s environmental equipment specialist for 30+ years. Tell us the surface temperature, the contact time and the task, and we will shortlist Ronco gloves by what each product record states.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum temperature a heat-resistant glove can handle?
There is no single answer, because each scale tops out differently and only for limited contact. EN 407:2020 contact heat reaches level 4 at a 500°C (932°F) test plate; ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 conductive heat reaches level 5 at contact up to 320°C (608°F), as summarised by MCR Safety; and ERE’s Thermo-Guard records state 100°C (212°F) to 250°C (482°F). Do not compare the figures across scales.
Is ANSI/ISEA heat level 4 the same as EN 407 level 4?
No. On ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 conductive heat, level 4 is contact up to 260°C (500°F). On EN 407:2020 contact heat, level 4 is a 500°C (932°F) test plate. ERE’s Wrangler’s 75-282 record lists ANSI/ISEA 105 Conductive Heat Level 4.
Are oven mitts the same as industrial heat-resistant gloves?
The construction can be similar. ERE’s Thermo-Guard 66-024-00 and 66-380-00 are cotton terry oven mitts, and their records say CFIA accepted for bakeries and any food or industrial application with intermittent handling of hot surfaces. What differs is the stated limit, the contact time and the intended use, so read the record.
Can a welding glove be used to handle hot parts?
Not automatically. ERE’s Wrangler’s 75-282, 75-251 and 75-450-10 records describe welding and material handling, and only the 75-282 gives a heat level, tied to the back of the hand. Ask the maker which standard and which glove area the rating covers.
Are cut-resistant gloves also heat-resistant?
Not automatically, because each hazard has its own rating. The Wrangler’s 75-282 record lists Cut Level A5 and Conductive Heat Level 4 as separate entries.
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