Does anyone have any experience with composite gloves which are advertised that they do not require outer leather protectors?
We recently have been presented with an alternative as some of our European plants that this product is available and meets requirements up to RC4 (55 cal/cm2) and conform to IEC 60903. They offer more dexterity for smaller work.
There have been recent threads about the use of leather protectors and in some cases not being required. I'm looking to see if there is any published guidance on the composite gloves or if and US agency has ruled on their use.

Are those gloves for shock protection (V) or for arc flash protection (cal/cm^2)?
For arc flash protection, there are some alternatives which give you more dexterity than voltage rated rubber gloves and leather protectors.

I've seen them. They don't advertise passing ASTM and the manufacturer pedigree is suspect. The regs in the US assume rubber only. Dexterity doesn't look improved for class 0 and at higher classes pole work is often easier until you get to the point where bare hands is easiet.

The claim is that they are for both shock and arc flash rated. They also reference a draft ASTM specification. Since this is a European company, they are not required to follow 70E but the EN codes and requirements are very similar.

We have done the arc flash testing on them. They are a little stiffer than those in the US but they did very well in arc flash. ASTM is still working on this standard but only the scope and title have changed substantially for about 4 years. I'm now chairing an IEC committee doing the same thing. Let me know if I can assist.

Hi All
Hugh, is there any literature available on these gloves described above, or perhaps developments towards ASTM certification.? As we discussed at the IEEE, I am having considerable challenges here with getting my electricians and HVAC Technicians to wear the class 0 gloves. Particularly in the heat, on a rooftop unit, or in hard to get places. The same challenges I am facing with the faceshield, as you are aware from our discussion. Thanks Len.

The ASTM "standard" for gloves is not a pass/fail performance based standard, it is basically a specification of rubber gloves with a test for voltage withstand. Several are working to open this up but it will not happen quickly. In Canada you might be able to use the IEC standard which they meet. I think you will have to wait for something much better until we can get a non-leather protector standard for wearing over rubber gloves then I do think composites will be an option.

Bacou-Dalloz has been bought by Sperian (neither of which is suspect to me). There may be other manufacturers who are but these are solid in my mind but do not meet the US standard. Not because they fail but because it was written around 90 year old technology. We are doing better but when something works the inertia to allow possible change is pretty tough. I can testify to that first hand from clothing to gloves.