Frequently Asked Questions
The EN388:2016 standard specifies requirements, test methods, marking, and information provided for protective gloves against mechanical risks of abrasion, blade cut, tearing, puncture, and, when applicable, impacts.
The abrasion resistance test and the cut test have been revised, and there is now a second blade cut test and an optional impact resistance test. Cut resistance is now alphabetical and corresponds to values in Newtons. Additionally, this test will be mandatory when blade blunting occurs during the cut test.
Abrasion Test
The abrasion test is designed to provide an indication of the gloves' durability. The performance levels are the same as before, but the sandpaper used for the test has been changed from 100 grit to a finer 180 grit material. This may affect some of the results.
Cut Test
The method for testing the cut resistance of gloves has traditionally been performed using a circular blade that moved back and forth across the surface of the gloves. This test is commonly referred to as the Coup Test.
Newer cut-resistant materials, such as steel-reinforced fibers and fiberglass, can dull the circular blade, making it less effective at cutting as the test progresses. Since no additional pressure is applied, the blade often cannot cut through the material. The result is that gloves achieved the highest possible level for
cutting despite a significant failure in the test.
The EN388:2016 incorporates a revision to the Coup Test and includes a Straight Blade Test (ISO 13997).
Reducing the movement distance makes the blade more effective, and typically the cut performance level is reduced, for example, from level 5 downgraded to level 4, despite not changing the glove material. This revision makes it very difficult for a glove to achieve level 5 without the following two points coming into play.
A manufacturer may choose not to reference the Coup Test if referencing the Straight Blade Test. If so, it will be marked with an X.
Straight Blade Test (ISO 13997)
The Straight Blade Test can be used instead of the Coup Test.
Additionally, it should be used if the Coup Test reaches 60 cycles or if the factor is greater than 3.
The test is performed on a TDM 100 machine
The tests are conducted using a new blade each time
Increasing the levels of applied force, from 2 Newtons to 30 Newtons
A letter scale, A – F, is applied, with F being the highest level
The reference letter is applied instead of, or alongside, the cut reference number.
The revision of the Coup Test may lead to reduced performance levels
The inclusion of the new Straight Blade Test is designed to be more representative when it comes to high cut protection
The 1-5 scale system is not comparable with the new A-F scale system
Impact Test
Gloves providing impact protection have become increasingly popular over the past few years, and therefore it was necessary to include an impact resistance element in the EN388 standard.
Impacts applied to the palm, back, or knuckles of the hand
Uses the existing impact test from the motorcyclist standard EN13594:2015
A 2.5 kg weight is dropped to exert an impact energy of 5 joules
A “Pass” is obtained if the gloves reach level 1
A P is added to the glove certification marking if it passes. If not, nothing is added
SAFETOP sells material to professionals. For this reason, SAFETOP will only handle claims from clients who are invoice holders (professionals). Considering that SAFETOP only sells to professionals (not to the end customer or consumer), the warranty must be governed by the commercial relationship between professionals.
Below we attach decrees that serve for the application of type 1 WARRANTIES SALE TO FINAL CONSUMERS and type 2 SALES TO NON-FINAL CONSUMER TRADERS
Sale to final consumers
The Law on Guarantees in the Sale of Consumer Goods came into effect on September 11, 2003, and aims to establish a set of measures to ensure consumer protection, the conformity of goods with the sales contract, and articulate the commercial guarantee that may additionally be offered to the consumer.
Law 23/2003, of July 10, on Guarantees in the Sale of Consumer Goods, incorporates into Spanish law Directive 1999/44/EC, of the European Parliament and of the Council, of May 25, 1999, on certain aspects of the sale and guarantees of consumer goods.
DEFINITIONS: According to the new Law, a seller is any natural or legal person who, within the framework of their professional activity, sells consumer goods. On the other hand, consumers are the natural or legal persons who acquire, use, or enjoy these goods as final recipients (Law 26/1984 on Consumer and User Protection), excluding those who acquire, store, use, or consume goods to integrate them into production, transformation, commercialization, or service provision processes to third parties.
Responsibilities and term
The seller will be liable to the consumer for any lack of conformity existing at the time of delivery of the good. This responsibility extends to a period of two years. If the acquired good does not conform to what was previously established, the consumer can choose between: 1 Repair or replacement of the good, 2 Price reduction, 3 Dissolution of the contract. In any case, the consumer must notify within a maximum period of two months from when they become aware of the lack of conformity.
The seller will be responsible in any case for the lack of conformity of the product; however, the consumer may address the manufacturer or importer (recognized) as long as addressing the seller is impossible or would impose an excessive burden. In any case, the manufacturer or seller may seek recourse against the responsible party for the lack of conformity within 1 year from the moment the defect was remedied.
Sale to traders (not final consumers)
WARRANTY REGIME
“The seller will be obliged to remedy the hidden defects that the sold item may have if they make it unsuitable for the use for which it is intended, or if they diminish this use to such an extent that, had the buyer known them, they would not have acquired it or would have paid a lower price for it; but they will not be responsible for manifest defects or those that are visible, nor for those that are not, if the buyer is an expert or professional who, by reason of their trade, should easily know them” Articles 1484 of the Civil Code.
The actions arising from the provisions of the preceding article will expire six months from the delivery of the sold item. (Article 1490 of the Civil Code).
As a consequence of the obligation to remedy hidden defects, the buyer may choose between terminating the contract (the so-called “redhibitory action”) with restitution for the expenses paid, or reducing a proportional amount of the price, at the discretion of experts (“estimatory or quanti minoris action”).
In this way, the Civil Code regulates a general warranty regime, which has been expanded and detailed by the aforementioned Law 23/2003 in favor of consumers.
However, in the case of sales between entrepreneurs or traders, that is, commercial sales, the regime established by Law 23/2003 will not apply.
Thus, we will understand that we are dealing with a commercial sale in the case of sales that are not directed to the final consumer of the product or service, but are intended for traders who resell or incorporate the good or service into a production or work process.
Article 338. The expenses of delivering the goods in commercial sales will be borne by the seller until they are placed, weighed, or measured, at the buyer's disposal, unless there is an express agreement to the contrary. (Placed at disposal – delivery to the transport company). The costs of receipt and extraction outside the place of delivery will be borne by the buyer.
SUMMARY: As a consequence of the above and reiterating what was stated in the first of the conclusions, the final consumer must claim from the one who made the sale and this one from the importer or distributor. But these last ones, in this case, SAFETOP will only be responsible for manufacturing defects and identity or suitability, and if not the case, will avoid their responsibility, without prejudice to the affected party being able to subsequently claim from other agents who have caused the lack of conformity of the sales object.
Indicate that the way the burden of proof operates in these cases means in practice, unless proven otherwise by expert evidence, that the real guarantee to respond to the conformity of the replacement is 6 months, as it is very difficult to prove that once this period has elapsed, giving it proper use, the breakdown or defect that occurs is due to poor manufacturing.
Despite all this, SAFETOP, by working with many manufacturers and brands, there may be cases of products whose warranty is longer than 6 months, so it is advisable to contact the warranty department.
On the other hand, in the case of SAFETOP, warranties will be handled depending on the product, as we have a service department and agreements with some manufacturers to offer the service.
VERY IMPORTANT: SAFETOP will only offer information, attention, etc. on products sold and invoiced by the company, being able to reject requests from clients who have not purchased the product from our company, unless SAFETOP works with that product under a specific contract with the manufacturer that obliges them to provide the service. SAFETOP manufactures, imports, represents, markets, and resells different brands. Therefore, the inclusion in the catalog for professionals or the web catalog of products of a specific brand does not indicate the obligation of SAFETOP to offer assistance, technical support, or warranty if the products have not been invoiced by the company.
EXCEPTIONS: Despite everything stated above, each manufacturer offers different solutions, being able to extend the 6-month warranty period in some cases, and SAFETOP may in some cases offer support for products not marketed by the company, following the SERVICE improvement standards for the SAFETOP customer network.
We work with several transport agencies (DHL GLS, REDUR, ASM, MRW...) to offer a better service. Once the shipment is made, we can provide you, upon request, with the tracking number so you can contact the transport agency directly and arrange the delivery. If the transport agency attempts to deliver the order and the recipient is not at home, the delivery person will call you or leave a notice, so you can arrange the delivery with them. Normally, for heavy products, the delivery person will call you before attempting delivery to meet with the recipient. Delivery will always be made at the entrance, at street level of your home or business. Delivery persons are not obliged to bring the product up to your home if it is not at street level, although most of the time, and as far as possible, the delivery person helps the recipient and does what is necessary to leave the product at the customer's home.
All our shipments are insured, so if there is any type of incident (loss, breakage, etc.) due to the carrier, to make the return, it must be accompanied by a photocopy of the invoice or the corresponding delivery note and obligatorily by the photocopy of the carrier's delivery note duly signed and where the damages caused to the merchandise are stated in writing.
All our products are delivered at our facilities located in Oleiros – A Coruña. Transportation and other expenses that may arise are at your expense. Therefore, regardless of the method of transportation, it will be understood that all material is delivered at our facilities.
Terms of Sale for professional customers with a prior account at SAFETOP.
These Terms of Sale apply to the sale of products by Safetop Innovative Protección, S.L, SAFETOP is a trade name of Safetop Innovative Protección, S.L. Additionally, each time you use any current or future service of SAFETOP, you will also be subject to the general terms and conditions and the specific conditions applicable to that service.
Please read these conditions carefully before placing your order with SAFETOP. By placing your order with SAFETOP, you agree to be bound by these conditions.
How to place an order
We offer the buyer three ways to place an order:
• Online on our website (24h/day, 365 days a year).
• By email to pedidos@logasl.com indicating the item and the chosen payment method. For professional use only and for those customers previously registered.
• By phone at +34 981649811 (Available Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 13:30h and from 15.30 to 19.00.). For professional use only.
If the buyer does not comply with the previously described conditions, SAFETOP reserves the right not to process the order through the requested means.