ANSI Cutting Standard

 What is the ANSI/ISEA 105 Cutting Standard? 

The American National Standards Institute and International Safety Equipment Association (ANSI/ISEA) 105-2024 cutting standard establishes performance classifications for cut, abrasion, and puncture resistance in hand and arm protection. The 2024 update improves labeling clarity through standardized pictograms and reinforces consistent testing methods to help employers accurately select protective equipment.

The sections below break down how ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 classifies cut resistance, what changed in the latest update, how performance levels are displayed, and how employers can interpret ratings when selecting compliant hand protection.

• What ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 covers
• How cut resistance levels are measured and classified
• The A1 through A9 cut rating scale explained
• The new pictogram labeling format
• Differences between the 2016 and 2024 editions
• How to interpret glove markings in the workplace
• Selecting hand protection based on hazard exposure
• Compliance considerations for safety programs

Hand protection only works when the rating matches the hazard. Understanding ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 helps safety professionals choose gloves that provide the appropriate level of cut resistance for real-world risks.

Upping the Standard

ANSI/EN cut resistance chart compares old glove levels 1–5 to new A1–A9 standards by “grams to cut,” helping select proper PPE for hand safety.

Earlier versions of the ANSI/ISEA 105 standard made it difficult to determine a glove’s precise cut resistance because broader categories covered wide performance ranges. For example, under the older six-level system, a single category could represent a large spread of gram-force resistance, making selection less precise.

The current ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 standard uses a nine-level cut classification scale, A1 through A9, based on testing conducted using the ASTM F2992 test method. Each level represents a narrower gram-force range required to cut through the material:

• A1 provides protection for light cut hazards (200-499 grams to cut)
• A2 provides light to medium protection from cut hazards (500-999 grams to cut)
• A3 provides light to medium cut protection (1000-1499 grams to cut)
• A4 provides protection for medium cut hazards (1500-2199 grams to cut)
• A5 provides medium to heavy protection from cut hazards (2200-2999 grams to cut)
• A6 provides protection from high cut hazards (3000-3999 grams to cut)
• A7 provides protection for high cut hazards (4000-4999 grams to cut)
• A8 provides high cut protection (5000-5999 grams to cut)
• A9 provides protection from high cut hazards (6000+ grams to cut)

By narrowing the range between each classification, the A1–A9 system provides greater precision when selecting hand protection for specific cut hazards.

 ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 also reinforces standardized testing and labeling practices. The ASTM F2992 TDM-100 test method is used to determine cut resistance levels, ensuring consistency across manufacturers. The 2024 update further strengthens uniform labeling requirements, including a standardized pictogram format that groups cut, abrasion, puncture, and other performance ratings for clearer identification. 

Workers in hospitals, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and processing facilities are likely to encounter cut hazards in their workplace. In 2013, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported  hand injuries account for a significant portion of workplace injuries involving days away from work. Proper glove selection, based on accurate performance classification, is critical to reducing those incidents. 

To help reduce hand injuries, employees must be properly trained. OSHA requires that workers are trained to recognize and avoid workplace hazards. This includes understanding when PPE is needed and how it should be worn. Duralabel Compliance Services can analyze your workplace for hazards, develop training programs, and identify where PPE is required.

Overall, the new classification system will help improve worker safety by making it easier for workers and employers to select the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when working in hazardous environments.

What to Expect

Although OSHA does not require employers to follow the ANSI hand protection standard, OSHA's standard 29 CFR 1910.138 requires employers to select and require employees to use hand protection that will protect their hands from hazards. Selecting hand protection that adheres to ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 will help to ensure that that you will meet OSHA's requirements for cut protection.