Short answer: The class is decided by the voltage you could contact, not by preference or budget. Class 00 covers up to 500 V, Class 0 to 1,000 V, Class 1 to 7,500 V, Class 2 to 17,000 V, Class 3 to 26,500 V and Class 4 to 36,000 V, all AC maximum use per ASTM D120. Work out your class from the table below, then order by class, length, size and cuff style.

Order by class Electrical safety range

This is an ordering page. If you want the fuller treatment of how to inspect, store and care for insulating gloves, our selection, storage and inspection guide covers that properly. What follows is the part people get wrong at the point of raising a purchase order: which class, how long, what size, and how often it has to go back for test.

Voltage to class: the only table that matters

Your system voltage decides the glove class. Nothing else does. Maximum use voltage AC per ASTM D120. Read up from your system voltage to the first class that covers it. Class 00 500 V max use Class 0 1,000 V max use Class 1 7,500 V max use Class 2 17,000 V max use Class 3 26,500 V max use Class 4 36,000 V max use 415 V LV 3.3 kV 6.6 kV 11 kV 22 kV 33 kV Class 0 Class 1 Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 Class 4 system needs The class must cover the voltage you could contact, not the voltage you expect to. Working near an 11 kV board in Class 0 gloves is the same as wearing none.
Logarithmic scale. Read up from your system voltage to the first class that covers it.
Class Max use, AC AC proof test Max use, DC Typical Malaysian application
Class 00500 V2,500 V750 VLow voltage panel work, control circuits, instrumentation
Class 01,000 V5,000 V1,500 V415 V LV distribution, MCC and DB work, general maintenance
Class 17,500 V10,000 V11,250 V3.3 kV and 6.6 kV plant distribution
Class 217,000 V20,000 V25,500 V11 kV switchgear - the common chargeman requirement
Class 326,500 V30,000 V39,750 V22 kV networks
Class 436,000 V40,000 V54,000 V33 kV switching and substation work

Two things follow from that table. First, an 11 kV board needs Class 2 - Class 1 stops at 7,500 V and does not cover it. Second, the proof test voltage is not the working voltage; it is the factory and periodic test level, and it appears on the test certificate rather than being something you work to.

Always specify against the highest voltage the wearer could come into contact with, including the possibility of a fault or a mis-identified circuit. This is not a place to specify against the nominal.

The four things to specify

SpecifyOptionsWhy it matters
Class00, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4Set by voltage. Everything else is preference; this is not.
LengthCommonly 280 mm (11"), 360 mm (14"), 410 mm (16"), 460 mm (18")Longer gives more clearance up the forearm. Higher classes generally want more length.
SizeNumbered sizes, typically 7 to 12A glove that is too tight will not be worn for a full task; too loose loses dexterity. Order a size set for a team.
Cuff styleStraight, bell or contourBell cuffs give room over a sleeve; straight is the common default.

One further option worth asking about: bi-colour construction, where a contrasting inner layer shows through if the outer surface is cut or scratched. It makes damage visible during the pre-use inspection instead of relying on someone spotting a nick in black rubber.

The glove is a three-layer system

A rubber glove on its own is not the system The rubber does the insulating. The leather stops the rubber being destroyed before it gets the chance. 1. Cotton liner Optional. Absorbs sweat, makes the rubber bearable for a full task. 2. Rubber insulating glove The protection. Class-rated, date-stamped, air-tested before every use. 3. Leather protector Mechanical shield. Without it a single snag ends the glove's rating. Two rules people break Never store gloves folded, compressed, near heat or in contact with petroleum products - and never use them without the air test.
Three layers, one rating. Remove the leather and the rubber does not last the week.

The leather protector is the part most often skipped, and skipping it is expensive rather than merely non-compliant. Rubber insulating gloves fail mechanically long before they fail electrically - a snag on a cabinet edge, a scrape against a busbar shroud, contact with a sharp tool. Without a protector, one careless movement takes a certified glove out of service.

Retest intervals and what invalidates a rating

The cycle that keeps the rating valid A glove is only rated while its test is current. The date stamp is the whole story. Before every use Air test + visual check In service Leather protectors on Every 6 months Electrical retest In storage Retest before issue Check the test date
The class marking never expires. The test date does.

Common practice, and the basis most Malaysian electrical safety programmes work to, is an electrical retest at intervals not exceeding six months for gloves in service, and retest before issue for gloves that have been sitting in storage. A glove is only rated while its test is current, so the date stamp is what an auditor looks for - not the class marking.

  • Air test before every use. Roll the cuff to inflate the glove and check for leaks by sight, sound and feel. It takes seconds and it catches the damage that matters.
  • Visual inspection every time. Cuts, cracks, embedded debris, ozone checking, swelling or a change in texture all take a glove out of service immediately.
  • Never store folded or compressed. Use a glove bag, stored upright, away from heat, sunlight and ozone sources such as motors.
  • Keep petroleum products away. Oils, greases and solvents degrade natural rubber. This includes hand creams.
  • Retire after any suspected contact or damage. Send it for test, or take it out of service. Do not let it back on the rack "to be checked later".
  • Keep the certificates. Test documentation is what makes your programme evidenceable. File it with the glove register.

What we stock

Novax rubber insulating gloves Class 0 for 1000 volt low voltage electrical work

Novax Class 0 — 1,000 V

The workhorse for 415 V distribution, MCC and DB work. Natural latex, EU and UKCA declarations of conformity. Multiple lengths, sizes and cuff styles available, with bi-colour construction as an option for damage detection.

See Class 00 to Class 2 →

Novax rubber insulating gloves Class 2 rated 17000 volts AC for 11kV switchgear work

Novax Class 2 — 17,000 V

AC max use 17,000 V, AC proof test 20,000 V, DC max use 25,500 V. Natural latex from an aqueous dip process, 360 mm (14") default length, orange, straight cuff. The class most 11 kV chargeman work calls for.

Ask for sizes and lengths →

Insulating switchboard mat and electrical safety accessories

The rest of the system

Gloves are one control among several. We supply insulating switchboard mats, insulation stools, fibreglass rescue hooks, dielectric boots, arc flash kits and complete LOTO sets — so the electrical safety package comes from one account.

Arc flash suit pricing →

We hold Class 00, 0, 1 and 2 in the Novax range. Class 3 and Class 4 for 22 kV and 33 kV work are available to order - tell us the class and lead time expectations early, because these are not stock items.

Order by class, not by guesswork

Tell us the system voltage, how many people need kitting out, and their sizes. If leather protectors and a glove bag are not already on your list, we will add them.

WhatsApp +60 12-570 7015 Call 07-595 5658 Request a quotation

Haisar Supply & Services Sdn Bhd · No. 7501, Jalan Enggang 19, Bandar Putra, 81000 Kulai, Johor · Seremban branch 011-3307 7509 · contact details

Ordering questions

Which class do I need for 11 kV work?

Class 2, which has an AC maximum use voltage of 17,000 V. Class 1 stops at 7,500 V and does not cover an 11 kV system. Always specify against the highest voltage that could be contacted, not the nominal you expect.

What is the difference between max use voltage and proof test voltage?

Maximum use voltage is the working limit for the class. Proof test voltage is the higher level the glove is tested at during manufacture and at each periodic retest — it appears on the certificate and is not a voltage you work to. For Class 2 those figures are 17,000 V and 20,000 V respectively.

How often do insulating gloves need retesting?

Common practice is electrical retest at intervals not exceeding six months for gloves in service, plus retest before issue for gloves that have been in storage. A glove is only rated while its test is current, so the date stamp is what matters at audit.

Do we have to use leather protectors?

You should. Rubber insulating gloves fail mechanically far sooner than they fail electrically, and a single snag on a cabinet edge can end a certified glove's service life. Protectors must be compatible with the class and length so that clearances are maintained.

What length should we order?

360 mm (14") is the common default. Longer lengths give more forearm clearance and are generally preferred at higher classes. Tell us the work and we will recommend rather than leaving you to guess.

Do you stock Class 3 and Class 4?

We hold Class 00 through Class 2. Class 3 and Class 4 for 22 kV and 33 kV work are available to order rather than from stock, so raise those early if you have a fixed date.

Can you supply test certificates?

Yes. Ask at quotation stage so documentation is prepared alongside the goods and your glove register is complete from the day they arrive.

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