For firefighters, gloves are a crucial part of your safety gear. While maybe less talked about than your turnouts, a good pair of gloves can be the difference between injury and getting home.  

From running hose to climbing ladders to holding tools, your gloves are put to the test on every job. Even for non-structural calls, it’s important to have gloves that not only protect your hands, but let you do the fine detail work you need to get the job done. 

Lifesaving Firefighting Glove Features 

Firefighter gloves generally fall into two categories: structural and non-structural. As with any other PPE, structural gear is generally much heavier duty and is built to withstand your toughest jobs. But that extra protection comes with the tradeoff of being thicker and therefore less breathable and less flexible.  

It’s important to choose the right glove for the right job, so let’s break down the features of each that keep you safe on the job. 

Features of Structural Gloves 

Structural gloves are covered by the same guidelines as turnout gear. That standard is NFPA 1971, which details how structural fire gear is made and sets minimum requirements that gear manufacturers must meet. That means they need to be tough enough for your most extreme jobs. 

Just like turnouts, structural firefighting gloves are required to provide not only thermal protection, but moisture protection as well.  

For thermal protection, the main body of gloves are required to provide around the same protection as turnouts (measured as Thermal Protective Performance [TPP] of minimum 35). However, performance in some gloves can vary depending on how thermal layers are added through fingers and other weaker areas. Thermal protection generally comes from either leather (often treated to provide greater heat protection) or synthetic materials (like Nomex® or Kevlar®) or a blend of the two.  

Moisture protection is similar to your turnouts as well. Per NFPA 1971, your gloves should include a moisture barrier to prevent water or other liquids (including bloodborne pathogens) from reaching your skin.   

But protection shouldn’t stop at just a moisture or thermal barrier. On the job, your hands are your best tool for keeping you safe, since you generally need free access to be able to do anything from gripping a tool to moving debris. A key safety component of structural safety gloves is how well they let you do your job without getting in the way. The easier you can move your hands and pick things up, the easier it will be to do the other lifesaving work you need to do.  

Features of Non-Structural Gloves 

Where structural gloves are made for your toughest jobs, non-structural gloves are all about providing the right protection for the right job.  

Because this type of glove doesn’t have to meet the same thermal protection requirements, it can often be lighter and more flexible than a structural glove.  

Instead, extrication and other non-structural gloves are usually designed to provide reinforcement for piercing or abrasion. 

These gloves can be held to multiple standards, from wildland firefighting (NFPA 1977) to technical rescue (NFPA 1951). That means you must choose the correct glove for the call, ensuring that you have the protection and features you need to do that job well.  

Just like with structural gloves, flexibility is another key safety feature that lets you perform your job well and keeps you from fighting your equipment.  

How to Choose a Glove 

The first step to choosing a glove is to ask what you need it for. Many firefighters find it helpful to have both a structural glove and a non-structural glove, giving you the flexibility you need to match the gear with the call.  

For structural gloves, look for a well-built glove with quality materials. Firefighters should ask questions like: 

1. What is the TPP of the glove? Will it provide adequate protection from heat and flames? 
2. Do I need a cuff or no cuff? What fits my turnout gear best to provide the most protection? 
3. Are the gloves easy to don or doff? Are they easy to don with sweaty hands or doff when you’re tired? 
4. Are the gloves well-constructed and designed to last? Did the manufacturer pay attention to weaker areas like seams and fingertips?  
5. Are the gloves comfortable? Do they get in the way or are they a tool that helps me do my job? 
6. Is it easy to pick up and hold tools? Do they provide me enough dexterity to pick up small items or am I limited in how I can move my hand?

Firefighters looking for non-structural gloves should ask questions like: 

1. Is this glove certified for the job I’m about to do?  
2. What features are important to the job I’m doing? Do I need extra puncture protection to protect me from sharp metal? High abrasion resistance to avoid a rope slipping out of my hands? 
3. Is the glove made of quality materials that will last through what I’m asking the gloves to do? 
4. Is it easy to hold tools? Can I easily pick things up? Can I do the tasks required of me on this job or do the gloves prevent it?  

A good glove manufacturer will use high-quality materials and give extra reinforcement in areas like knuckles or seams. Manufacturers should be proud of the materials they use and be able to give in-depth explanations of the glove’s design and features. 

They should also be able to explain the glove’s cut, abrasion, and puncture scores. For example, the Fire-Dex Dex-Rescue gloves have an A8 score for cut resistance, Level 5 abrasion resistance, and Level 4 puncture resistance, the highest standards set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). 

Finally, test out the glove to see if it works for you. Think about how easy it is to don or doff; try picking up a paper clip to see if the gloves give you enough dexterity. Think about your most extreme use cases and ask if the glove could stand up to it.  

How to Clean Your Gloves 

Regardless of the kind of glove you choose, proper washing is an essential part of glove care and maintenance.  

Firefighters are regularly exposed to dangerous contaminants, so it’s important to follow protocols for inspections and cleaning to make sure you (and the people around you) are safe.  

1. Just like all of your other gear, begin with preliminary decontamination: washing off at the scene.  
2. The next step is a deeper clean. Avoid a washing machine, as they can damage your gloves and won’t give you a proper clean.  
3. Fill a sink with a mild detergent per manufacturer instructions. 
4. Wash the gloves thoroughly, scrubbing them together to ensure that every surface is cleaned 
5. Air dry the gloves thoroughly. 
6. Gloves can also be sent with turnouts and other gear to a verified cleaner or Independent Service Provider (ISP) that is certified to safely clean firefighter gear.