Electrical Gloves Classes Explained | Ratings & Color Codes

Working with energized equipment means the rubber between your hands and the conductor is all that keeps you alive. The electrical gloves classes explained in OSHA 1910.137 divide insulating gloves into six voltage ratings—Class 00 through Class 4—each marked with a distinct color code so the right glove is never in doubt. A quick look at the class table below shows the range, from 500-volt panel work up to 36,000-volt transmission lines, followed by how to pick the right class, what OSHA requires for testing, and the daily checks that catch hidden damage.

The Six Electrical Glove Classes and Their Voltage Ratings

Electrical gloves fall into six numbered classes (00, 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4), each with a maximum AC use voltage defined by ASTM D120 and a color band for instant recognition.

Each class also carries a DC voltage rating—Class 00 handles 750V DC and Class 4 reaches 54,000V DC—but AC ratings are used most often in the field. Gloves also come as Type I (non-ozone resistant) or Type II (ozone resistant) in sizes 7 through 12.

Which Glove Class Do You Need for the Job?

The class you need depends on the highest voltage you may contact. Match the job’s phase-to-phase or phase-to-ground voltage to the class whose maximum rating exceeds it, and never rely on system nameplates alone.

For residential work at 120V to 240V, Class 00 (beige) provides adequate protection. Commercial maintenance on 480V equipment requires Class 0 (red)—the standard minimum for industrial 480V panels, since motor inrush and fault conditions can briefly push voltage above 500V. Substation work at 4,160V calls for Class 1 (white), while overhead distribution at 13.8kV needs Class 2 (yellow). Utility crews on 25kV lines reach for Class 3 (green), and transmission-line workers at 34.5kV use Class 4 (orange).

When you know the voltage, the class picks itself. If you’re selecting a pair, our guide to the best electrical gloves covers tested options across every class.

Electrical Glove Class Testing: OSHA’s Six-Month Interval

OSHA 1910.137 requires rubber insulating gloves to pass an electrical test before first use and every six months afterward while they remain in service. This testing schedule applies regardless of how often the gloves are actually used.

If gloves have been tested but never issued for service and have been sitting in storage for more than 12 months, they must be tested again before being placed into service. Immediate re-testing is also required if the insulating value is suspect, the glove has been repaired, or it was used without leather protector gloves over the rubber.

OSHA’s 1910.137 standard for electrical protective equipment spells out the full testing rules and applies to every workplace covered by federal safety regulations.

How Do You Inspect Electrical Gloves Daily?

Every day before use, insulating gloves must be visually inspected and air-tested to find punctures, cuts, swelling, or cracks that could allow current to pass through. A glove with any of these defects is unsafe, no matter how recently it passed a lab test.

The air test is simple but critical. Turn the glove inside out, trap air inside the fingers, squeeze gently, and listen for escaping air. Any hissing sound means the rubber is compromised and the glove must be taken out of service immediately.

Visual inspection covers both the inside and outside surfaces. Look for holes, cuts, embedded debris, or any swelling that suggests chemical damage. Never fold or crease the rubber—folding creates stress lines that weaken the material over time.

Leather protector gloves should be worn over the rubber gloves on every job. They do not provide electrical insulation themselves. Their job is to prevent punctures and cuts from sharp edges, tools, or hardware. OSHA allows removing the protectors only for Class 0 gloves in limited situations where unusually high dexterity is needed and the risk of mechanical damage is low. When leather protectors are used, keep at least a ½-inch gap between the protector cuff and the rubber glove cuff on Class 00 gloves.

Common Mistakes That Compromise Safety

Even experienced workers make errors with insulating gloves. The most dangerous ones involve skipping leather protectors, choosing the wrong class, or ignoring storage rules.

• Working without leather protectors. A microscopic puncture in the rubber turns the glove into a conductor. Leather protectors prevent most mechanical damage, and OSHA requires them except in the narrow dexterity exception described above.
• Using Class 00 for 480V. Class 00 is rated for 500V AC on paper, but 480V circuits can exceed that during faults or transients. Class 0 (1,000V AC) is the standard minimum for 480V systems.
• Storing gloves past the test date. A glove tested 13 months ago and now being issued for the first time has missed the 12-month re-test window. It must be tested again before use.
• Folding or creasing the rubber. Always store gloves flat or loosely rolled. Folding creates permanent stress points that fail under electrical testing.

For residential work at 120V, the honest answer is that electrical gloves are rarely necessary. OSHA’s guidance and most electricians recommend using cut-resistant work gloves and avoiding live work when possible instead of reaching for Class 00 gloves.

Quick-Reference: Common Jobs and the Class You Need

The table below matches typical work scenarios to the minimum glove class required, making it easy to verify your selection before heading out.

The six-class system covers everything from a residential panel to the highest transmission voltages. Match the class to the voltage, test on schedule, inspect every day, and never skip the leather protectors. Those four practices keep the rubber between you and the conductor doing its job.