Showa Glove Launches New Chemical Protective Glove for Explosion-Proof Areas, Simultaneously Addressing Static Sparks and Chemical Risks

Showa Glove Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, President: Yuichiro Tanaka), a specialized manufacturer of household and industrial gloves, will release the "CD721 Nitrile Rubber Anti-static Chemical Protective Disposable Long Gloves 100-pack" in June 2026, a product that combines anti-static measures and chemical protection.

■ Development Background

According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency's White Paper on Fire Service (Reiwa 7 edition), of the 267 fire accidents at hazardous material facilities in Reiwa 6, 61 cases (22.8%) were caused by static electricity sparks, making it the leading cause of ignition. Furthermore, following revisions to laws related to the Industrial Safety and Health Act, the use of impermeable protective equipment has been mandatory since April 2024 in workplaces handling hazardous chemicals. When handling such substances in explosion-proof areas, measures against ignition by static electricity and dust explosion risks are necessary in addition to chemical protection.

However, there are several challenges. A focus on safety often leads to thicker gloves, creating a trade-off with workability. Gloves that offer both functions are often prohibitively expensive. As a result, many workplaces face safety issues, having measures for only one of the two risks.

In response, our company is launching the "CD721" to provide a single-item solution for both static electricity and chemical risks, balancing workability and cost.

■ Product Features

- Compliant with European Standard EN16350
The glove material contains conductive carbon to safely and gently dissipate static electricity accumulated on the human body and gloves, preventing sparks. It clears a vertical resistance value of less than 1.0×10⁸Ω under specified measurement conditions, serving as an objective selection criterion for explosion-proof areas.
*EN16350 is a European standard for the electrostatic properties of protective gloves used in environments with explosion or fire risks due to static electricity.
*To achieve the glove's anti-static performance, the worker must wear appropriate anti-static clothing and footwear and be grounded.

- Compliant with JIS T 8116
The glove conforms to JIS T 8116 while maintaining fingertip workability with a palm thickness of approximately 0.16mm (minimum thickness 0.14mm). The company holds permeation resistance data for various chemicals frequently used in the field, such as n-hexane (Class 4: >120 min), 40% sodium hydroxide (Class 6: >480 min), and 20% hydrochloric acid (Class 6: >480 min).
*JIS T 8116 is a standard for gloves used for the purpose of preventing permeation of chemical substances.

- Specifications Enhancing Work Efficiency and Practicality
The 30cm long type provides extensive protection from the wrist to the cuff. A chlorination process on the inner surface allows for smooth donning and doffing despite being a disposable type. It is also compatible with touchscreen operations and versatile enough to be worn as an inner layer for other chemical protective gloves.

■ Product Overview

Price: Open price
Material: Synthetic rubber (Nitrile rubber) *Contains conductive carbon
Recommended Uses: For operations handling volatile and flammable chemicals in chemical plants, automotive-related industries, printing industries, etc.

We have launched a site called "Chemrest.com" to enhance convenience. Users can view and download chemical resistance test results by searching for chemical names, CAS numbers, or products, supporting the selection of appropriate gloves.

■ About Showa Glove Co., Ltd.
We are a specialized manufacturer of various gloves for household, work, and industrial use. In 1954, driven by the founder's desire to "protect hands," we developed the world's first fully PVC-coated gloves. Under the corporate message of "Protecting the world's hands," we deliver safety and security to everyone worldwide through gloves active in all scenes, armed with our R&D capabilities that pursue originality.