Arc Flash & Textile Testing for PPE
ASTM F2621 has been revised with a title change and broadened scope to evaluate non-arc rated products. ASTM Committee F18 on Electrical Protective Equipment for Workers has recently revised its standard F2621/F2621M, Standard Practice for Determining Response Characteristics and Design Integrity of Arc Rated Finished Products and Evaluating other Products in an Electric Arc Exposure. […]
The latest revision of the standard has updated the test method for waterproofness of seams to AATCC 127 Water Resistance: Hydrostatic Pressure Test. This change has been made to align with the requirements of ASTM F2733, the Standard Specification for Flame Resistant Flame-Resistant Rainwear for Protection Against Flame Hazards. The requirements of testing seams from […]
In May of 2019, a new version of IEC 61482-1-1 (2.0) is expected be published. It will include a new, more conservative, type of arc rating for materials called the Incident Energy Limit Value (ELIM). Arc Ratings are calculated using at least 20 data points and a logistic regression to determine the incident energy level […]
In terms of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), what is the difference between Flame Resistance, Flame Retardants and “Rated” materials and garments? These are words commonly seen in the industrial AR and FR market–so what do they mean, and what hazard can you expect “flame resistant” clothing to protect from? Defining the Terms Flame Resistance– “The property […]
ASTM F1506-18 Standard Performance Specification for Flame Resistant and Electric Arc Rated Protective Clothing Worn by Workers Exposed to Flames and Electric Arcs has been published with substantial changes to small-scale testing as summarized below: Testing for dimensional change and colorfastness may be performed and documented per the garment manufacturer instructions. If testing at a […]
If you are making industrial flame resistant and arc rated PPE products, the wide range of trades shows for safety professionals can be overwhelming. Which trade shows will give the most bang for your buck and provide access to the safety and technical resources needed to pitch your innovations? Many fabric and garment manufacturers attend […]
ASTM F1506-17a published with changes to title, scope, and use: New title: “Standard Performance Specification for Flame Resistant and Electric Arc Rated Protective Clothing Worn by Workers Exposed to Flames and Electric Arcs“ The scope now specifically excludes hand protection, which is appropriately tested to arc flash using the ASTM F2675 standard References to ASTM […]
A new version of ASTM F2178, Standard Test Method for Determining the Arc Rating and Standard Specification for Eye or Face Protective Products has been published. Changes to the standard include more detailed information for testing laboratories on cooling and curing sensors after resurfacing. The proposed, balloted, and approved changes will not affect test results. […]