Portwest - Do You Know Booklet

DO YOU KNOW 38

WHAT IS IEC 61482-2:2009 THIS STANDARD INVESTIGATES THE FABRIC AND GARMENTS ABILITY TO PROTECT AGAINST THE THERMAL EFFECTS OF AN ELECTRIC ARC. THIS CAN BE DONE VIA TWO TEST METHODS: 1. BOX TEST METHOD 61482-1-2 AND 2. OPEN ARC METHOD 61482-1-1 . THIS PAGE FOCUSES ONLY ON THE OPEN ARC METHOD.

EBT

ATPV

33 CAL/CM

4.3 Cal/cm2 13.6Cal/cm2

FABRIC BREAK - OPEN

2nd DEGREE BURN

FR60 FR14 FR11 FR10 or

ELECTRIC ARC TEST 1) An electric arc is an intense ash of electricity which can result in numerous injuries. 2) The Open Arc Test Method assesses a fabric’s ability to provide resistance against the thermal energy created during an electric arc. 3) This test is part of American standard NFPA 70E and European standard IEC 61482-2. 4) This test aims to establish the ATPV (Arc Thermal Performance Value) or Ebt (Energy Breakopen Threshold) of a fabric.

CAL RATINGS 1) Garments can be layered to achieve a better Cal rating. For example a thermal layer may achieve an Ebt of 4.3 Cal/cm2, and an outer coverall may achieve an ATPV of 13.6Cal/cm2. 2) However the combination ATPV/Ebt ratings will be greater than the sum of the two single layers, as the air gap between the two layers a ords the wearer additional protection.

EBT AND ATPV TEST 1) The Ebt is the amount of energy required to cause a fabric to break open. The ATPV is the amount of energy required to cause a 2nd degree burn through the fabric. 2) Both ATPV and Ebt are expressed in calories per cm2 (Cal/cm2). Fabric is tested with an 8kA arc for various incident durations and an overall Cal rating is calculated. 3) The higher the Cal rating the better protection o ered. Workers are assumed to be safe if the arc rating of their clothes exceeds the electric arc incident energy calculated in the worst case scenario of a risk assessment.

PORTWEST HAS 37 PRODUCTS TESTED TO THE OPEN ARC METHOD WITH CAL RATINGS