Snickers Workwear UK 1
IEC 61482-2 Protective clothing against the therm
al hazards of an electric arc. Despite all cautions, a large number of electric arc accident occur every year. IEC 61482-2 specifies requirements for clothing protecting against the thermal hazards of an electric arc. These clothes belong to the Risk III category, which defines garments used in high-risk environments, and are certified to eliminate second-degree burns in the event of an electric arc flash (flashover). Electric arc protection is all about protection against energy, measured in calories (cal/cm2 ). In order to measure the product’s level of protection, the garment is subject to two different test methods: Open arc test and Box test. The test methods use different test set-ups, arc configurations, test parameters, test procedures and result parameters. The test methods’ results can be neither physically compared nor mathematically transformed into each other. The arc rating has to be tested and assessed either to the one or to the other method. For the Open arc method, the test results are specified as ATPV (Arc Thermal Performance Value) or EBT50 (Energy Break-open Threshold; when holes begin to form in the fabric). Neither value is better than the other. Basically, garments/ fabrics that get an EBT50 value are typically more insulating than they are strong and ATPV garments/fabrics are usually stronger than they are insulating. In a box test, the object is subjected with a directed arc flash of either 4kA (class 1) or 7kA (class 2) NOTE! All garments worn must protect against electric arc! Including underwear, socks, gloves, underpants and t-shirts or shirts worn underneath the outer layer. And remember that the more layers of electric-arc-protective clothing you wear, the higher your protection. EN 388 Protective gloves against mechanical risks. This standard applies to all kinds of protective gloves in respect of physical and mechanical aggressions caused by abrasion, blade cut, tear, puncture and, if applicable, impact. A performance level is determined according to each test result – the higher the number or ascending letter, the greater the level of protection. Results are displayed using a pictogram, permitting clear understanding of the capability of the glove. a. Resistance to abrasion: based on the number of cycles required to abrade through the sample glove. The resistance to abrasion is measured by the number of cycles required for hole to occur. Highest protection is 4 and is equal with 8000 cycles. b. Circular blade cut resistance: based on the number of cycles required to cut through the sample by a circular rotating blade at a constant speed. The result is compared with a reference material and an index is obtained. Highest protection is 5 and is equal with an of index of 20. c. Tear resistance: based on the amount of force required to tear the sample. The resistance to tear is defined as the force necessary to propagate a tear in a rectangular specimen slit half way along its length. The specimen shall be torn totally apart. Highest protection is 4 and is equal with 75 Newton. Performance level a. Abrasion resistance (cycles) b. Blade cut resistance (factor) c. Tear resistance (newton) d. Puncture resistance (newton) Level e. Straight blade cut resistance (N) f. Impact resistance 0 <100 <1.2 <10 <20 A 2 1 100 1.2 10 20 B 5 d. Puncture resistance: based on the amount of force required to pierce the sample with a standard sized point and speed (10 cm/min). Highest protection is 4 and is equal with 150 Newton. In all cases, 0 indicates the lowest level of performance, as follows. These are the requirements for each performance levels. The performance level is displayed alongside the pictogram. e. Straight blade cut resistance: based on a straight blade drawn across the sample until cut-through takes place and measures the contact load applied to the blade to make a cutthrough over a 20 mm stroke length. The performance levels range from ‘level A’ cut resistance with a contact force between 2N and 5N, up to ‘level F’, with a contact force greater than 30N. f. Impact resistance: This is an optional test and is used for gloves which incorporate specific impact-resistant properties which may be added to the palm, back of the hand or the knuckles. Testing is carried out in accordance with clause 6.9 of EN 13594:2015 – ‘Protective gloves for motorcycle riders’. A marking code ‘P’ is added for gloves meeting the impactresistant requirements. 2 3 4 500 2000 8000 2.5 25 60 C 10 5.0 50 100 D 15 10.0 75 150 E 22 5 – 20.0 – – F 30 Approved (P) Not approved (blank) PPE 191