Portwest Automotive Magazine

ELECTRICAL An Electric Arc and the resulting Arc Flash is the rapid and dangerous release of energy due to an electrical arcing fault. The extreme heat creates a large amount of thermal radiant energy and produces an electrical shock. The risk occurs when​ working both with low and high voltage.

ELECTRIC ARC FLASH STANDARDS ​

IEC 61482-2 THERMAL HAZARDS OF AN ELECTRIC ARC

IEC 61482-2 protective clothing against the thermal arc hazards of an electric arc.

​Individuals who work with and around low and high voltage electricity are at significant risk of various injuries. These hazards include thermal burns, hearing loss, blindness, nerve damage, cardiac arrest, shrapnel injuries from blasts, and potentially death. The dangerous nature of electrical work necessitates stringent safety measures to mitigate these severe and often life-threatening injuries.

The standard has 2 test methods, to comply with the standard either or both tests must be carried out.

OPEN ARC METHOD IEC 61482-1-1

The open arc test method is used to determine the thermal insulating properties of a fabric when exposed to the energy of an electric arc. All results are in cal/cm² the higher the value, the greater the protection. There are 3 possible values determined during this test method:​ · ATPV is the maximum incident energy that protective garment can be exposed to before the wearer would have a 50% probability of 2nd degree burns.​ · EBT is the incident energy on a material that results in a 50% probability of breakopen. · ELIM (Incident Energy Limit): This value is the highest incident thermal energy to which the garment can be exposed with a 0% risk of the wearer getting a second degree burn injury.

ASTM F2675-19

This test method determines the arc rating of a hand protective product material, or a combination of hand protective product materials. The arc thermal performance value, ATPV cal / cm2, is the penetrating energy into the gloves material that results in a 50% probability of sufficient heat transfer through the gloves to cause the onset of a second-degree skin burn.

BOX TEST METHOD IEC 61482-1-2

During the test the specimen is exposed to an electric arc, simulating typical exposure conditions for a short circuit current, confined in a box for 0.5 seconds. · For APC 1, the specimen is exposed to a current of 4 kA (400 V, 168 kJ) · For APC 2, the specimen is exposed to a current of 7 kA (400V, 320 kJ) ​

The ARC Grip glove is designed with a flame resistant neoprene-coated palm for excellent grip, reinforced by FR aramid liner to provide added durability and protection.

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