ASTM F2621-06
(Practice)Standard Practice for Determining Response Characteristics and Design Integrity of Arc Rated Finished Products in an Electric Arc Exposure
Standard Practice for Determining Response Characteristics and Design Integrity of Arc Rated Finished Products in an Electric Arc Exposure
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This practice can be used for a range of purposes including incident replication, development of improved arc rated protective products, and the determination of the response characteristics and design integrity of new or used arc rated finished products intended for use as protection for workers exposed to electric arcs.
5.1.1 In-service garments can have very different wash and wear histories. Caution must be used when applying test results from a particular used garment to other used garments. Factors to consider include the garments’ wear histories, work environments, and tasks for which the garments were worn; the methods and facilities for garment maintenance; the number of launderings or processings the garments have been subjected to; and other factors that could impact the protective performance of different garments. Test results from specific used garments should be considered only an approximation of results that might be obtained from other used garments of the same type.
5.1.2 Because of the variability of the arc exposure, different heat transmission values may result for individual sensors. The results of each sensor are evaluated in accordance with Section 12.
This practice maintains the specimen in a static, vertical position and does not involve movement except that resulting from the exposure.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice provides procedural guidelines for conducting arc testing on finished products intended for use as thermal protection by workers who may be exposed to electric arcs.
1.1.1 This practice is intended to provide procedural guidelines to improve consistency across testing groups. This practice is not intended to define the end points, parameters, or measures to be studied by the tester.
1.1.2 This practice is supplemental to Test Methods F 1959/F 1959M and F 2178. Protective materials used to manufacture arc rated finished products shall be tested according to Test Method F 1959/F 1959M prior to being tested according to this practice, and face protective products shall be tested according to Test Method F 2178 prior to being tested according to this practice. Test Methods F 1959/F 1959M and F 2178 provide definitive numeric arc ratings for materials intended for use in finished products worn by workers exposed to electric arcs.
Discussion-Face protective products such as face shields and hoods are tested as finished products using Test Method F 2178. These items may be subsequently tested using this practice in order to determine the performance of the interface area between the face protective product and the arc flash PPE worn on the torso.
1.1.3 The test specimens used in this practice shall be in the form of arc-rated finished products. These arc-rated finished products may include, but are not limited to, single layer garments, multi-layer garments or ensembles, cooling vests, gloves, chaps, rainwear, balaclavas, faceshields, and hood assemblies with hood shield windows. Non-arc rated finished products shall not be used except that flammable under-layers may be included when part of a flame resistant system or for detecting heat transmission level through the finished product and flammable finished products may in some cases be appropriate for incident reenactment.
1.1.4 The arc rated finished product specimens are new products as sold or products which have been used for the intended purpose for a designated time period.
1.1.5 Fabrics, fabric layered systems, sewing thread, findings and closures used in arc rated finished products tested under this practice shall meet the requirements of Specification F 1506.
1.1.6 Rainwear materials, findings and closures tested under this practice shall meet the requirements of Specification F 1891.
1.2 This practice shall be used to measure and describe the response characteristics or design integrity of arc-rated materials, products, or assemblies in the form of finished products when exposed to radiant...
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Designation: F2621 − 06
StandardPractice for
Determining Response Characteristics and Design Integrity
1
of Arc Rated Finished Products in an Electric Arc Exposure
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2621; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.1.4 The arc rated finished product specimens are new
products as sold or products which have been used for the
1.1 This practice provides procedural guidelines for con-
intended purpose for a designated time period.
ducting arc testing on finished products intended for use as
1.1.5 Fabrics, fabric layered systems, sewing thread, find-
thermal protection by workers who may be exposed to electric
ings and closures used in arc rated finished products tested
arcs.
under this practice shall meet the requirements of Specification
1.1.1 This practice is intended to provide procedural guide-
F1506.
lines to improve consistency across testing groups. This
1.1.6 Rainwear materials, findings and closures tested under
practice is not intended to define the end points, parameters, or
this practice shall meet the requirements of Specification
measures to be studied by the tester.
F1891.
1.1.2 This practice is supplemental to Test Methods F1959/
1.2 This practice shall be used to measure and describe the
F1959M and F2178. Protective materials used to manufacture
response characteristics or design integrity of arc-rated
arc rated finished products shall be tested according to Test
materials, products, or assemblies in the form of finished
Method F1959/F1959M prior to being tested according to this
products when exposed to radiant and convective energy
practice, and face protective products shall be tested according
generated by an electric arc under controlled laboratory con-
to Test Method F2178 prior to being tested according to this
ditions.
practice. Test Methods F1959/F1959M and F2178 provide
1.3 This practice can be used to determine the integrity of
definitive numeric arc ratings for materials intended for use in
closures and seams, the protective performance of arc-rated
finished products worn by workers exposed to electric arcs.
products in areas where garment overlap occurs or where
1.1.2.1 Discussion—Face protective products such as face
heraldry is used, and response characteristics such as after-
shields and hoods are tested as finished products using Test
flame time, melting, dripping, deformation, shrinkage, electric
Method F2178. These items may be subsequently tested using
arc ignition, or other damage, or combination thereof, of
this practice in order to determine the performance of the
fabrics, systems of fabrics, flammable undergarments when
interface area between the face protective product and the arc
included as part of a system, sewing thread, findings and
flash PPE worn on the torso.
closures.
1.1.3 The test specimens used in this practice shall be in the
1.4 This practice can be used to identify the effectiveness of
form of arc-rated finished products. These arc-rated finished
finished product specimens in attenuating heat, sound or
products may include, but are not limited to, single layer
pressure waves, or combination thereof.
garments, multi-layer garments or ensembles, cooling vests,
1.5 This practice can be used for incident reenactment,
gloves, chaps, rainwear, balaclavas, faceshields, and hood
training demonstrations and material/design comparisons.
assemblies with hood shield windows. Non-arc rated finished
products shall not be used except that flammable under-layers
1.6 The values stated in either SI units or in other units shall
may be included when part of a flame resistant system or for
be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
detecting heat transmission level through the finished product
system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system
and flammable finished products may in some cases be
must be used independently of the other, without combining
appropriate for incident reenactment.
values in any way.
1.7 This standard shall not be used to describe or appraise
the fire hazard or fire risk of materials, products, or assemblies
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F18 on Electrical
under actual fire conditions. However, results of this test may
Protective Equipment for Workers and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
be used as elements of a fire assessment, which takes into
F18.65 on Wearing Apparel.
account all of the factors, which are pertinent to an assessment
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2006. Published December 2006. DOI:
10.1520/F2621-06. of the fire haza
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