ASTM F2621/F2621M-19
(Practice)Standard Practice for Determining Response Characteristics and Design Integrity of Arc Rated Finished Products and Evaluating other Products in an Electric Arc Exposure
Standard Practice for Determining Response Characteristics and Design Integrity of Arc Rated Finished Products and Evaluating other Products in an Electric Arc Exposure
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 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. 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 When using the practice for evaluating flame resistance, great care should be taken since ignition by electric arc is a statistical phenomenon. An exposure of 20 cal/cm2 has been consistently shown to evaluate most ignitable materials but some may require higher energy to reach the breakopen point of the fabric depending on coatings or specific fiber types. Consider using a vertical flame test such as Test Method D6413 to evaluate for ignition and use this practice for illustration.
5.2 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 identifies protocols for use in conducting arc testing on finished products intended for use as thermal protection by workers who may be exposed to electric arc hazards.
1.1.1 The practice is also used for other components which can be exposed to electric arc, but which do not require an arc rating.
1.1.1.1 If items are tested and they do not meet the appropriate standard, it is the responsibility of the specimen submitter to provide this information for indication in the test report.
1.2 Arc Rated protective items are typically tested using this practice to evaluate the performance of the interface area between the product and the other arc flash PPE or to evaluate zippers and other findings.
1.3 When evaluating arc rated PPE with non-arc rated PPE for due diligence (such as respirators, etc.), this practice does not result in an arc rating and non-arc rated components or products shall be clearly indicated as having no arc rating.
1.4 This practice is not intended to produce an arc rating and does not replicate in all types of arc exposures.
1.5 This practice is used with the following standards:
1.5.1 Protective fabric materials receive arc ratings from Test Method F1959/F1959M.
1.5.2 Face protective products receive arc ratings from Test Method F2178.
1.5.3 Gloves receive arc ratings from Test Method F2675.
1.5.4 Rainwear materials, findings and closures are specified by Specification F1891.
1.5.5 Garments are specified by Specification F1506.
1.6 The test specimens used in this practice are typically 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, sleeves, chaps, rainwear, balaclavas, faceshields, and hood assemblies with hood shield windows. Non-arc rated finished products may be included when part of a flame-resistant system, or for evaluating heat transmission through the finished product for incident reenactment, or for evaluation of products needed but not available as arc rated (such as respirators, etc.)
1.7 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.
1.8 This practice is ...
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Designation: F2621/F2621M − 19
Standard Practice for
Determining Response Characteristics and Design Integrity
of Arc Rated Finished Products and Evaluating other
1
Products in an Electric Arc Exposure
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationF2621/F2621M;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyear
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 garments, multi-layer garments or ensembles, cooling vests,
gloves, sleeves, chaps, rainwear, balaclavas, faceshields, and
1.1 This practice identifies protocols for use in conducting
hood assemblies with hood shield windows. Non-arc rated
arc testing on finished products intended for use as thermal
finished products may be included when part of a flame-
protection by workers who may be exposed to electric arc
resistant system, or for evaluating heat transmission through
hazards.
the finished product for incident reenactment, or for evaluation
1.1.1 The practice is also used for other components which
of products needed but not available as arc rated (such as
can be exposed to electric arc, but which do not require an arc
respirators, etc.)
rating.
1.1.1.1 If items are tested and they do not meet the appro-
1.7 The arc rated finished product specimens are new
priate standard, it is the responsibility of the specimen submit-
products as sold or products which have been used for the
ter to provide this information for indication in the test report.
intended purpose for a designated time.
1.2 ArcRatedprotectiveitemsaretypicallytestedusingthis
1.8 This practice is used to determine the response charac-
practice to evaluate the performance of the interface area
teristics or design integrity of arc-rated materials, products, or
between the product and the other arc flash PPE or to evaluate
assemblies in the form of finished products when exposed to
zippers and other findings.
radiant and convective energy generated by an electric arc
under controlled laboratory conditions.
1.3 When evaluating arc rated PPE with non-arc rated PPE
for due diligence (such as respirators, etc.), this practice does
1.9 This practice can be used to determine the integrity of
not result in an arc rating and non-arc rated components or
closures and seams in arc exposures, the protective perfor-
products shall be clearly indicated as having no arc rating.
mance of arc-rated products in areas where garment overlap
occursorwhereheraldryreflectivetrimorotheritemsareused,
1.4 Thispracticeisnotintendedtoproduceanarcratingand
and response characteristics such as afterflame time, melting,
does not replicate in all types of arc exposures.
dripping, deformation, shrinkage, electric arc ignition, or other
1.5 This practice is used with the following standards:
damage, or combination thereof, of fabrics, systems of fabrics,
1.5.1 Protective fabric materials receive arc ratings from
flammable undergarments when included as part of a system,
Test Method F1959/F1959M.
sewing thread, findings, and closures.
1.5.2 Face protective products receive arc ratings from Test
1.10 This practice can be used for incident reenactment,
Method F2178.
1.5.3 Gloves receive arc ratings from Test Method F2675. training demonstrations, and material/design comparisons.
1.5.4 Rainwear materials, findings and closures are speci-
1.11 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
fied by Specification F1891.
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
1.5.5 Garments are specified by Specification F1506.
each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to
1.6 The test specimens used in this practice are typically in ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be
the form of arc-rated finished products. These arc-rated fin- used independently of the other, and values from the two
ished products may include, but are not limited to, single layer systems shall not be combined.
1.12 This standard shall not be used to describe or appraise
1
the fire hazard or fire risk of materials, products, or assemblies
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F18 on Electrical
Protective Equipment for Workers and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
under actual fire conditions. However, results of this test may
F18.65 on Wearing Apparel.
be used as elements of a fire assessment, which takes into
Current edition approved April 15, 2019. Published June 2019. Originally
account all of the factors, which are pertinent to an assessment
approved in 2006. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as F2621 – 12. DOI:
10.1520/F2621_F2621M-19. of the fire hazard of a particular end use.
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...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F2621 − 12 F2621/F2621M − 19
Standard Practice for
Determining Response Characteristics and Design Integrity
of Arc Rated Finished Products and Evaluating other
1
Products in an Electric Arc Exposure
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2621;F2621/F2621M; 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 This practice identifies protocols for use in conducting arc testing on finished products intended for use as thermal protection
by workers who may be exposed to electric arc hazards.
1.1.1 The practice is also used for other components which can be exposed to electric arc, but which do not require an arc rating.
1.1.1.1 If items are tested and they do not meet the appropriate standard, it is the responsibility of the specimen submitter to
provide this information for indication in the test report.
1.2 Arc Rated protective items are typically tested using this practice to evaluate the performance of the interface area between
the product and the other arc flash PPE or to evaluate zippers and other findings.
1.3 When evaluating arc rated PPE with non-arc rated PPE for due diligence (such as respirators, etc.), this practice does not
result in an arc rating and non-arc rated components or products shall be clearly indicated as having no arc rating.
1.4 This practice is not intended to produce an arc rating and does not replicate in all types of arc exposures.
1.5 This practice is used with the following standards:
1.5.1 Protective fabric materials receive arc ratings from Test Method F1959/F1959M.
1.5.2 Face protective products receive arc ratings from Test Method F2178.
1.5.3 Gloves receive arc ratings from Test Method F2675.
1.5.4 Rainwear materials, findings and closures are specified by Specification F1891.
1.5.5 Garments are specified by Specification F1506.
1.6 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. The test specimens used in this practice are typically 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, sleeves, chaps, rainwear, balaclavas, faceshields, and hood assemblies with hood
shield windows. Non-arc rated finished products may be included when part of a flame-resistant system, or for evaluating heat
transmission through the finished product for incident reenactment, or for evaluation of products needed but not available as arc
rated (such as respirators, etc.)
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 F1959/F1959M and F2178. Protective materials used to manufacture arc
rated finished products shall be tested according to Test Method F1959/F1959M prior to being tested according to this practice,
and face protective products shall be tested according to Test Method F2178 prior to being tested according to this practice. Test
Methods F1959/F1959M and F2178 provide definitive numeric arc ratings for materials intended for use in finished products worn
by workers exposed to electric arcs.
1.1.2.1 Discussion—Face protective products such as face shields and hoods are tested as finished products using Test Method
F2178. 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,
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F18 on Electrical Protective Equipment for Workers and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F18.65
on Wearing Apparel.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2012April 15, 2019. Published November 2012June 2019. Originally approved in 2006. Last previous edition approved in 20062012
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