ASTM F2178-06
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Determining the Arc Rating and Standard Specification for Face Protective Products
Standard Test Method for Determining the Arc Rating and Standard Specification for Face Protective Products
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This test method is intended for the determination of the arc rating of a product/design, intended for use as face protection for workers exposed to electric arcs.
5.1.1 Because of the variability of the arc exposure, different heat transmission values may be observed at individual sensors. The results of each sensor are evaluated in accordance with Section 12.
This test method maintains the specimen in a static, vertical position and does not involve movement except that resulting from the exposure.
This test method specifies a standard set of exposure conditions. Different exposure conditions may produce different results.
This specification covers the minimum performance criteria for arc resistance and other requirements for face protective products used by workers who may be exposed to thermal hazards of momentary electric arcs or flame.
The purchaser has the option to perform or have performed any of these tests in order to verify the performance of the face protective product. Claims for failure to meet the specification are subject to verification by the manufacturer.
Note 1—In addition to the standard set of exposure conditions, other conditions representative of the expected hazard may be used and shall be reported should this data be cited.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method and product specification is used to measure the arc rating and specify the requirements for products intended for use as face protection for workers exposed to electric arcs that would generate heat flux values from 84 to 25 120 kW/m2 [2 to 600 cal/cm2s]. Products are tested as sold.
1.2 This test method determines an arc rating for face protective products. The faceshield or other applicable portions of the complete product must meet ANSI Z87.1. This excludes the textile or non ANSI Z87.1 testable parts of the hood assemblies or other tested products. This standard does not measure optical and impact properties (see ANSI Z87.1) but does specify requirements for optical and impact properties.
1.3 The materials covered by this standard are in the form of faceshields attached to the head by protective helmets (hard hats), headgear, or hood assemblies. Faceshields are tested with or without other face and head protective products, for example, sock hoods, balaclavas, sweat shirt hoods or jacket hoods.
1.3.1 Fabric layers used in hood assemblies or other items tested under this standard shall meet the requirements of Specification F 1506.
1.4 This test method shall be used to measure and describe the properties of materials, products, or assemblies in response to convective and radiant energy generated by an electric arc under controlled laboratory conditions and does not purport to predict damage from light other than the thermal aspects measured.
1.5 Units The values stated in SI units shall be regarded as standard except as noted. Within the text, alternate units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, alternate systems must be used independently of the other. Combining values from the systems described in the text may result in nonconformance with the method.
1.6 This standard does not purport to describe or appraise the effect of the electric arc fragmentation explosion and subsequent molten metal splatter, which involves the pressure wave containing molten metals and possible fragments of other materials except to the extent that heat energy transmission due to these arc explosion phenomena is reduced by test specimens.
1.8 This standard shall not be used to describe or appraise the fire hazard or fire risk of materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions. However, results of this test may be used as elements of a fire assessment which takes into account all of the factors which are pertinent to an assessment of the fire hazard of a particular end use.
This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, ...
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Designation: F 2178 – 06
Standard Test Method for
Determining the Arc Rating and Standard Specification for
1
Face Protective Products
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2178; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.6 This standard does not purport to describe or appraise
the effect of the electric arc fragmentation explosion and
1.1 This test method and product specification is used to
subsequent molten metal splatter, which involves the pressure
measure the arc rating and specify the requirements for
wavecontainingmoltenmetalsandpossiblefragmentsofother
products intended for use as face protection for workers
materialsexcepttotheextentthatheatenergytransmissiondue
exposed to electric arcs that would generate heat flux values
2 2
tothesearcexplosionphenomenaisreducedbytestspecimens.
from 84 to 25120 kW/m [2 to 600 cal/cm s]. Products are
1.7 This standard shall not be used to describe or appraise
tested as sold.
thefirehazardorfireriskofmaterials,products,orassemblies
1.2 This test method determines an arc rating for face
under actual fire conditions. However, results of this test may
protectiveproducts.Thefaceshieldorotherapplicableportions
be used as elements of a fire assessment which takes into
of the complete product must meetANSI Z87.1.This excludes
account all of the factors which are pertinent to an assessment
the textile or non ANSI Z87.1 testable parts of the hood
of the fire hazard of a particular end use.
assemblies or other tested products. This standard does not
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
measure optical and impact properties (see ANSI Z87.1) but
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
does specify requirements for optical and impact properties.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
1.3 Thematerialscoveredbythisstandardareintheformof
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
faceshields attached to the head by protective helmets (hard
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific
hats),headgear,orhoodassemblies.Faceshieldsaretestedwith
precautions, see Section 7.
or without other face and head protective products, for ex-
ample, sock hoods, balaclavas, sweat shirt hoods or jacket
2. Referenced Documents
hoods.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.3.1 Fabric layers used in hood assemblies or other items
C177 Test Method for Steady-State Heat Flux Measure-
tested under this standard shall meet the requirements of
ments and Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of
Specification F1506.
the Guarded-Hot-Plate Apparatus
1.4 This test method shall be used to measure and describe
D123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
the properties of materials, products, or assemblies in response
D3776 Test Method for Mass Per Unit Area (Weight) of
to convective and radiant energy generated by an electric arc
Fabric
under controlled laboratory conditions and does not purport to
D4391 Terminology Relating to The Burning Behavior of
predict damage from light other than the thermal aspects
Textiles
measured.
E457 TestMethodforMeasuringHeat-TransferRateUsing
1.5 Units—ThevaluesstatedinSIunitsshallberegardedas
a Thermal Capacitance (Slug) Calorimeter
standard except as noted. Within the text, alternate units are
F1494 Terminology Relating to Protective Clothing
showninbrackets.Thevaluesstatedineachsystemmaynotbe
exact equivalents; therefore, alternate systems must be used
independentlyoftheother.Combiningvaluesfromthesystems
described in the text may result in nonconformance with the
method.
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This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F18 on
2
Electrical Protective Equipment for Workers and is the direct responsibility of For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Subcommittee F18.65 on Wearing Apparel. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2006. Published January 2007. Originally Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
approved in 2002. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as F2178–02. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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F2178–06
F1506 Performance Specification for Flame Resistant Tex- 3.2.9 asymmetrical arc current, n—the total arc current
tile Materials for Wearing Apparel for Use by Electrical produced during closure; it includes a direct component and a
Workers Exposed to Mo
...
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