ASTM F2178-08

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 eye or face protection for workers exposed to electric arcs.
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 eye or 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 eye or 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 eye or 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 eye or face protective products. The faceshield, safety spectacle, goggle or 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, hood assemblies, safety spectacles or goggles. Faceshields, safety spectacles or goggles 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 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 no 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.
1.7 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 ...

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Sep-2008
• ICS: 13.340.20 - Head protective equipment
• Technical Committee: F18 - Electrical Protective Equipment for Workers
• Drafting Committee: F18.65 - Wearing Apparel

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F2178-06 - Standard Test Method for Determining the Arc Rating and Standard Specification for Face Protective Products
• Effective Date: 15-Sep-2008
• Replaced By: ASTM F2178-12 - Standard Test Method for Determining the Arc Rating and Standard Specification for Eye or Face Protective Products
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2012
• Referred By: ASTM F2621/F2621M-22 - Standard Practice for Evaluating Response Characteristics of Safety Products in an Electric Arc Exposure
• Effective Date: 15-Sep-2008
• Referred By: ASTM F1506-22 - Standard Performance Specification for Flame Resistant and Electric Arc Rated Protective Clothing Worn by Workers Exposed to Flames and Electric Arcs
• Effective Date: 15-Sep-2008

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:F2178 −08
StandardTest Method for
Determining the Arc Rating and Standard Specification for
1
Eye or 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope independentlyoftheother.Combiningvaluesfromthesystems
described in the text may result in nonconformance with the
1.1 This test method and product specification is used to
method.
measure the arc rating and specify the requirements for
products intended for use as eye or face protection for workers 1.6 This standard does not purport to describe or appraise
exposed to electric arcs that would generate heat flux values the effect of the electric arc fragmentation explosion and
2 2
from 84 to 25120 kW/m [2 to 600 cal/cm s]. Products are subsequent molten metal splatter, which involves the pressure
tested as sold. wavecontainingmoltenmetalsandpossiblefragmentsofother
materialsexcepttotheextentthatheatenergytransmissiondue
1.2 Thistestmethoddeterminesanarcratingforeyeorface
tothesearcexplosionphenomenaisreducedbytestspecimens.
protectiveproducts.Thefaceshield,safetyspectacle,goggleor
1.7 This standard shall not be used to describe or appraise
orotherapplicableportionsofthecompleteproductmustmeet
the fire hazard or fire risk of materials, products,orassemblies
ANSI Z87.1. This excludes the textile or non ANSI Z87.1
under actual fire conditions. However, results of this test may
testable parts of the hood assemblies or other tested products.
be used as elements of a fire assessment which takes into
This standard does not measure optical and impact properties
account all of the factors which are pertinent to an assessment
(seeANSIZ87.1)butdoesspecifyrequirementsforopticaland
of the fire hazard of a particular end use.
impact properties.
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
1.3 Thematerialscoveredbythisstandardareintheformof
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
faceshields attached to the head by protective helmets (hard
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
hats), headgear, hood assemblies, safety spectacles or goggles.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
Faceshields, safety spectacles or goggles are tested with or
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific
without other face and head protective products, for example,
precautions, see Section 7.
sock hoods, balaclavas, sweat shirt hoods or jacket hoods.
1.3.1 Fabric layers used in hood assemblies or other items
2. Referenced Documents
tested under this standard shall meet the requirements of
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Specification F1506.
C177Test Method for Steady-State Heat Flux Measure-
1.4 This test method shall be used to measure and describe
ments and Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of
the properties of materials, products, or assemblies in response
the Guarded-Hot-Plate Apparatus
to convective and radiant energy generated by an electric arc
D123Terminology Relating to Textiles
under controlled laboratory conditions and does not purport to
D3776Test Methods for Mass Per Unit Area (Weight) of
predict damage from light other than the thermal aspects
Fabric
measured.
D4391Terminology Relating to The Burning Behavior of
1.5 The values stated in SI units shall be regarded as
Textiles
standard except as noted. Within the text, alternate units are E457Test Method for Measuring Heat-Transfer Rate Using
showninbrackets.Thevaluesstatedineachsystemmaynobe
a Thermal Capacitance (Slug) Calorimeter
exact equivalents; therefore, alternate systems must be used F1494Terminology Relating to Protective Clothing
F1506Performance Specification for Flame Resistant and
Arc Rated Textile Materials for Wearing Apparel for Use
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F18 on
Electrical Protective Equipment for Workers and is the direct responsibility of
2
Subcommittee F18.65 on Wearing Apparel. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Sept. 15, 2008. Published October 2008. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2002. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as F2178–06. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/F2178-08. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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F2178−08
byElectricalWorkersExpose
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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:F2178–06 Designation: F 2178 – 08
Standard Test Method for
Determining the Arc Rating and Standard Specification for
1
Eye or 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. 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 eye or face protection for workers exposed to electric arcs that would generate heat flux values from 84 to
2 2
25120 kW/m [2 to 600 cal/cm s]. Products are tested as sold.
1.2 This test method determines an arc rating for eye or face protective products.The faceshield, safety spectacle, goggle or 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 Thematerialscoveredbythisstandardareintheformoffaceshieldsattachedtotheheadbyprotectivehelmets(hardhats),
headgear,hoodassemblies,safetyspectaclesorhoodassemblies.Faceshieldsgoggles.Faceshields,safetyspectaclesorgogglesare
tested with or without other face and head protective products, for example, sock hoods, balaclavas, sweat shirt hoods or jacket
hoods.
1.3.1 FabriclayersusedinhoodassembliesorotheritemstestedunderthisstandardshallmeettherequirementsofSpecification
F1506.
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.
1.5Units—The1.5 The values stated in SI units shall be regarded as standard except as noted. Within the text, alternate units
areshowninbrackets.Thevaluesstatedineachsystemmaynotnobeexactequivalents;therefore,alternatesystemsmustbeused
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
moltenmetalsplatter,whichinvolvesthepressurewavecontainingmoltenmetalsandpossiblefragmentsofothermaterialsexcept
to the extent that heat energy transmission due to these arc explosion phenomena is reduced by test specimens.
1.7 Thisstandardshallnotbeusedtodescribeorappraisethefirehazardorfireriskofmaterials,products,orassembliesunder
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.
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. For specific precautions, see Section 7.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C177 Test Method for Steady-State Heat Flux Measurements and Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the
Guarded-Hot-Plate Apparatus
D123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
D3776 Test Methods for Mass Per Unit Area (Weight) of Fabric
D4391 Terminology Relating to The Burning Behavior of Textiles
1
This test method 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 Nov.Sept. 15, 2006.2008. Published January 2007.October 2008. Originally approved in 2002. Last previous edition approved in 20022006 as
F2178–026.
2
ForreferencedASTMstandards,visittheASTMwebsite,www.astm.org,[e-mail]ards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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