ASTM F2178/F2178M-23a

Standard Specification for Arc Rated Eye or Face Protective Products

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
9.1 This specification’s test method is used to determine an arc rating for eye or face protective products, including face shields, safety spectacles, goggles, or other applicable portions of the complete product that are required to meet the current version of ANSI/ISEA Z87.1. This excludes the textile or parts of the hood assemblies or other rated products that are not testable by ANSI/ISEA Z87.1. This standard does not measure optical and impact properties (see ANSI/ISEA Z87.1) but does specify requirements for optical and impact properties in accordance with that standard.  
9.2 The test method is 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.  
9.3 The specification’s 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. For whole body protection, additional personal protective equipment (PPE) will be required for parts not covered by this standard.  
9.3.1 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 16.  
9.4 This test method maintains the specimen in a static, vertical position and does not involve movement except that resulting from the exposure.  
9.5 Different exposure conditions produce different incident energies and different heat fluxes. This standard exposure is used for comparison of products and hazard assessment methods may use multiplication factors or other means for determining protection.  
9.6 The purchaser has the option to perform or have performed any of these tests to verify the performance of the eye or face protective product. Claims for failu...
SCOPE
1.1 This product specification is used to determine the arc rating and specify the requirements for products intended for use as eye or face protection for workers exposed to electric arcs. The arc rating is determined in the test with an arc which has a heat flux value of 2100 kW/m2 [50 cal/cm2/s]. Products are tested as sold.  
1.2 The products 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.  
1.2.1 Fabric layers used in the design of face protection products such as in hood, neck guards, balaclava, meet the requirements of Specification F1506. When fabrics are designed into the protection provided for eye or face protective products, the arc rating of fabric system is first determined by Test Method F1959/F1959M.  
1.2.2 The arc rating of the eye or face protective product which requires fabric to provide protection to the face or head will not be higher than the lower arc rating of either the fabric system or the shield/visor assembly.  
1.3 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.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to describe or appraise the effect of the electric arc fragmentation or propulsion of parts of equipment or molten metal splatter, deposited from the pressure wave containing molten metals and possible fragments of other materials except to the extent that heat energy transmissio...

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Aug-2023
• ICS: 13.340.20 - Head protective equipment
• Technical Committee: F18 - Electrical Protective Equipment for Workers
• Drafting Committee: F18.65 - Wearing Apparel

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F2178/F2178M − 23a
Standard Specification for
1
Arc Rated Eye or Face Protective Products
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2178/F2178M; 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 1.5 This standard shall not be used to describe or appraise
the fire hazard or fire risk of materials, products, or assemblies
1.1 This product specification is used to determine the arc
under actual fire conditions. However, results of this test may
rating and specify the requirements for products intended for
be used as elements of a fire assessment which takes into
use as eye or face protection for workers exposed to electric
account all of the factors which are pertinent to an assessment
arcs. The arc rating is determined in the test with an arc which
2 2 of the fire hazard of a particular end use.
has a heat flux value of 2100 kW/m [50 cal/cm /s]. Products
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
are tested as sold.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.2 The products covered by this standard are in the form of
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
faceshields attached to the head by protective helmets (hard
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
hats), headgear, hood assemblies, safety spectacles or goggles.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Faceshields, safety spectacles or goggles are tested with or
For specific hazards see Section 11.
without other face and head protective products, for example,
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
sock hoods, balaclavas, sweat shirt hoods or jacket hoods.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.2.1 Fabric layers used in the design of face protection
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
products such as in hood, neck guards, balaclava, meet the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
requirements of Specification F1506. When fabrics are de-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
signed into the protection provided for eye or face protective
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
products, the arc rating of fabric system is first determined by
Test Method F1959/F1959M.
2. Referenced Documents
1.2.2 The arc rating of the eye or face protective product
2
which requires fabric to provide protection to the face or head
2.1 ASTM Standards
will not be higher than the lower arc rating of either the fabric
C177 Test Method for Steady-State Heat Flux Measure-
system or the shield/visor assembly.
ments and Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of
the Guarded-Hot-Plate Apparatus
1.3 The values stated in SI units shall be regarded as
D123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
standard except as noted. Within the text, alternate units are
D4391 Terminology Relating to The Burning Behavior of
shown in brackets. The values stated in each system may not be
Textiles
exact equivalents; therefore, alternate systems must be used
F1494 Terminology Relating to Protective Clothing
independently of the other. Combining values from the systems
F1506 Performance Specification for Flame Resistant and
described in the text may result in nonconformance with the
Electric Arc Rated Protective Clothing Worn by Workers
method.
Exposed to Flames and Electric Arcs
1.4 This standard does not purport to describe or appraise
F1959/F1959M Test Method for Determining the Arc Rating
the effect of the electric arc fragmentation or propulsion of
of Materials for Clothing
parts of equipment or molten metal splatter, deposited from the
2.2 ANSI/IEEE Standards:
pressure wave containing molten metals and possible frag-
IEEE Standard Dictionary of Electrical and Electronics
ments of other materials except to the extent that heat energy
3
Terms
transmission due to these arc explosion phenomena is reduced
by test specimens.
1 2
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F18 on For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Electrical Protective Equipment for Workers and is the direct responsibility of contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Subcommittee F18.65 on Wearing Apparel. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2023. Published September 2023. Originally the ASTM website.
3
a
...

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: F2178/F2178M − 23 F2178/F2178M − 23a
Standard Specification for
1
Arc Rated Eye or Face Protective Products
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2178/F2178M; 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 product specification is used to determine the arc rating and specify the requirements for products intended for use as eye
or face protection for workers exposed to electric arcs. The arc rating is determined in the test with an arc which has a heat flux
2 2
value of 2100 kW/m [50 cal/cm /s]. Products are tested as sold.
1.2 The products 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.
1.2.1 Fabric layers used in the design of face protection products such as in hood, neck guards, balaclava, meet the requirements
of Specification F1506. When fabrics are designed into the protection provided for eye or face protective products, the arc rating
of fabric system is first determined by Test Method F1959/F1959M.
1.2.2 The arc rating of the eye or face protective product which requires fabric to provide protection to the face or head will not
be higher than the lower arc rating of either the fabric system or the shield/visor assembly.
1.3 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.
1.4 This standard does not purport to describe or appraise the effect of the electric arc fragmentation or propulsion of parts of
equipment or molten metal splatter, deposited from 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.
1.5 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.
1.6 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazards see Section 11.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1
This specification 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 March 15, 2023Sept. 1, 2023. Published April 2023September 2023. Originally approved in 2002. Last previous edition approved in 20222023
as F2178 – 22.F2178/F2178M – 23. DOI: 10.1520/F2178_F2178M-23.10.1520/F2178_F2178M-23A.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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F2178/F2178M − 23a
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
D4391 Terminology Relating to The Burning Behavior of Textiles
F1494 Terminology Relating to Protective Clothing
F1506 Performance Specification for Flame Resistant and Electric Arc Rated
...