ASTM F1959/F1959M-14e1

Standard Test Method for Determining the Arc Rating of Materials for Clothing

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method is intended for the determination of the arc rating of a material, or a combination of materials.  
5.1.1 Because of the variability of the arc exposure, different heat transmission values may be observed at individual sensors. Evaluate the results of each sensor in accordance with Section 12.  
5.2 This test method maintains the specimen in a static, vertical position and does not involve movement except that resulting from the exposure.  
5.3 This test method specifies a standard set of exposure conditions. Different exposure conditions may produce different results. In addition to the standard set of exposure conditions, other conditions representative of the expected hazard may be used and shall be documented in the reporting of the testing results.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is used to measure the arc rating of materials intended for use as flame resistant clothing for workers exposed to electric arcs that would generate heat flux rates from 84 to 25 120 kW/m2 [2 to 600 cal/cm2s].  
1.2 This test method will measure the arc rating of materials which meet the following requirements: less than 150 mm [6 in.] char length and less than 2 s afterflame when tested in accordance with Test Method D6413.  
1.2.1 It is not the intent of this test method to evaluate non flame-resistant materials except where used as under layers in multiple-layer specimens.  
1.3 The materials used in this test method are in the form of flat specimens.  
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.  
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 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 test method does not apply to electrical contact or electrical shock hazards.  
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 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 requirements prior to use. For specific precautions, see Section 7.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2014
• ICS: 13.220.40 - Ignitability and burning behaviour of materials and products
• ICS: 61.020 - Clothes
• Technical Committee: F18 - Electrical Protective Equipment for Workers
• Drafting Committee: F18.65 - Wearing Apparel

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
´1
Designation: F1959/F1959M − 14
Standard Test Method for
1
Determining the Arc Rating of Materials for Clothing
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationF1959/F1959M;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyear
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
ε NOTE—“Aerial” was corrected to “areal” in January 2017.
1. Scope 1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.1 This test method is used to measure the arc rating of
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
materials intended for use as flame resistant clothing for
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
workers exposed to electric arcs that would generate heat flux
2 2 bility of regulatory requirements prior to use. For specific
rates from 84 to 25 120 kW/m [2 to 600 cal/cm s].
precautions, see Section 7.
1.2 Thistestmethodwillmeasurethearcratingofmaterials
which meet the following requirements: less than 150 mm [6
2. Referenced Documents
in.] char length and less than 2 s afterflame when tested in
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
accordance with Test Method D6413.
D123Terminology Relating to Textiles
1.2.1 It is not the intent of this test method to evaluate non
D1776Practice for Conditioning and Testing Textiles
flame-resistant materials except where used as under layers in
D4391Terminology Relating to The Burning Behavior of
multiple-layer specimens.
Textiles
1.3 Thematerialsusedinthistestmethodareintheformof
D6413Test Method for Flame Resistance of Textiles (Ver-
flat specimens.
tical Test)
E457Test Method for Measuring Heat-Transfer Rate Using
1.4 This test method shall be used to measure and describe
a Thermal Capacitance (Slug) Calorimeter
the properties of materials, products, or assemblies in response
F1494Terminology Relating to Protective Clothing
to convective and radiant energy generated by an electric arc
3
2.2 ANSI/IEEE Standard:
under controlled laboratory conditions.
Standard Dictionary of Electrical and Electronics Terms
1.5 The values stated in SI units shall be regarded as
4
2.3 AATCC Standard:
standard except as noted. Within the text, alternate units are
AATCC Method 135-2001Dimensional Changes in Auto-
showninbrackets.Thevaluesstatedineachsystemmaynotbe
matic Home Laundering of Woven and Knit Fabrics
exact equivalents therefore alternate systems must be used
independentlyoftheother.Combiningvaluesfromthesystems
3. Terminology
described in the text may result in nonconformance with the
3.1 Definitions:
method.
3.1.1 ablation, n—in electrical arc testing, a physical re-
1.6 This test method does not apply to electrical contact or
sponseevidencedbysignificanterosionortheformationofone
electrical shock hazards.
or more large holes in a layer of a multilayer system.
1.7 This standard shall not be used to describe or appraise 3.1.1.1 Discussion—Anylayerinaspecimen(otherthanthe
the fire hazard or fire risk of materials, products, or assemblies
innermost layer) is considered to exhibit ablation when the
2 2
under actual fire conditions. However, results of this test may materialremovaloranyholeisatleast16cm [2.5in. ]inarea
be used as elements of a fire assessment which takes into
or at least 8 cm [3.1 in.] in length in any dimension. Single
account all of the factors which are pertinent to an assessment threadsacrosstheopeningorholedonotreducethesizeofthe
of the fire hazard of a particular end use.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F18 on Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Electrical Protective Equipment for Workers and is the direct responsibility of the ASTM website.
3
Subcommittee F18.65 on Wearing Apparel. Available from Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE),
Current edition approved April 1, 2014. Published April 2014. Originally 445 Hoes Ln., P.O. Box 1331, Piscataway, NJ 08854-1331.
4
approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as F1959/F1959M–13. Technical Manual of the American Association of Textile Chemists and
DOI: 10.1520/F1959_F1959M-14E01. Colorists.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
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F1959/F1959M − 14
hole for the purposes of this test method. Ablation in one or 3.1.12 breakopen threshold energy (E ),n—the incident
BT
more layers of material in a mulitlayer system may
...

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.
´1
Designation: F1959/F1959M − 14 F1959/F1959M − 14
Standard Test Method for
1
Determining the Arc Rating of Materials for Clothing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1959/F1959M; 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
ε NOTE—“Aerial” was corrected to “areal” in January 2017.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method is used to measure the arc rating of materials intended for use as flame resistant clothing for workers
2 2
exposed to electric arcs that would generate heat flux rates from 84 to 25 120 kW/m [2 to 600 cal/cm s].
1.2 This test method will measure the arc rating of materials which meet the following requirements: less than 150 mm [6 in.]
char length and less than 2 s afterflame when tested in accordance with Test Method D6413.
1.2.1 It is not the intent of this test method to evaluate non flame-resistant materials except where used as under layers in
multiple-layer specimens.
1.3 The materials used in this test method are in the form of flat specimens.
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.
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 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 test method does not apply to electrical contact or electrical shock hazards.
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 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
requirements prior to use. For specific precautions, see Section 7.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
D1776 Practice for Conditioning and Testing Textiles
D4391 Terminology Relating to The Burning Behavior of Textiles
D6413 Test Method for Flame Resistance of Textiles (Vertical Test)
E457 Test Method for Measuring Heat-Transfer Rate Using a Thermal Capacitance (Slug) Calorimeter
F1494 Terminology Relating to Protective Clothing
3
2.2 ANSI/IEEE Standard:
Standard Dictionary of Electrical and Electronics Terms
4
2.3 AATCC Standard:
AATCC Method 135-2001 Dimensional Changes in Automatic Home Laundering of Woven and Knit Fabrics
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 April 1, 2014. Published April 2014. Originally approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as F1959/F1959M – 13. DOI:
10.1520/F1959_F1959M-14.10.1520/F1959_F1959M-14E01.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE), 445 Hoes Ln., P.O. Box 1331, Piscataway, NJ 08854-1331.
4
Technical Manual of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
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F1959/F1959M − 14
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 ablation, n—in electrical arc testing, a physical response evidenced by significant erosion or the formation of one or more
large holes in a layer of a multilayer system.
3.1.1.1 Discussion—
Any layer in a specimen (other than the innermos
...