ASTM F3121/F3121M-16

Standard Guide for In-Service Inspection, Maintenance, and Electrical Testing of Hand-Held Live-Line Insulating Tools (Fiberglass-Reinforced Plastic (FRP))

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 Compliance with this guide should confirm known and acceptable quality of hand-held insulating live-line tools manufactured using fiberglass meeting Specification F711. The guidance herein is to be considered as a minimum requirement.  
3.2 The user of this type of protective equipment should be knowledgeable of and instructed in the correct and safe inspection and use of this equipment.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides recommendations for in-service inspection, maintenance, and electrical testing of hand-held insulating live-line tools.  
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.  
1.3 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-May-2016
• ICS: 13.260 - Protection against electric shock. Live working
• Technical Committee: F18 - Electrical Protective Equipment for Workers
• Drafting Committee: F18.35 - Tools & Equipment

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM F3121/F3121M-17 - Standard Guide for In-Service Inspection, Maintenance, and Electrical Testing of Hand-Held Live-Line Insulating Tools (Fiberglass-Reinforced Plastic (FRP))
• Effective Date: 15-Sep-2017

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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: F3121/F3121M − 16
Standard Guide for
In-Service Inspection, Maintenance, and Electrical Testing of
Hand-Held Live-Line Insulating Tools (Fiberglass-Reinforced
1
Plastic (FRP))
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3121/F3121M; 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 4. Job Site Procedures
1.1 This guide provides recommendations for in-service
4.1 Field Care, Handling, and Storage—When not in use,
inspection, maintenance, and electrical testing of hand-held hand-heldinsulatinglive-linetoolsshouldbestoredwherethey
insulating live-line tools.
will remain dry, clean, and where they are not subject to abuse.
Hand-held insulating live-line tools used for energized-line
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
maintenance should not be laid directly on the ground to avoid
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
contamination or wetting. Hand-held insulating live-line tools
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
should be placed on clean, dry tarpaulins, on moisture-proof
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
blankets, on tool racks, or stick bags, or leaned against dry
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
supports. When transporting hand-held insulating live-line
with the standard.
tools, ventilated containers should be provided to prevent
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
damage to the surfaces of them, or they should be mounted on
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
racks in trucks or trailers. These racks should be well padded
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
and so constructed that the hand-held insulating live-line tools
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
are held firmly in place to prevent abrasive or bumping action
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
against any surface that would damage the glossy surface.
2. Referenced Documents
4.2 Daily Inspection and Checking—Hand-held insulating
2
live-line tools should be visually inspected and wiped clean
2.1 ASTM Standards:
before use each day. Hand-held insulating live-line tools
F711 Specification for Fiberglass-Reinforced Plastic (FRP)
showing evidence of being mechanically or electrically
Rod and Tube Used in Live Line Tools
compromised, such as a tingling or fuzzy sensation experi-
3. Significance and Use
enced by the user when the hand-held insulating tool is near or
in contact with energized apparatus should be removed from
3.1 Compliance with this guide should confirm known and
service and evaluated for repair.
acceptablequalityofhand-heldinsulatinglive-linetoolsmanu-
4.2.1 If any of the following observations are present, the
factured using fiberglass meeting Specification F711. The
hand-held insulating live-line tools should be removed from
guidance herein is to be considered as a minimum requirement.
service and returned to the laboratory or shop for repair and
3.2 The user of this type of protective equipment should be
electrical testing.
knowledgeable of and instructed in the correct and safe
4.2.1.1 Visual Inspection–Mechanical Stress:
inspection and use of this equipment.
(1) Cuts, scratches, nicks, gouges, dents (through the
finish), or delamination in the stick surface.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F18 on Electrical
(2) Damaged, bent, worn, loose, or cracked components.
Protective Equipment for Workers and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
(3) Elongated or deformed rivet ends, roll pins or fasteners.
F18.35 on Tools & Equipment.
(4) A loss or deterioration of the glossy surface.
Current edition approved June 1, 2016. Published June 2016. DOI: 10.1520/
F3121_F3121M-16.
(5) Improper storage or improper exposure to weather.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
4.2.1.2 Visual Inspection–Electrical Stress:
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
(1) Evidence of electrical tracking, burn marks, or blisters
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. caused from heat.
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F3121/F3121M − 16
5. Cleaning and Waxing geometry) and the specific atmospheric conditions at the
testing location. Baseline leakage of more than 150 µAis cause
5.1 Before each use, hand-held ins
...