Protecting against Arc Flash in todays workplace

Danny Hemmings

Sales Director UK / Ireland

WHAT IS AN ELECTRIC ARC ?...

- An Electric Arc is a type of explosion involving discharge of voltage and energy from

electrical equipment

- Electric current flows through an air gap between conductors

- The Arc generates high levels of energy in a very short time space

- ARC Flash can reach temperatures up to 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit at the core

- This creates intense heat and flame together with other risks and hazards

ELECTRIC ARC – RISK & HAZARDS

WHAT CAUSES ARC FLASH ?

- Tools / equipment touching the ‘wrong’ surface - most common causes of arc flash

- Sparking due to gaps / breaks

- Equipment failure due to faulty parts, poor installation or wear and tear

- Dust, Corrosion or other impurities on the surface of the conductor

- Cable strike

- Isolation faults

ELECTRIC ARC FAULTS

Electric arc faults cannot be totally eliminated!

27%

24%

26%

18%

5%

Mistakes by the worker

Material and equipment faults

Contact faults

Isolation faults, overvoltage

Others

1ST , 2ND & 3RD DEGREE BURNS

First-degree burns – 3cal/cm2

(sun tan)

Second-degree burns – 5cal/cm2

(the skin falls off, no scars, >25% body burns = Hospital)

Third-degree burns – 8cal/cm2

(destroys the skins nerve system, scars, no cell regeneration;

>50% body burn = could lead to death)

* To light a ZIPPO lighter against your hand - 1cal/cm2

DISTRIBUTION OF THERMAL INJURIES

WHY USE

FR GARMENTS?

TO PREVENT....

Heat conduction and fire in a garment

But as importantly , incorrect clothing can do more harm

than actually exposing your skin directly to fire or flame .....

So how do we protect against Arc Flash....

- It’s an accident, not a pre-planned event

- PPE is not a protective ’bubble’

- Clothing is designed to reduce the risk of life changing or

life threatening 2nd & 3rd degree body burns

So how do we protect against Arc Flash....

An employer should ….

- Assess the workplace and identify any Arc risk

- Assess estimated heat energy of any Arc hazard via an Arc Flash

Assessment

- Ensure correct Flame Retardant clothing and PPE is supplied with an

Arc rating equal to or greater than the estimated heat energy

- Ensure that clothing is not worn that could melt onto the skin or that

could ignite and continue to burn when exposed to flame / Arc

TRANEMO Risk EvaluationCustomer

Risk Assessment

CertifiedGarments

EN ISO 11612 &

IEC 61482-2

ARC rating

Wearertest -

Comfort Function

Personal ProtectiveSystem

Inside & Out

Inherent Flame

Retardant

Industrial Laundry

Electric Arc

IEC 61482-2

EN 61482-1-1

EN 61482-1-2

Heat & Flame

EN ISO 11612

ATEX

EN 1149-5Chemicals

EN 13034

Welding

EN ISO 11611

Visible day & night

EN ISO 20471

Cold

EN 342

Rain

EN 343Heat & Flame

EN ISO 14116

EN STANDARDS – know your associated hazards

TRANEMO MARKING

Arc rating

Always on the outside

LOI-value

Always on the outsideCE-label

Inside garment

CE0403

Category III

Yearly control

Standards

Always on the outside

2 TEST METHODS

▪ Marking : IEC 61482-2

▪ US ’derived’ Open Arc test: EN 61482-1-1

▪ European ’derived’ Box test: EN 61482-1-2

IEC 61482-2

BOX TEST – EN61482-1-2

- Low Voltage

- Class 1: 168kJ

- Class 2: 320kJ

IEC 61482-2

OPEN ARC TEST - EN61482-1-1

- Medium Voltage

- Gives an Arc-Rating IEC 61482-2

OPEN ARC TEST VALUES – EN61482-1-1

IEC 61482-2

ATPV = Arc Thermal Performance Value

EBT50 = Energy Breakopen Threshold

= Arc-Rating (expressed as cal/cm2)

Is the energy level which determines the 50% probability that the wearer will

get a 2nd degree burn

OPEN ARC TEST VALUES – EN 61482-1-1

IEC 61482-2

The EU Directive does not approve any probability of injury, hence

the requirement for additional Box Test

ELIM = Energy Limit

The highest energy value the garment can resist without the wearer

getting a 2nd degree burn

Hazard Risk Category

- Divided into 4 PPE-categories (known as HRC-Hazard Risk category)

- We recommend your outer layer to be at least 8 cal/cm2 (PPE 2) – the

incident energy likely to cause 3 rd degree burns

PPE 1 - 4-8cal/cm2

PPE 2 - 8-25cal/cm2

PPE 3 - 25-40cal/cm2

PPE 4 - > 40cal/cm2

A WORD ABOUT LAYERS …. 1 + 1 = 3

TRANEMO SKINSAFETM system

A confusing process …..

- Arc flash PPE has only really come to the fore in the last 5 years

- Confusion between American (Open Arc) and European (Box)

testing methods

- Commercially attractive market

- Sometimes a little bit of knowledge can be counter productive!

So what should I look for in a manufacturer ?...

- Inherent FR fabrics – gives permanent protection

- Experience & History

- Functionality, Design and Comfort for wearer

- Certification

- Traceability in the Supply Chain

THANK YOUwww.tranemo.com