ELECTRIC
ARC
OPEN ARC
PROTECTION AGAINST ELECTRICAL HAZARDS IN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Protection against electric arc flash is becoming ever more important in the field of electrical safety both nationally and internationally. Arc flash is the phenomenon produced by the contact of two electrodes of different potential that produces ionised gas allowing an electric current to flow through the air.
The ionised gas generated in the electric arc, called plasma, can reach extreme temperatures of tens of thousands of degrees Celsius and in industrial settings arcing can be caused by technical failure or human error.
One of the most common risks of exposure to an electric arc is that caused by exposure to high temperatures for a period of time.
The level of protection offered by a material against exposure to an open electric arc is called its Arc Rating and is expressed in cal/cm². To understand what the Arc Rating is, we need to know what incident energy is. This is the amount of heat to which a sample is exposed during testing.
LEADERS CERTIFYING
INDIVIDUAL PROTECTION
EQUIPMENT (PPE)
TESTING OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AGAINST ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
THE ARC RATING CAN BE DERIVED FROM DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS ASSESSED IN THE LABORATORY TEST
> Arc Thermal Performance Value (ATPV): Incident energy for a material to exhibit a 50% probability of causing a second degree burn. [cal/cm²] [cal/cm²] [cal/cm²] [cal/cm²] [cal/cm²]
> Breakopen Threshold Energy (EBT): Incident energy for a material to show a 50% probability of breakage. [cal/cm²] [cal/cm²] [cal/cm²] [cal/cm²] [cal/cm²]
> Incident Energy Limit (ELIM): Incident energy of a material below which no second degree burn or breakage has been observed. [cal/cm²] [cal/cm²] [cal/cm²] [cal/cm²] [cal/cm²]
MAIN FEATURES OF THE OPEN ARC LABORATORY TEST
> Current 8kA
> Stainless steel electrodes
> Distance between electrodes: 300 mm
> Distance between the sample and the centre of the arc: 300 mm
> Multidirectional electric arc.
> The incident energy varies according to the determined arc persistence time
TESTS CARRIED OUT IN THE AITEX OPEN ARC TESTS ROOMS
> Protective clothing and materials
> Protective materials and gloves
> Products intended for eye or face protection.
> Climbing equipment
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OTHER AREAS OF AITEX
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