Sales Director UK / Ireland WHAT IS AN ELECTRIC ARC ?... - An - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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! 24% 27% 26% 5% 18% Mistakes by the worker Material and equipment faults Contact faults Isolation faults, overvoltage Others

1 ST , 2 ND & 3 RD DEGREE BURNS First-degree burns – 3cal/cm 2 (sun tan) Second-degree burns – 5cal/cm 2 (the skin falls off, no scars, >25% body burns = Hospital) Third-degree burns – 8cal/cm 2 (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/cm 2

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 Evaluation Customer Risk Assessment ARC rating Wearer test - Industrial Certified Comfort Laundry Garments Function EN ISO 11612 & IEC 61482-2 Personal Inherent Protective Flame System Retardant Inside & Out

EN STANDARDS – know your associated hazards ATEX Electric Arc Welding Chemicals Heat & Flame EN 1149-5 IEC 61482-2 EN ISO 11611 EN 13034 EN ISO 11612 EN 61482-1-1 EN 61482-1-2 Visible day & night Cold Rain Heat & Flame EN ISO 20471 EN 342 EN 343 EN ISO 14116

TRANEMO MARKING CE0403 Category III Yearly control Standards Always on the outside Arc rating Always on the outside LOI -value CE-label Always on the outside Inside garment

2 TEST METHODS ▪ Marking : IEC 61482-2 ▪ US ’derived’ Open Arc test: EN 61482-1-1 IEC 61482-2 ▪ European ’derived’ Box test: EN 61482-1-2

BOX TEST – EN61482-1-2 - Low Voltage IEC 61482-2 - Class 1: 168kJ - Class 2: 320kJ

OPEN ARC TEST - EN61482-1-1 - Medium Voltage - Gives an Arc-Rating IEC 61482-2

OPEN ARC TEST VALUES – EN61482-1-1 ATPV = Arc Thermal Performance Value EBT 50 = Energy Breakopen Threshold IEC 61482-2 = 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 The EU Directive does not approve any probability of injury, hence the requirement for additional Box Test IEC 61482-2 ELIM = Energy Limit The highest energy value the garment can resist without the wearer getting a 2 nd 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 SKINSAFE TM 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 YOU www.tranemo.com