With an ever increasing duty on employers to ensure the safety, health and welfare of people at work, we hope that the following will give you a good overview of the quality product range, services and advice that we can offer you to meet all your Arc Flash Protection requirements. You can view all these products and more on our dedicated website www.arcflash.ie.
What Is Arc Flash?
An Arc Flash or an Electric Arc is the rapid and dangerous release of energy due to an electrical arcing fault. It happens in a fraction of a second – even faster that you can blink your eye and can have devastating consequences for anyone exposed.
The intensity of the Arc Flash is influenced not only by the voltage. An Arc Flash will contain the release of thermal energy, acoustical energy, pressure wave and debris. The consequences of an Arc Flash can be devastating depending on the intensity of the Arc Flash, the proximity of the individual to the source of the arc and the PPE used if any.
Arc Flash Legislation, Certification & Standards
Health and Safety legislation imposes a duty on all employers to identify all hazards in the workplace, assess the risks to health & safety, and to put in place the necessary protective and preventive measures in order to ensure so far as reasonably practicable the safety, health and welfare of people at work.
Therefore if you are an employer and there is an Arc Flash hazard, you must assess these risks and to put in place the necessary protective and preventive measures in order to comply with your legal responsibility. This includes calculating the Arc Rating required as this determines the level of protection needed for the PC and PPE.
What is IEEE 1584?
There is no standard for Arc Flash calculations in Europe but accepted industry practice is to comply with the IEEE1584 standard for Arc Flash calculations. These calculations are then used to determine the PPE requirements.
Standard: IEC 61482-2
IEC 61482-2 is the overall standard covering protective clothing against thermal arc hazards of an electric arc. This standard also covers various aspects of the garment design. Garments complying with all of these requirements should be marked with the IEC 61482-2 symbol as well as the level of protection it meets.
Arc Flash Standards
Testing:
1. Open Arc Test Method (IEC 61482-1-1)
IEC 61482-1-1 is the Open Arc Test Method. It determines the ATPV level (Arc Thermal Protection Value) of the garment. The basic principle is that the Garment ATPV must be higher than the Arc Flash energy level as calculated. The Arc Rating is expressed in cal/cm2.
2. Box Test Method (IEC 61482-1-2)
IEC 61482-1-2 is the Box Test Method. It determines the Class Rating of the garment. Class 1 – 4kA. Class 2 – 7kA. It is important to ensure that all garments are fully tested and comply with all the requirements of IEC 61482-2.
We can work with you to ensure full compliance with IEC’s arc-rated clothing requirements, by sourcing and supplying workers with suitable protective garments that best fit the risks involved in a specific job.
Protection In Layers
Protection In LayersWhen ARC Flash protective garments are worn together in a layered combination, the PPE may give you a total protection value that is higher than the sum of the individual value for each garment. This increased protection is useful to workers who need to gain additional protection where required for certain tasks.
Arc Rated Categories:
Hazard Risk Category Required Minimum Arc Rating for PPE
|
Hazard Risk Category |
Required Minimum Arc Rating for PPE |
|
ARC 1 |
≥4 |
|
ARC 2 |
≥8 |
|
ARC 3 |
≥25 |
|
ARC 4 |
≥40 |
Note – an appropriately arc rated Helmet, Visor and Gloves are also required.
Customised Arc Flash PPE Garments
For clear identification, we can customise any of your Arc Flash PPE garments by including on the garment your company logo, unique number, personal name, department or a combination of all. This is applied to the garment using an arc rated heat transfer or by embroidering your garment using arc rated thread.
Arc Flash Studies & Training
We can recommend an independent company to you, who are experts in Arc Flash Studies & Training. They can carry out your Risk Assessment and calculate the Arc Rating required for you. If you require these services contact us by phone at 057 866 2162 or by email us at [email protected].