Page 23 - Occupational Health & Safety, August 2018

To release heat, your body sweats, and when the sweat evaporates, your body is cooled.
Chemical-protective clothing limits sweat evaporation. Liquid splash garments based on continuous film materials, such as vinyl or rubber, have one function for the wearer—protection against ac- cidental contact with liquid chemicals. Vapor-protective ensembles prevent sweat evaporation altogether. None of these types of chem- ical-protective clothing provide relief from heat stress.
Solution to Heat Stress
The ideal product solution is one that offers chemical splash pro- tection per NFPA 1992 while allowing sweat vapor to escape.
Look for a garment that offers protection against chemicals that are listed in the NFPA 1992 standard, as well as other chemicals meeting the NFPA 1992 guidelines—the chemicals that pose no threat in a vapor state or chemicals that have vapor pressures low enough (< 5 mm Hg at 25° C) not to pose a vapor threat.
It may be appropriate to use such fabric when you need protec- tion against chemicals that are outside NFPA 1992 guidelines and it has been determined that a certain level of vapor exposure is ac- ceptable. Be sure to consult with the manufacturer of your chosen protective garments.
NFPA standards were developed for emergency situations, but not all exposures to hazardous chemicals are emergencies. Each end-use situation must be evaluated for its particular risks.
Safety Considerations
Before determining fitness for use in any chemical application, consult a trained professional in safety or industrial hygiene. It is important to understand that any chemical-protective clothing does not provide protection from all chemicals or in all conditions, and that technical information typically documents laboratory performance under laboratory conditions. Testing results are often for fabric only. Performance of any particular garment will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, design, seams, closures, accessories, duration of use, maintenance of garment, and proper handling.
Paul Dacey is an application engineer with W. L. Gore & Associ- ates, Inc. For more than 20 years, Dacey has developed new tech- niques and products for fire, public safety, and military, with a more recent focus on industrial workwear. Dacey holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Delaware.
REFERENCES
1. Penetration test procedures as specified in National Fire Protection As- sociation (NFPA) 1992—Standard on Liquid Splash-Protective Ensembles and Clothing for Hazardous Materials Emergencies. These procedures are identical to those in ASTM F903, Procedure C.
CAN TAKE THE HEAT
CarbonX® Aluminized Solutions enhance both protection and comfort for professionals working in molten-metal and high-heat environments. Unlike other aluminized fabrics that can be rigid and
heavy, CarbonX aluminized fabrics are yet still and
CARBONX ALUMINIZED FLEECE PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS
• Fabric weight of 12.0 oz/yd2
• Passes ASTM F955 for both molten iron and aluminum
• EN ISO 11612:2015 (A1, A2, B1, C4, D3, E3, F1)
• EN ISO 11611:2015 (Class 2, A1, A2)
For more information, visit or call (801) 415-0025.
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