Page 21 - OHS, September 2020

NFPA 70E (ASTMF1506)
NFPA 2112
CONFORMITY
ASSESSMENT
DEMONSTATION OF COMPLIANCE
SELF-DECLARATION BY GARMENT MANUFACTURER
Garments must have label that states compliance with ASTM F1506 and the following information:
* Manufacturer name
* Identification of fabric
* Garment tracking number or identification code * Garment size
* Care instructions
* Arc-rating (ATPV or EBT)
Manufacturer must provide information demonstrating compliance upon request of purchaser
INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY CERTIFICATION
Certification organization must be accredited to ISO 17065.
Testing must be performed by laboratories accredited to ISO 17025 under supervision of certification organization.
Manufacturers required to have quality assurance program. Manufacturers subject to audits at least once a year.
Garments must meet all requirements of standard or use materials or components already recognized by certification organization.
Garment labels must have specific compliance statement and the following information:
* Product name, number or design
* Manufacturer name, address, country of manufacture
* Garment identification number, lot number, or serial number * Garment size
* Fiber content
Manufacturer must provide user information within information on garment use, care, maintenance and limitations.
Certification organization must provide updated listing for compliant products.
number of factors, including the weight, texture, weave, and color of the material.”
Material like untreated cotton has a very low ignition temperature of approximately 480 degrees Fahrenheit (250 degrees Celsius) and burns intensely and rapidly. Untreated polyesters and nylons ignite easily at temperatures of 480 to 660 degrees Fahrenheit (250 to 350 degrees Celsius) and melt readily. Cotton/poly blends combine the worst qualities of both fabrics in terms of ignition and melting. Remembering that an arc flash can reach temperatures of over 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit (19,000 degrees Celsius), you can see how quickly and easily these various materials will ignite.
The benefit of inherent FR material is its ability to self-extinguish quickly, not melt, drip or ignite. Because of this, instead of suffering second or third degree burns from extended contact with fire, the worker may only suffer minor burns from the intense heat.
How Serious Are the Risks?
Each year, hundreds of burn injuries and deaths are recorded from workers encountering open flame and high heat or exposure to flash fires and electrical arc flashes without proper personal protective equipment (PPE). In 2017, the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics reported approximately 123 worker fatalities and 3,120 injuries due to fire and explosions. Of these burn injuries, dozens experience severe burn injuries caused by the continued burning of their clothing. During the same year, nearly 15,400 workers sustained lost-time industries because of heat burns.
If the on the job risk cannot be eliminated, it is critical that the supplied or chosen workwear and PPE can withstand the heat and protect against the real risk of arc flash or flash fire hazards in the electrical/utilities or petrochemical industries. Employers are required by OSHA regulations to assess the risks in their workplace and select appropriate PPE, including clothing that protects against identified hazards. However, it is also important for the individual workers to understand the standards and protect themselves.
Mind the FR Standards
Every day, as many as five to 10 arc explosions occur from electric equipment. To mitigate these risks, regulatory bodies have created a number of standard test methods and specifications that discriminate among the different fabrics that are protective against flame and heat exposure, as well as specific types of industrial exposures.
Different standards are set in the industry to address a variety of applications where flame and heat resistant protective clothing may be needed. There are a number of standards in regard to flame-resistant PPE, but this article will focus on NFPA 70E and NFPA 2112. NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association and is “a global self-funded nonprofit organization, established in 1896, devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards.” This group is widely known as a codes and standards organization, responsible for testing, researching and setting standards that “are designed to minimize the risk and effects of fire by establishing criteria for building, processing, design, service, and installation around the world.”
This article will reference the NFPA 70E and NFPA 2112 standards. In the marketplace today, you will find a variety of FR workwear that meets either one or the other standard, with a smaller percentage of gear meeting both standards.
NFPA 70E. The NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace is published by NFPA and is an electrical safety standard aimed at companies that operate in the electrical utility industry and is generally directed towards end users. The purpose of this standard is to provide a “practical safeguarding of employees during activities such as the installation, operation, maintenance, and demolition of electric conductors, electric equipment, signaling and communications conductors.”
In plain language, NFPA 70E was developed to protect electrical workers in all industries who work on or near energized parts or
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