Title :
Testing update on protective clothing and equipment for electric arc exposure
Author :
Doughty, Richard L. ; Neal, Thomas E. ; Dear, Terrence A. ; Bingham, Allen H.
Author_Institution :
E.I. duPont de Nemours & Co., Wilmington, DE, USA
Abstract :
Even though significant progress has been made in understanding and quantifying the hazards to personnel from electric arcs, additional testing is required to better estimate the incident energy produced by electric arcs on the many different types of electric power distribution systems. Additional arc testing has indicated that placing a three phase arc in a specific cubic box increased the incident energy by a factor of 3 compared to the same arc exposure in open air. Peak noise levels during the three-phase electric arc tests were found to be at levels sufficient to cause traumatic ear damage. Leather work gloves were found to provide protection for hands exceeding that of a Class 2 FR clothing system, but less than that of a Class 1 FR clothing system. Of all the head protective systems evaluated, hoods with 80 mil gold-coated polycarbonate windows were found to be the most protective
Keywords :
arcs (electric); distribution networks; maintenance engineering; protection; safety; testing; 80 mil; Class 1 FR clothing system; Class 2 FR clothing system; electric arc exposure; head protective systems; hoods; leather work gloves; peak noise levels; personnel hazards; power distribution systems; protective clothing; protective equipment; testing update; three-phase arc; Cotton; Energy states; Fabrics; Hazards; Injuries; Instruments; Materials testing; Protective clothing; Resistance heating; System testing;
Journal_Title :
Industry Applications Magazine, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/2943.740758
