How To Determine Standards For Your Arc Rated and Flame Resistant Raingear
When purchasing arc rated and flame resistant rainwear it can be confusing when you are not sure about what test method applies to your work environment.
It can be attractive to buy based on lower cost garments but they can be mis-leading by the test methods associated with the rainwear.
For instance some rainwear are labelled as being compliant with the ASTM D6413, which is the vertical flame test and this test is the first test a fabric must pass in order to go on to further testing. The ASTM D6413 is not a stand alone method for determining the quality of the flame resistant properties of the raingear being purchased.
Garments sold with just the ASTM D6413 test method could be not providing you or your workers with the full protection depending on the exposure.
So the answer really lies in what type of hazards you are exposed to and that will determine the protection required.
Having FR raingear that has only been tested using the ASTM D6413 is sufficient for low level flame resistance such as welding for example but may not provide protection from much extreme hazards such as arc flash explosions and flash fires.
Certain exposures that a person may be subject to that would be considered an extreme hazard are as follows including what test methods garments must meet.
Arc Flash Hazards
When searching for FR raingear for protection from arc flash hazards not only should they be tested for the ASTM D6413 (vertical flame test) but also the ASTM F1891 which is the only appropriate standard for use in defining AR rainwear as it goes beyond the vertical flame test to test rainwear for electrical arc exposures.
Flash Fire Hazards
For workers who are potentially exposed to industrial hydrocarbon fires or other petrochemical fire hazards the FR rainwear should be complaint to ASTM F1891 as just like the ASTM F1891 for arc flash it goes beyond the vertical flame and tests rainwear in a much more dangerous flash fire.
In conclusion while lower cost rainwear tested using the ASTM D6413 (vertical flame test) may be sufficient for light basic exposure although if the job tasks have any chance of being exposed to a much more hazardous arc flash or industrial hydrocarbon fire the appropriate rainwear must have passed the ASTM F1891 for arc flash and ASTM F2733 for flash fire.
Remember it is always better to be over protected as you never know when someone may be called out for a special job and that person grabs the low level ASTM D6413 tested garment leading to a mistake because that person would not be protected in the case of exposure to a much more serious arc flash or flash fire incident.
Terry Smeader
Safety Protection Warehouse
Ph: 888-440-4668
www.coverallsale.ca
Terry Smeader
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Tags: Arc Rated Raingear, Arc Rated Rainwear, ASTM D6413, ASTM F1891, Flame Resistant Raingear, Flame Resistant Rainwear, Standards
