Newsletter | July 2008
ArcLetter Member,
The ArcWear™ Electric Arc and Flash Fire Newsletter is a quick update on Flame Resistant Clothing issues and news from OSHA and standards committees. This newsletter is FREE and will bring you up to date on the issues that surround flame resistant clothing for flash fire hazards and the electric arc. For previous newsletters or to sign up, visit Visit our website ArcWear.com
In this Issue:
ArcWear™ Testing Dates
T-Shirt Offers More Arc Flash Protection
CBS ArcSafe Remote Racking System
Specifications for Textile Material
IEEE 1584 Upgrades with $3.7M
Iraq Soldiers Suffer Shock and Arc
ArcWear™ Testing Dates
July 28-Aug. 1
Sept 9-12
October 6-9
ASTM F1959, ASTM F2178, the ASTM F887 fall protection arc testing and mannequin testing at the Kinectrics Lab in Toronto on the dates above. Ship materials or clothing to:
Hugh Hoagland
ArcWear.com
9900 Corporate Campus Drive
Suite 3000
Louisville, KY 40223
PH: 502-314-7158
Hugh@ArcWear.com
We must receive one week before the test date for sample preparation or make arrangements to ship to lab.
Click for more info on ArcWear.com test services
Arc Flash Protection
Performance T-Shirt Material Rated for Electric Arc
Rating of t-shirts with outer shell shirts will be a needed commodity and many companies are starting to rate their shirts. NSA rated the new materials which are being used by the US Marines for non-melting FR/Arc Rated t-shirts. Gehring Textiles material combines modacrylic (non-melting inherent FR with Xtatic fiber for anti-stat and anti-bacterial) to make a high performance, high comfort FR wear. NSA rated this t-shirt under a 4.5 oz Nomex IIIA shirt with an arc rating of about 4.5 cal/cm² and the rating went to 9.8 cal/cm². Excellent arc performance for a 7-8 oz high performance system.
If you are wearing 4.5 oz Nomex IIIA coveralls this option could put you in compliance with HRC 2 for the 2009 NFPA 70E when the cotton under layer will no longer count toward performance.
Click Here to order
CBS ArcSafe Remote Racking System
System Offers Arc Flash Protection in New Way
CBS ArcSafe Remote Racking System for circuit breakers eliminates the need for a full arc flash hazard suit by enabling the worker to stand outside the arc flash protection boundary.
This system replaces manual operation and removes worker from contact with the circuit breaker much like products from Eaton, Powell and others. While using the system with a CBS Remote Safety Switch, the user can operate trip, and close release the circuit breaker from a safe distance.
For more details and ordering information, visit
Standards for Flam Resistant Textile Material
ASTM F 1506-08 Specifications for Apparel
The ASTM F1506 standard received a much needed update but it is a minor upgrade. The knit portion had some errors in requirements for burst strength. The wrong numbers had been inserted from the first edition. Most knit manufacturers and testers understood the issue but now the requirements are correct. See the standard at the ASTM website.
Click to see the scope or purchase the standard from ASTM
IEEE 1584 Starts with $3.7 Million
$3.7 Million raised toward $6.5 Million update
Though the focus is still on industrial applications and predominately on low voltage applications, the IEEE 1584 group (of which I am a supporter and member) is now starting the upgrade of the standard with research. This collaborative effort between IEEE and NFPA is THE standard for doing arc flash calcuations for low voltage and serves industrial applications well even in medium voltage. EPRI has two study groups also raising money to do the same for medium and high voltage systems. I consider both of these projects needed.
Shock and Awe Become Shock and Arc
Our Soldiers are now suffering from bad wiring methods and poor electrical safety
We recently announced the growth of FR uniforms for our troups, a much needed upgrade (though not widespread to date) but now it seems they need some good electrical contractors!
Read the New York Times Article
