EN 61482-1-2:2014

Live working - Protective clothing against the thermal hazards of an electric arc - Part 1-2: Test methods - Method 2: Determination of arc protection class of material and clothing by using a constrained and directed arc (box test)

Publication date:   Jan 21, 2015

Scope

IEC 61482-1-2:2014 specifies procedures to test material and garments intended for use in heat and flame-resistant clothing for workers if there is an electric arc hazard. A directed and constrained electric arc in a test circuit is used to classify material and clothing in two defined arc protection classes. This International Standard is not dedicated toward measuring the arc rating values (ATPV, ELIM, or EBT). Procedures determining these arc rating values are prescribed in IEC 61482-1-1, using an open arc for testing. Other effects than the thermal effects of an electric arc like noise, light emissions, pressure rise, hot oil, electric shock, the consequences of physical and mental shock or toxic influences are not covered by this standard. Protective clothing for work intentionally using an electric arc, e.g. arc welding, plasma torch, is not covered by this standard. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition, published in 2007. This edition constitutes a technical revision which includes the following significant technical changes with regard to the previous edition:

- new mean values of main control parameters arc energy and incident energy based on an extended statistical database consisting of parameter values measured in four laboratories;

- reduction of validity check ranges of main control parameters;

- determination of the incident energy by averaging the two sensor values of a test (instead of considering each single sensor value);

- determination of the heat curves of transmitted incident energy and an amendment to the heat flux acceptance criterion;

- clarification of the scope;

- and selection of the arc protection classes (test classes) by the amount of the arc energy and incident energy instead of the short-circuit current.