ArcWear™ MP³ 3000 Series Protective Outerwear Data

  Made in USA

Electric Arc Resistance

ASTM F1891 Standard Specification for Arc and Flame Resistant Rainwear

Scope

This specification establishes applicable test methods, minimum physical and thermal performance requirements, suggested sizing and recommended purchasing information for rainwear for use by workers who may be exposed to the thermal hazards of momentary electric arcs and open flames. The objective of this specification is to prescribe fit, function and performance criteria for rainwear that meets a minimum level of thermal and physical performance when exposed to a laboratory-simulated electric arc or flame exposure.

Key Definitions

• Arc Rating: a term used to indicate the protection level of a garment. With rainwear, it is invariably equal to the ATPV. 
  

• Arc Thermal Performance Value (ATPV): the incident energy on a material that results in sufficient heat transfer through the material for a 50% probability of the onset of a second-degree burn injury.

• Calorie: is the energy required to raise one gram of water one degree C.
  

• Design Test: one made on a sample treated as representative of an individual product, which is not intended to be re-done unless components of the material change.
  

• Energy Break-open Threshold (E_bt): the amount of energy needed to cause the material to break-open.

• Heat Attenuation Factor (HAF): the percent of arc flash heat energy blocked by the material.

Performance Requirements

• Material must be flame retardant (ASTM D6413), self-extinguish < 2 seconds, < 6” char length.

• Must determine Arc Rating (ASTM F1959) – report results, no minimum required.

• Must determine Heat Attenuation Factor (ASTM F1959) – report results, no minimum required.

• Must determine Energy Break-open Threshold (ASTM F1959) – report results, minimum of 5 cal/cm².

• Must not melt, drip or ignite at twice arc rating.

Flash Fire Resistance

NFPA 2112 Standard on Flame Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flame Hazards, and

ASTM F2733 Standard Specification for Flame Resistant Rainwear for Protection Against Flame Hazards

Scope

This specification establishes test methods, minimum physical and thermal performance criteria, a suggested sizing guide and suggested purchasing information for rainwear for use by workers who are potentially exposed to industrial hydrocarbon fires or other petrochemical fire hazards.

Performance Requirements

Requirements must be met initially as manufactured as well as after five cleanings.

Tear Resistance

Material must have a trapezoidal tear resistance of 6 lbs (2.72 kg) in the warp direction and 6 lbs (2.72 kg) in the fill direction.

Markings and Reflective Materials

These materials attached to the rainwear must be permanent and must not degrade the performance of the rainwear.

Flame Resistance

Rainwear material must be flame resistant and must not melt and drip when tested in accordance with ASTM D6413 and must exhibit no more than a 2 second afterflame time and less than 6 inch char length.

Thermal Protection

Rainwear must be tested in accordance with ASTM F1930, a design test, after 1 washing and 1 drying. Testing parameters are set at a heat flux of 84 ± 2kW/m² (2.0 ± 0.05 cal/cm²) and an exposure time of 3 ± 0.1 seconds. The following information is determined.

• The average predicted total area body burn injury for the three specimens tested must be equal to or less than 40%.
  

• Material response characteristics must be reported for all exposures, Characteristics are: afterflame time, energy break-open, charring, melting, dripping, garment ignition, embrittlement and shrinkage.
  

Rainwear Construction

Must utilise materials, stitching, tapes, coatings, fasteners and closure materials that minimise heat conduction for the construction of compliant FR rainwear. Fasteners and closures used, for example, zippers, snaps, buttons etc. that are made of metal, must be covered with a layer of rainwear material on the inside of the garment such that these items of construction will not contact undergarments or the skin.

• Structural seam integrity: seams must not exhibit a seam failure that creates a seam opening of greater than 51mm (2 inches).
  

• Closure function: closures must function (fully open) after the simulated fire exposure. Closures that do not fully open do not meet the performance requirements of this specification. All closures that do not fully open must be reported.
  

Labeling Requirements

• Manufacturer Label: states size, catalogue number, manufacturer's name and notation of conformance to ASTM F2733 and the label is permanently affixed in each rainwear item.
  

• Statement of Conformance: the statement to this specification must be, "This rainwear meets or exceeds requirements for ASTM F2733 Standard Specification for Flame Resistant Rainwear for Fire Hazards."
  

• Care Label: states instructions for cleaning and care and must be readable throughout the life of the garment.
  

• Packaging Label: states name of manufacturer, size, material, catalogue number, date code and ASTM designation.
  

Breathability

ASTM E96/E96M Standard Test Methods for Water Vapour Transmission of Materials

Scope

These test methods cover the determination of water vapour transmission (WVT) of materials through which the passage of water vapour may be of importance, such as paper, plastic films, other sheet materials, fibreboards, gypsum and plaster products, wood products and plastics.

Significance and Use

The purpose of these tests is to obtain, by means of simple apparatus, reliable values of water vapour transfer through permeable and semi-permeable materials, expressed in suitable units. These values are for use in design, manufacture and marketing. A permeance value obtained under one set of test conditions may not indicate the value under a different set of conditions. For this reason, the test conditions should be selected that most closely approach the conditions of use.

Breathable Rainwear

Non-breathable rainwear is designed to keep water out but also keep perspiration in. It creates an internal environment that stores heat which leads to workers becoming wet from perspiration even though no rain has passed through. Breathable rainwear is designed to collect and transmit perspiration out of the garment. This leaves the worker dry from both the transmitted perspiration and the rain.

Breathability is measured in two ways –

• Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate (MVTR) – the amount of vapour that evaporates through the material per ASTM E96.

• Total Heat Loss (THL) – the ability of a material to release heat as it is built up per ASTM F1868.

For a material to be considered breathable, it must have a:

• Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate (MVTR) of greater than 5000 g/m²/24 hours.

• Total Heat Loss (THL) of 300 watts/m²/24 hours and

• To be marketed as being breathable, rainwear must be tested according to ASTM E95 procedure BW and the results reported.
  

Leak Resistance ASTM F1891

• Material must withstand water pressure of 30 psig without leaking. The seams of the rainwear must not exhibit any evidence of leakage when exposed to water at 3 psig for two (2) minutes.

About PTFE

PTFE membranes benefit  from a number of features which enable them to be used in a variety of applications, including military, rail service, fire fighting and the electrical, oil and chemical industries. The membrane's high and low temperature resistance means the wearer is protected from extreme environmental conditions. PTFE membranes are designed for outside and extreme environments: wind, rain and severe temperature resistance are features needed for a variety of industrial applications. The lightweight, flexible and tactile design of PTFE allows for maximum comfort for the wearer over prolonged periods of time.

Features and benefits include:

• Protection against extreme winter elements - cold, wind, rain and wet conditions.
  

• Performance in use - durable, lightweight and flexible, low noise, highly breathable and comfortable, wash or dry clean, resistance to acids, alkalis and petrochemicals and high flame resistance.
  

• Performance to international standards including:
  

• EN 343 - protection against foul weather.
  

• EN 471 - high visibility.
  

• EN 368 - resistance to penetration by chemical liquids.