More than just arc fault protection: multi-standard clothing

Hazards due to arc faults

What is an arc fault?

Arc faults are the greatest possible accident to be assumed when working under voltage. It must be avoided at all costs due to the associated risks to people and the system. If an arc fault occurs in an electrical system, enormous amounts of energy are released within a very short time. According to the German Employers' Liability Insurance Association for Energy, Textiles, Electrical and Media Products (BG ETEM) in its “Guideline for the selection of personal protective equipment against the thermal effects of an electric arc”, an electric arc is a ’self-sustaining discharge in a gas. It is caused by gas ionisation and establishes an electrically conductive connection between electrodes of different potentials with different conductor participation or between one of these conductors and earth.

When does an arc fault occur?

An arc fault in an electrical installation is an unintentional event; an arc fault occurs when an arc occurs in an electrical installation or on electrical equipment due to a fault rather than during operation. The cause is either a technical fault or - as is proven in most cases - a human error.’

How dangerous are arc faults?

The consequences of an arc fault are serious for those affected and can be fatal in extreme cases. In the light column of the arc, the temperature briefly exceeds 9,000 degrees Celsius, which is almost twice as high as on the surface of the sun. The current reaches values of several kiloamperes (kA). Even electric shocks of less than one hundred milliamperes (mA), as they come from a standard household socket, can be life-threatening for a person. The intense heat and high currents are accompanied by a pressure wave that expands rapidly. And that's not all the dangers: The electromagnetic radiation from the arc fault can cause serious damage to the skin and eyes, and the toxic gases produced by the combustion can cause chemical burns and poisoning in humans.

Also important in this context is the Norm 61482-2: Schutzkleidung gegen thermische Gefahren durch einen Störlichtbogen.

What do manufacturers need to look out for in protective clothing against electric arcs?

Manufacturers have to consider many aspects when developing arc fault PPE. Leading manufacturers of arc fault protective clothing such as BP rely on multi-standard protective clothing, as this not only protects against arc faults, but can also cover many other hazards and risks in the working environment.

Multi-standard protective clothing must fulfil a whole range of standards. Of course, the safety of the wearer is the top priority. In addition, the biggest challenge is to find solutions that fulfil the high demands of the standards on the one hand, but in which the wearers also feel comfortable in the long term on the other.

This is because today's employees place similarly high demands on their protective clothing in terms of comfort and design as they do on their leisurewear, outdoor clothing or sportswear. This desire is understandable - after all, employees wear their workwear for between eight and ten hours a day. Anyone who wears their protective clothing for that long needs to feel comfortable in their PPE.

What arc fault clothing is available?

With its multi-standard collection, BP offers a comprehensive range of protective clothing against arc flashes and other hazards and risks at work. These include:

• Arc fault jackets in accordance with EN 61482-2 (protection class 1 and 2),
• Arc fault trousers and arc fault dungarees in accordance with EN 61482-2 (protection class 1 and 2)
• Arc fault hoodies in accordance with EN 61482-2 (APC 1)
• Arc fault coverall in accordance with EN 61482-2 (APC 1)

Lightweight thanks to sophisticated fabric blends

The issue of lightness is very important, especially in view of the increasingly hot summers. In addition, the workplaces where multi-standard protective clothing has to be worn are often very warm and the work is strenuous. What's more, many jobs have to be carried out in constrained positions. The question is: how can protective function and lightness be combined? Sophisticated fabric blends come into play here, for example, which are comparatively light and yet very durable and resistant. For example, manufacturers blend inherently flame-retardant fibres such as modacrylic and aramid with cotton, polyamide, polyester and antistatic fibres. You can read more about this topic in our blog post ‘Protective workwear - the right fabric’.

What is the disadvantage of cotton PPE?

In the past, PPE often consisted of flame-retardant cotton. The problem: the clothing could become smaller and harder with every wash. Today, washing behaviour has improved considerably. One disadvantage is still the restriction to a certain number of wash cycles and the high grammage. Modern multi-standard protective clothing works with a fabric mix that manages with 245 g/m² in arc fault protection class 1. In protection class 2, only the particularly vulnerable areas at the front are equipped with two layers. The wearing comfort of this PPE is absolutely comparable to modern workwear.

Smart solution: patched and segmented reflective strips

Patched and segmented reflective strips make a major contribution to the perceived lightness. These have many advantages. The wearer benefits because the clothing is significantly lighter and freedom of movement is increased. And laundries also have many advantages. With properly patched, segmented reflective strips, there are no seams that can come undone. This means fewer repairs. This makes the clothing more durable and long-lasting.

In addition to the lightness of the PPE, ergonomics also play a decisive role in wearer comfort. If the clothing adapts to the movements and people do not have to work against resistance, they automatically perceive the PPE as much lighter. After all, many wearers of multi-standard protective clothing spend a large part of their working time in constrained positions, for example in the trench. The clothing must not pinch or hinder them.

Protective clothing with a women's fit

Women's fits play a special role in terms of fit. These are still a major exception when it comes to protective clothing. Women working in the energy sector often have to wear either unisex or small men's clothing. However, these often fit very poorly, which makes women feel uncomfortable. This can also have a negative impact on their performance. Women therefore quite rightly expect clothing solutions that fulfil their needs. And employers are also actively demanding women's fits from manufacturers. After all, they have long recognised that clothing is also a means of showing respect for all employees, promoting team spirit and increasing motivation. Protective clothing must also fulfil this function nowadays.

We describe the importance of workwear and protective clothing for women today in our blog about workwear for women.

Why is industrial laundry suitability so important for multi-standard clothing?

A completely different aspect that employers in particular are focussing on is the industrial laundry suitability of clothing in accordance with ISO 15797, because regardless of whether they are municipal utilities, energy suppliers or industrial companies - almost all companies have their protective clothing professionally and hygienically reprocessed. This trend has been fuelled by the coronavirus pandemic. Industrial laundry, including hygiene laundry, is usually carried out at temperatures of up to 75°C. This kills germs and viruses. However, industrial laundry is a real endurance test for clothing: The very high washing and drying temperatures and the strong mechanical and chemical effects of industrial laundering are very demanding for the quality and durability of the clothing. Manufacturers must also bear these requirements in mind during development.

What characterises sustainable multinorm clothing?

And there is another criterion that is becoming increasingly important, especially for municipal utilities and public tenders: the ecologically and socially responsible production of clothing. Labels that transparently prove that social and labour protection standards are adhered to during production play a role here.

In connection with the ecological dimension of sustainability, the durability of multinorm clothing is very important. After all, if the products last a long time, customers don't have to buy new clothes every year. This saves many valuable resources. This not only relates to fabrics, yarns and materials, but also goes much further: for example, to reducing energy consumption and C02 emissions.

Another point that is particularly important for multi-standard protective clothing is the durable chemical protection. This means that the clothing does not have to be re-impregnated again and again. This saves a lot of impregnating agent, which is good for the environment, cheaper and more comfortable to wear because the clothing is much more breathable without impregnation.

Multi-standard protective clothing must fulfil many requirements at the same time. This is also the reason why the development of protective clothing can take quite a long time. A great many factors always have to be considered and harmonised before a collection can meet all requirements and be launched on the market. This is sometimes very complex and time-consuming - but ultimately it's about protecting lives.